Malta 5

 

Unknown Player
vs. Liechtenstein (1:0) | Friendly | 2012 in Liechtenstein

Following an Errea period and a brief two years of a contract with Diadora, Givova started to equip the Maltese national team around 2010. Initially, they just threw terrible templates at Malta, but by 2012, they did actually design decent shirts for them, featuring the Maltese cross all over the lower half of the shirt. While the shirt looks much more like a rugby shirt and lets the players look much more dangerous than they actually are, it is one of the few bespoke designs Malta ever had, at least. That said, I had to snap one up, when I was offered this matchworn shirt for 80€ at some point. As the patches suggest, it is from some kind of qualifier match, although I don't know which one.

What is a bit weird about this one is the size. It really is tiny. I need to use actual force to somehow pull it over my mannequin. I am not sure who the number 3 of Malta was at the time - or if this shirt was possibly worn by a youth team - but whoever actually wore it must be really small for a professional football. In particular for a center, which the number suggests the players was.