Third 2023/24
Matchworn Aron Sele 08.09.23 BIH 🇧🇦 : LIE 🇱🇮 2-1
Manufacturer: Erreà
Source: Collector
THE COUNTRY
If you ever wanted to run your own country and have a bit of cash to spare, this might be your opportunity!
The small Alpine principality of Liechtenstein was actually offered for rent:
For a mere $70,000 the whole country could be yours for a day! While the 39,000 Liechtensteiner weren’t enslaved to serve their wealthy tenant, a couple of other conveniences were included in the deal:
accommodation for 150 people
a medieval procession
a reception from Prince Hans-Adam II, including the obligatory presentation of the “key to the country”
Apparently, no one ever took the offer, even though it was said that Snoop Dogg was on the verge of doing so...
Although, the idea of ruling a country for a day seems tempting, I would rather spend my money on joining Liechtenstein’s national team for a match.
But despite Liechtenstein being one of the least successful teams in Europe, a mid-thirty beer bellied klutz like me would probably not be a reinforcement at all…
Like many small nations, the crux of Liechtenstein’s failure to develop into a European football powerhouse is obviously the limited selection of world class players, given their small population. Nonetheless, the country has spawned a handful of players that spent their careers in the higher European leagues, with Mario Frick and former goalkeeper Peter Jehle leading the way.
While the national team’s biggest successes are their occasional wins (15 in 40 years) – they also carry the burden of being the only country to ever lose to San Marino (more about that in my San Marino article). More successful that the national selection is Liechtenstein’s biggest club FC Vaduz, who competes in the Swiss League. Despite never lifting the Swiss Super League trophy, they won the domestic cup in Liechtenstein a whopping 47-times!
THE SHIRT
This is the first white Liechtenstein jersey since the mysterious white third shirt, which was worn in three games in 2016 before the team switched to Italian manufacturer Macron.
Now Erreà has also given the Principality a classy white away jersey. In contrast to last time, it is not an off-the-peg shirt, but a bespoke design, which features gold numbers and details in addition to the chic gray “wallpaper” pattern. The inner part of the collar is kept in the blue and red of the Liechtenstein flag, while the bottom hem of the jersey features the slogan “Ein Spiel. Ein Team. Fürs Land” (One game. One team. For the country).
This princely piece was worn by midfielder Aron Sele during the respectable 2-1 defeat against Bosnia Herzogovina.
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