Gianluca Pagliuca and the aesthetics of the perfect goalkeeper A champion of style between the posts, the Italian goalkeeper has worn some of the most iconic jerseys ever created

Often counted among the best goalkeepers of all time, Gianluca Pagliuca was one of the iconic goalkeepers of 1990s football, not only for his technique, but above all for his aesthetics. In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Inter goalkeeper said: 'I didn't wear ugly shirts, by choice. I never once went out onto the pitch unhappy with the jersey I was wearing'. And indeed, his comment reflects the truth. Over the years, Pagliuca wore colourful and flamboyant jerseys, just as he wanted them, with an obviously over fit nothing like the ones we see today. The jerseys used up until the early 2000s were much heavier and less performing than those designed today, made with new technologies and as few seams as possible in order to reduce the weight as much as possible. In the interview, the former Italian goalkeeper also revealed some backstories that would be unthinkable and impractical for any brand or sponsor today. One of his favourite jerseys in fact, the one worn at Sampdoria in the year we started to get to know the real Pagliuca, a starter and immovable, was designed at his express request by Reusch, his glove sponsor, instead of Asics, then technical sponsor of the Sampdoria team. A design chosen and conceived with the Italian company, which then embroidered the logo of the Japanese company on it. 

And since many elements and patterns from the past have been taken up this year for the jerseys of the movement players, who knows whether the brands might decide to reverse course again, returning to give us kits like those worn by Gianluca Pagliuca, who marked the aesthetic of the perfect goalkeeper on the field.