Shirts spotted outside of the UK (all clubs).

[Real_madyidd]

Thought it would be interesting to get an idea of how popular clubs are around the world, to see what trends happen and how the glory hunting spreads worldwide.

This week I travelled across Malawi, from Blantyre to Lilongwe by road (air Malawi cancelled the flight). On the way through the towns and down the highways I was keeping an eye open for football shirts as my driver was telling me how poplular the premier league is (they all gather to watch games on a community TV and drink Carlsberg - poor buggers). He said that he used to support Arsenal, but that now he just watches the league.

Anyway, the results:
Most Popular: Manchester United by 2 shirts,
Second: Chelsea.
Third LA Galaxy (Beckham shirt)
There was a barca towell bebing worn by one person, but since it isn't a shirt it can't count.

That was it. (Bear in mind that Malawi is REALLY poor) that is amazing. One thing I did notice, the Chelsea shirts were nearly all in Blantye, which has a lot of businesses, and the shirts were far newer and cleaner than the Man U shirts- it could be that the Man U ones were given to charity as they were out in the sticks where there is very little cash.

Feel free to add your experiences, but please don't include local team shirts!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

OK. Case study 2 - Xiamen China.

1. Arsenal (by a country mile - they have 3 Arsenal shops in the city)
2. Man Utd seen regularly
3. Barca, also seen quite frequently.

Other oddities the supermarket has an Aston Villa budget t-shit range. I've seen a street seller selling Sheffield Wednesday mugs. Huge Birmingham City billboard on the main shopping street.

Only Spurs shirt I've seen is my own.

 

[nightgoat]

When I went to Italy in 1999 in one small Tuscan town I went into a sports shop (which was pretty small) and they had a Norwich City football for sale.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

When I went to Italy in 1999 in one small Tuscan town I went into a sports shop (which was pretty small) and they had a Norwich City football for sale.

Were they made by diadora or some other Italian brand. That is the reason for the Birmingham billboards here, Chinese manufacturer.

 

[dav3j]

Anecdotally, I think I've generally seen more Man U and Chelsea shirts abroad for sale. Liverpool certainly have gone well off the radar abroad, unsurprising given the fact they've been out of the elite for about 7 years now.

Interestingly, when I was in Lisbon and Man City were playing Sporting, I got talking to a bloke who owned the bar/restaurant we were in who knew of Spurs well from the teams of the 60s and 70s, but seemed to not really be aware of our more recent resurgence (including the CL run).

 

[Real_madyidd]

Going to see what I spot around Jo'burg this afternnon. In the airport I know there are only Man U shirts for sale.

 

[nightgoat]

Were they made by diadora or some other Italian brand. That is the reason for the Birmingham billboards here, Chinese manufacturer.

No idea. A quick bit of research reveals 1997 to 1999 their shirts were made by the splendid football shirt manufacturer Pony.

 

[Ziege]

Rangers FC
Celtic FC
(Lots of fans of both around here)
Aston Villa
Barca
Real Madrid
Arsenal
Chelsea
I saw a PSG shirt once
Italian national team (lots of them since there are a ton of Italians)
DFB (once)
Toronto FC
And Spurs, once. It was a Bale shirt from last season, I told the guy he had a nice shirt, and Bale was the best at free kicks in the Prem, he agreed and said thanks lol.

That is all I can remember.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

I did something like this a few weeks ago. I'll dig up the results in a short while but for now, Malaysia probably has more footy shirts than anywhere I've ever been (including UK). Even randoms like Sheff Utd, Hull City, Middlesbrough make occasional appearances. Weirdly until a couple of years ago you never saw a national team shirt though.

 

[dav3j]

I did something like this a few weeks ago. I'll dig up the results in a short while but for now, Malaysia probably has more footy shirts than anywhere I've ever been (including UK). Even randoms like Sheff Utd, Hull City, Middlesbrough make occasional appearances. Weirdly until a couple of years ago you never saw a national team shirt though.

