In a week where some may have lost hope for the future of football shirt design, Adidas and Ajax swoop in to restore parity with the club’s quite outstanding 21/22 third shirt, which is inspired by Bob Marley’s song ‘Three Little Birds’.

Since 2008, Ajax fans have been heard singing the Bob Marley track ‘Three Little Birds’ on their travels around Europe, embracing and adopting it as their unofficial anthem. Well now it becomes the inspiration for the club’s third shirt, with Ajax and adidas, in collaboration with the Bob Marley family paying tribute to the fans and their affinity with the reggae legend and his iconic song. The black kit features red, yellow and green details. On the back of the jersey, just below the collar, it features a subtle reference to the iconic song, with three little birds sitting on Amsterdam’s Andreas crosses. The kit will be worn in this season’s European matches, alongside Ajax’ home kit.

The story of Ajax, Bob Marley and Three Little Birds started in August 2008, when Ajax played a friendly match in Cardiff, against Cardiff City F.C. The Ajax fans were asked to remain in the stands after the game. To entertain the patient fans, the stadium DJ played several tracks, one of which was Three Little Birds. The rest is history. The fans instantly embraced the song as their own and have been singing it at every game since. A true symbol of hope, the fans sing the song regardless of the score in the game.

Bob Marley’s widely known love of football makes this collaboration and the collective love for his music from Ajax fans especially poignant with his family.