Express & Star

This football artist is putting current players in old kits and the result is retro magnificence

Feast. Your. Eyes.

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Football fans are always debating how well current players would fare in previous teams and eras, but more importantly, how would they look?

That question has been answered emphatically by football illustrator Jimmy O’Mara, whose latest creations put current stars in kits of the past.

Wondering how Eden Hazard would look playing next to Gianluca Vialli, for example? Wonder no more.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“I’ve always had a keen interest in the old-school kits,” said the Liverpool-supporting artist.

“And one day I just decided to see what Emre Can would look like in the iconic Italia ’90 Germany kit, arguably my favourite kit of all time.

“A beautiful man for a beautiful kit!”

Emre Can in a retro Germany kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“The response was incredible,” he said. “I was swamped with suggestions of different footballers in different kits, so I decided to make a mini series of six current players in classic international kits.

“I then moved on to club kits, and the response to those illustrations has been even crazier.”

Would Harry Kane have scored hat-tricks galore in the 1980s?

Tottenham's Harry Kane in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)
Everton's Wayne Rooney in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“For the Virgil van Dijk illustration for example, three or four people tweeted me saying: ‘Imagine if Virgil van Dijk and Sami Hyypia had been centre-back partners’.”

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“I also like to think people like the idea because it’s something they’ve never seen before,” O’Mara continued.

“The juxtaposition of a retro kit and a modern player with modern football boots!”

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“I love the old Adidas Originals kits so I’d have to say the Jamaal Lascelles one,” he said.

“Also, the Ozil illustration was such a long process and is arguably the most detailed design I have ever done, so I’ll say that as well just because I hope the long hours were worth it!”

Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles in a retro kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

“I don’t see how I’m going to stop,” said O’Mara.

“There is an infinite number of classic and retro kits.

“That, combined with the ever-changing world of football transfers means I am going to be busy for a long time!”

Manchester City's Leroy Sane in a retro Germany kit
(James O’Mara/@EntireDesign_)

You can keep up to date with Jimmy’s work on Twitter and Instagram.

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