Puma and Man City unveil 2024/25 away kit at behind-closed-doors launch event at Classic Football Shirts | OneFootball

Earlier this week, in collaboration with Classic Football Shirts, Manchester City and PUMA launched their brand-new Away Kit for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.

Eagerly-awaited by thousands of fans for many weeks, on Wednesday evening at an event hosted by Classic Football Shirts’ Manchester store on Dale Street in the city’s northern quarter, the reigning champions of England officially unveiled their new Away kit.

Frankly, it is one of the most eye-catching shirts that PUMA have ever produced.

Evidently inspired by the iconic and much-loved away shirt of 1998/99, the latest Manchester City Away strip is a sleek, modern take on a peculiar shirt cherished by the City faithful.

It is an adoration chiefly owing to it’s affiliation with the one of the most dramatic and important matches in the history of the club; the 1999 Second Division play-off final in which the blue side of Manchester dramatically achieved promotion at Wembley.

Following a rollercoaster campaign which eventually saw the club secure third place in the third tier of English football, Joe Royle’s Manchester City found themselves on the cusp of heartbreak as they headed into stoppage time in the play-off final, two goals down to Gillingham following late strikes by the Kent club.

All hope appeared lost, many City fans headed for the exits. Yet a 90th minute strike by Kevin Horlock provided a glimmer of hope, and in the 95th minute, Paul Dickov blasted the ball into the roof of the net to send the game to extra-time. Following a cagey 30 minutes, penalties followed and two outstanding saves by Nicky Weaver later, City were emphatically promoted.

It is without doubt that had City not triumphed at Wembley that day, the success that the Sky Blues have enjoyed in recent years would not have occurred and owing to this, it is certainly appropriate that PUMA have elected to pay homage to the kit sported on that historic day.

The sheer importance of the affair at Wembley that inspired the champions’ new Away strip was made further apparent through a glamorous pre-launch event that took place earlier this week.

A panel hosted by popular YouTuber and frequent Classic Football Shirts collaborator Ellis Platten (AwayDays) featured former Manchester City striker and Wembley hero Paul Dickov, a man synonymous with the popular 1998/99 Away.

You can check out our highlight reel from the evening here!

The former Maine Road forward spoke at length about the match for which the shirt is associated and also noted that he had “fulfilled a childhood dream” by scoring at Wembley in a game of such immense importance.

Following the session hosted by Ellis Platten, the audience were invited to ask the former Scotland international questions concerning his playing career along with his memories of that historic day.

The Sky Blue cult hero noted that he was pleased that 25 years on from that fateful match in the nation’s capital, the memory of the highlight of his career still lives strong within thousands of the club’s fans, and that this is further represented by Manchester City’s latest away strip.

City Xtra were invited to the launch of the club’s new kit alongside various members of the online Manchester City creator space and wider football community.

Throughout proceedings, it was a pleasure to listen to the hero of 1999, Paul Dickov, discuss his fond memories of that incredible day at Wembley, along with his pleasure regarding being the principal concept behind the the superb new Away kit.

Paul Dickov, a Manchester City Club Ambassador, said upon the launch of the new kit, “It’s fantastic to see this year’s away kit revealed today.

“The 1999 Play-Off final victory still remains a special moment for myself and City fans around the world and I know the kit from that day is remembered by those who were there and beyond.

“It’s a wonderful gesture by the Club and PUMA to commemorate the anniversary with this year’s away kit.”

Guests at Dale Street were greeted with a special polaroid photograph to commemorate the launch of the event, alongside exclusive edits featuring some of Manchester City’s present day stars depicted onto classic images from that afternoon in 1999.

And of course, it would not be a launch event without becoming one of the very first people to get their hands on the brand new 2024/25 away shirt, alongside it’s commemorative gift box in the iconic colours of the shirt first issued 25 years ago.

You can purchase the new 2024/25 Manchester City Away shirt on the club’s official website along with various other retailers, including Classic Football Shirts.