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Matchworn Shin Tae-Yong 01.06.1996 KOR 🇰🇷 : VFB Stuttgart 🇩🇪 3-4
Manufacturer: Nike
Source: Gerhard Poschner (former VFB Stuttgart player)
Researching this jersey was a lot of fun!
I received this shirt from the collection of ex-Stuttgart and Germany U21 player Gerhard Poschner and was left me with a few questions:
1. How on earth did he get it?
2. Why doesn't it have any Nike tags?
3. and where the hell did the South Korea flag go?
This is a rare South Korea home jersey that was only worn in a series of friendly matches in 1996 to promote South Korea's bid for the 2002 World Cup - hence the patch on the left sleeve. The only question is, how does a Stuttgart player who only played internationally until 1992 get this shirt? After finding out that Korea had played against clubs such as Juventus and AC Milan in 1996, I wanted to see if I could find a complete list of all the country's friendlies. Armed with a translator, I was actually able to find a Wikipedia page that helped me a lot:
On June 1, 1996, a match took place in Seoul between VFB Stuttgart and the South Korean national team! I was even able to find a short video of the game!
But why is there none of the typical Nike badges on the jersey apart from the Nike Swoosh on the chest? The shirt is actually a transitional jersey that was designed by the Rapido brand and worn back in 1995. In 1996, Nike entered the football market and was awarded a contract with South Korea, among others. As everything had to go very quickly due to the upcoming World Cup promo matches, it was decided to use the old Rapido designs and only put a Nike logo on the jersey. Later versions (including the blue and green away jersey, which I also own) then had the typical Nike labels and tags for the time.
The only question I have not (yet) been able to answer is that of the missing Korean flag. It may have fallen off, or it may have been removed – some nations are a bit touchy when it comes to their national flag.
Eventually, I was able to acquire an original flag from another South Korea jersey that I put on my shirt.
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