When the lilywhite just isn’t right, and the away kit causes a clash, it’s time to call on the third kit. Here are the 10 best third kits in Tottenham Hotspur’s history.
Third kits may have come to prominence more since the turn of the millennium, but Tottenham have actually had alternative outfits since the early 1980s.
Usually, a home-and-away kit does the job, but third kits are handy to ensure a kit clash doesn’t occur. They are also a great excuse for kit manufacturers to be a little more outlandish, as Nike has proven in recent years.
As we wait to see what Ange Postecoglou‘s side will be wearing next season, it’s time to go back in time and break down the ten best third kits Tottenham have ever used.
10. Nike yellow – 2020/21
The tri-tone blend of different shades of yellow is subtle but really effective on this kit, and the navy blue trims offer a perfect contrast. The best bit though? The badge and Nike logo are aligned centrally rather than on the chest — something we hardly ever see from Tottenham kits.
9. Nike bright blue – 2019/20
Some fans weren’t keen on this one back at the time of release, but what’s not to like? The kit has a vibrant base colour, a nice collar, and a really interesting texture to it thanks to the subtle pattern in the shirt which harks back to retro kits of the 1990s.
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8. Under Armour black/grey – 2012/13
You don’t see kits like this very often, at least not in Tottenham Hotspur’s history, and especially with this particular colourway. It’s funny, all the kits from this period remind me of Gareth Bale, and this is one of the prime examples of the kind of kit Spurs fans have witnessed the Welshman produce magic in.
7. Nike Navy and green – 2018/19
We only really need to say one word to explain why this third kit is so special: Ajax. Yes, it may look a bit like a training kit, but the memory of seeing Lucas Moura hit that incredible hattrick in the Champions League semi-final, wearing this kit, remains the defining moment of this recent era for Spurs.
6. Under Armour gold – 2016/17
We may not have won any silverware in this gold kit, but it’s still the nicest third kit of the Mauricio Pochettino era at Spurs. I mean, it’s gold, for a start, which is a real statement to make with any kit. Then, the pinstripes and dark navy blue details just make this a really classy, prestige kit.
5. Yellow Pony – 1995/96
Tottenham loved this kit so much they promoted it from being the third choice in 1995/96, to being the away kit in the following season. Yellow kits just work for Tottenham (and there’s one more still to come, too), but this one is yet another classic in the Pony collection. Bold blue sleeves, a collar with a small V-neck, and that unique badge shape complete a brilliant kit here.
4. Nike purple – 2021/22
I’m a big fan of abstract, bold designs when it comes to football kits, and this one ticks plenty of boxes. Purple shirts are always a winner, and the N17 detailing is a fantastic touch for this one. We have great memories of this kit, which was worn pretty regularly through the 2021/22 campaign as we smashed our way to a top-four finish.
3. Yellow Kappa – 2002/03
The brief but brilliant Kappa collaboration with Spurs produced some of our finest kits, whether it be home, away, or third options. In a similar vein to the home strip of this year, the yellow third kit had a great fit to it, nice contrasting details, and the way the collar turns from navy blue to yellow offers an interesting, angular aesthetic around the neck.
2. Nike Taupe – 2023/24
Yes, this season’s third kit may be cursed, and I know most fans can’t stand the colour of it, but I absolutely love it. I’ve never seen a kit this colour before, and that’s a good thing. Not to mention, the texture on this shirt is really nice and tactile. The only thing I wish is that it had a proper collar to take it to the next level.
1. Umbro light blue – 1991/94
This kit really shouldn’t work, but it does. The fact Umbro decided to write Spurs across the chest of the shirt in huge letters is crazy, but it’s exactly the kind of vintage touch you’d want to see from a 90s kit. In fact, it’s so nice, that Tottenham decided to keep this kit running for three seasons, and it’s easy to see why.
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