88 years is a fair amount of time for a brand like UMBRO. Shit, I remember in high school the competition was always between Diadora and UMBRO. Like a land war. The scruffs in school went for the UMBRO of course, including myself. Did it mean I played better? Hell no. If anything is designated me as one of those picks that would do the man handling necessary to sway the ball in our team’s favor. I thank UMBRO everyday for making me the player I am.

In all serious, today UMBRO continues to build off their legacy in a very proper manner. The launch of the UMBRO Icons Re-issue collecton, a four garment array of some classic favorites – the ’66 Anthem Jacket, the Mexico ’70 Jersey, the Taped Track Jacket and Drill Top. Each garment is a stitch by stitch authentic construction of the originals.  If you know the game, you will know these four “Icons” from the UMBRO collection. For those new to the game, put on some cleats and tear up the turf.

More looks in our gallery…

Lionel Messi graces the cover of TIME Magazine, next week (globally except in the United States – shocking).  Dubbed, “King Leo” on the cover, the F.C. Barcelona star is touted as the greatest ever – an argument that many will have a very, very difficult time disagreeing with. Bobby Ghosh gets inside Messi in his interview online now.

Messi is not a man of many words, but one point stands out to me. In regards to achievement and looking back at his own: “You don’t have time to stop and think about everything that happens, it all happens too quickly. When I retire, I’ll stop and think about that.” Respect. On sale

See the full cover after the click.

The latest issue of The Green Soccer Journal focuses on the much maligned goalkeeper. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a player choose to be the last line of defense then this issue might give you  a little insight. “We speak to some of the games top shot stoppers in Bob Wilson, Tim Howard and the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, Gianluigi Buffon. They discuss their feelings toward the position, the highs and lows they encountered, and the real reason they went for the gloves.” The only thing that’s missing is a mid 90’s David Seaman sticker set.

Click for images.

Mixing the footie culture with the lifestyle hits, UMBRO delivers a very strong Speciali 92 collection of fine boots, balls, and every day garments. “he Speciali has stayed true to Umbro’s football boot ethos throughout its 20 years with style, fit and comfort being at the very core of its design. These attributes that the Speciali has built its status upon, including the premium soft leather, have gone into creating the five-piece limited edition Speciali 92 range.”

Highsnobiety shares a wide range of looks at the new UMBRO collection.

London’s Design Museum hosted Puma’s launch of their sponsored Africa Kits for 2012. Each of the ten partner team jerseys were designed by artists from the Creative African Network (CAN), Puma’s platform for bring together creatives from across the African continent. Teams include: Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Namibia, Senegal, Togo, Gabon, Burkina Faso and the newest member to the Puma line-up, South Africa. Look for the new Puma kits to shine during the Africa Cup of Nations.

More look after the click.

Manchester’s Cube Gallery is hosting “Post Match,” an exhibition that mixes smoking and footie (soccer to the N.A.’s). Using cigarette packs to fold origami style jerseys, “Post Match” is an unique concept in art, sport, and smoke. Artists, Leo Fitzmaurice, developed the idea after he “noticed a wet cigarette packet on the ground in the shape of a football shirt and ten years later he is still making them and has a vast collection of over 800 hand made shirts from around the world.” Green Soccer Journal has more…

More looks after the click.

Celebrating 125 years, club tradition is evident in Arsenal’s 2011/2012 away kit. The front of the shirt is divided into two halves, navy blue and turquoise blue, inspired by past away uniforms. The kit features the same bespoke crest (marking the anniversary year) as the home shirt, and with the addition of a diagonal line of the shirt front – reference to Dial Square Sundial at the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, where the Club was conceived in 1886 – there’s ample heritage packed in the top. With celebratory tone, the kit also looks forward… Arsenal’s 2011/2012 away kit continuing Nike’s push for the most environmentally-friendly athletic apparel.

More images of what the Gunners will be wearing away from Emirates this season after the jump.

Tailored by Umbro, the new 2011/2012 home strip for LOC (Lille Olympique Sporting Club) is constructed of a super breathable polyester.The intent of the engineered fabric is to provide the technical pluses of cutting edge polyester with the feel and comfort of cotton.

This Saturday (March 26, 2011), the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) host Argentina in a friendly match at the Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey.

To mark the occasion the UMNT will unveil their new third color kit – a vivid red shirt with an obsidian blue sash across the front – regarded by the team as “the people’s jersey.” Nike partnered with US Soccer and invited fans to make their own mark on the shirt. A twitter based campaign entitled “Red All Over” gave participants the chance to write a new motto for the team to be embroidered on one of the shirt sleeves.  As with all USMNT jerseys, the third shirt features symbolic graphics including a coiled rattlesnake on the inside of the neck and the message “DTOM” (Don’t Tread On Me) above the heart on the inside of the U.S. Soccer Federation crest.

The new kit echoes past USMNT designs, working to instill the team’s history and tradition in the Nike’s most environmentally-friendly technically advanced uniform.

Available now from Nike.

The shirt is shown in dynamic motion on Mr. Dempsey above. Details of the USMNT Red Kit are available after the jump.

Yesterday, Nike released the French Football Federation away kit. It’s the second official kit launch in the partnership (which began in January), and takes inspiration from the timeless “mariniere.” A French style icon, the shirt came to life as a 19th-century navy uniform and soon took hold as a symbol of French culture. Add a healthy does of “Considered Design” – the shirt is constructed of all most completely recycled material – and you’ve got a strong mix of icon and innovation.

The kit debuted in this striking photographs by legendary Karl Lagerfeld of Alou Diara.

Full views of the FFF away strip by Nike after the jump.