Sheffield United recently bought out a team in Chengdu, China, and completely rebranded them as the Chengdu Blades, apparently there's Sheffield United stuff all over the place out there!

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Interesting. They came out as part of the Masters football 3 years ago. Bit weird as there was Man Utd, Liverpool, an All-Star side, and... Sheffield United. They did so as they came for free, hence the organisers took them. But fans showed no interest and next time round were replaced by Malaysia, which unsurprisingly drew much bigger crowds. Guess that approach ties in with the China stuff.

 

[nightgoat]

And Spurs, once. It was a Bale shirt from last season, I told the guy he had a nice shirt, and Bale was the best at free kicks in the Prem, he agreed and said thanks lol.

On the same holiday as the one I mentioned above, some bloke tried to sell my dad a knock-off watch on the beach, then saw my Spurs shirt with Ginola on the back and said Ginola was his favourite player.

 

[Real_madyidd]

Rangers FC
Celtic FC
(Lots of fans of both around here)
Aston Villa
Barca
Real Madrid
Arsenal
Chelsea
I saw a PSG shirt once
Italian national team (lots of them since there are a ton of Italians)
DFB (once)
Toronto FC
And Spurs, once. It was a Bale shirt from last season, I told the guy he had a nice shirt, and Bale was the best at free kicks in the Prem, he agreed and said thanks lol.

That is all I can remember.

Where are you?

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Where are you?

Glasgow by the look of it.

I saw a fake Bale shirt last year in Gozo on one of those stalls alongside Messi, Ronaldo and... Darren Fletcher.

Loads of Gooner shirts in Southern Italy recently, all worn by Asian tourists.

 

[Real_madyidd]

Glasgow by the look of it.

Oh, I see. I thought a bit of common sense would be applied and people wouldn't include the local clubs. Should have known a Scot would be too pissed to use his brain.

 

[hoodlum]

In the US, Philadelphia to be more precise, I've seen only one Spurs shirt; Bale. During the CL Final I saw a bunch of Chelsea shirts, but never before or after that match. Losers. Seen a handful of United, Pool, Celtic, and Newcastles too. And of course the odd Ronaldo.

Spurs
Chelsea
United
Pool
Celtic
Newcastle

 

[Toela65]

Just go and look at the actual data in terms of revenue and unit sales that is available on line for shirt sales if you want to get an idea of who sells the most abroad and who is most popular.

Last time I seen replica shirt sales info the biggest seller abroad was Utd followed by Liverpool and then Chelsea and Arsenal.

Including all leagues in Europe the biggest sellers are Real, Barca and Utd (not necessarily that order.

 

[Kendall]

Here (KL), surprisingly the most shirts I see are Chelsea, then Arsenal, then Liverpool before United.

Then there's a fairly even smattering of Barcelona, Madrid and an increasing number of City.

Tellingly, down Chinatown, they have had all the new United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barca and City shirts available to buy for weeks, before the official ones are out. Which gives you an indication of popularity.

 

[Kendall]

Just go and look at the actual data in terms of revenue and unit sales that is available on line for shirt sales if you want to get an idea of who sells the most abroad and who is most popular.

Last time I seen replica shirt sales info the biggest seller abroad was Utd followed by Liverpool and then Chelsea and Arsenal.

Including all leagues in Europe the biggest sellers are Real, Barca and Utd (not necessarily that order.

Not necessarily as most fans in Asia buy fakes.

 

[dn013]

On the same holiday as the one I mentioned above, some bloke tried to sell my dad a knock-off watch on the beach, then saw my Spurs shirt with Ginola on the back and said Ginola was his favourite player.

And then you bought the knock off watch because you were so happy to meet a Ginola fan, and he went back thinking how great his business strategy is and found the next bloke wearing a footie top to tell them that they are wearing his favorite player's jersey too.