The biggest news of the Major League Soccer offseason so far has been the Chicago Fire’s new logo. For many, it was a bigger shock to the system than seeing Giovani dos Santos score goals for Club América.
Chicago isn’t the first to take on a new visual identity that’s modernized (cleaner, simpler and more of a brand as opposed to a traditional football crest). In recent times the likes of Juventus, Atlético Madrid and West Ham have made similar changes, albeit to varying extremes.
Having said that, amendments and total overhauls to badges are applicable to almost every club around the world — especially those that trace their origin back over 100 years. Because of that fact, some great (or at least interesting) crests have been abandoned to the fog of fading memory.
Here are 25 historical badges that I’m pretty fond of for whatever reason.
25 Old School Badges That I'd Like To Put On A Hat
1. Newcastle United | 1983-1988
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'Cause I'm a punk rocker, yes I am.
2. AC Milan | 1980-1982
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I invented electricity. Ben Franklin is the Devil!
3. Sporting Kansas City | 1996
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Mine eyes have seen the glory.
4. Ajax | 1928
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Bring back the helmet detailing!
5. AS Roma | 1977
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The Capitoline Wolf in all of its glory.
6. Sevilla | 1918-1921
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For me, this is just the right amount of squiggly.
7. Atletico Madrid | 1942
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Top Gun vibes.
8. Leicester City | 1983-1992
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Crazy like a fox.
9. West Ham | 1975-1980
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I miss the old West Ham, the beat-your-ass-at-the-Boleyn-Ground West Ham.
10. Manchester City | 1976-1981
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Maybe the best coat of arms I've ever seen.
11. Arsenal | 1994-1996
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Boom boom boom boom / I'm gonna shoot you right down.
12. Celtic | 1988
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The badge for Celtic's centenary.
13. River Plate | 1985-1986
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Classic cat-in-paper-bag behavior.
14. Sporting de Gijón | 1950
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The sort of "G" you used to draw all day in middle school.
15. Borussia Dortmund | 1976-1978
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RAWR
16. Eintracht Frankfurt | 1977-1998
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Looks like a great beer hall.
17. Lille OSC | 1981-1989
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One for the good boys.
18. FC Nantes | 1968-1973
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Looks like the Flying Dutchman.
19. Olympique Marseille | 1972-1986
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This would make for a sweet ball cap.
20. Club America | 1938-1946
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Las Aguilas
21. Atalanta | 1963
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Where's she going?
22. Minnesota United | 1976-1981
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Back in the NASL days.
23. Derby County | 1946
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Looks like a Digimon.
24. Swansea City | 1980s
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The kind of swan that comes after you in the park for no damn reason.
25. Fulham | 1931
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It's the neighborhood traphouse.