Adidas and Romanian Football: A Forgotten Connection
Tiro 25 Template: Another Chapter for Football Kits
Adidas, one of the world’s leading sportswear brands, has once again set the standard in football kit design with its latest release — the Tiro 25 template. Launched in December 2024, this highly anticipated kit is part of a new wave of teamwear that combines cutting-edge technology with a timeless aesthetic. Alongside the Tiro 25, Adidas introduced four other designs, catering to clubs of all levels, from elite European teams to grassroots organizations.
As the football world gears up for the 2025/26 season, the Tiro 25 is already making headlines, with elite clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus expected to showcase it in their match, training, and goalkeeper kits. But what does this mean for smaller clubs and, more specifically, Romanian football?
In short I would like to share the impact of Adidas’s innovations and how they could shape the future of the beautiful game in Romania and beyond.
Tiro 24 vs. Tiro 25
The Adidas Tiro kit template is a versatile design platform that Adidas uses for its teamwear collections, targeting a wide range of football teams, from grassroots to elite clubs.
The Tiro template is part of Adidas’s teamwear line, which provides pre-designed kits that teams can customize with their colors, badges, and sponsor logos. Unlike bespoke designs made exclusively for top clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United, the Tiro templates are accessible to a broader range of teams, including smaller clubs and amateur leagues.
These templates are typically released annually or biannually, with incremental updates in design and technology. The Tiro 25, for instance, replaces its predecessor, the Tiro 24, offering improved features and a modernized look.
Below it is a comparison between Tiro 24 (left) and upcoming Tiro 25 (right):
Adidas Kits in the 2024/25 Season
The 2024/25 season has already seen some exciting developments in Adidas’s teamwear offerings. In addition to the Tiro 25, the brand released updated versions of its popular Condivo and Entrada templates. These designs cater to clubs with varying budgets and preferences, ensuring that Adidas maintains its position as a top choice for football teams worldwide.
This information is aimed at football fans who may not be familiar with shirt design and brand templates in the world of football. For those who know, what I am going to briefly explain below, there will be no new information.
For example, Arsenal shirt for current season 2024–2025, is based on a Tiro 24 template. Naturally next season, 2025–2026, the Arsenal design should be based on Tiro 25 with small modifications, or not.
High-profile clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United continue to lead the way with bespoke Adidas designs, some based on templates, showcasing the brand’s ability to create unique and eye-catching kits for its top-tier partners. Meanwhile, smaller clubs and amateur teams often rely on the more affordable teamwear templates, which still deliver the same quality and innovation associated with Adidas.
I wrote an article on the adidas templates that Romania used. You can find it here: -> Romania’s Lookalikes Football Shirts
In Romania, the situation is no different. While no Romanian club currently enjoys a direct partnership with Adidas at the level of Europe’s elite, several teams have made the most of the brand’s teamwear options.
This includes U Cluj, Oțelul Galați, Slobozia, Sepsi, and FC Botoșani, all of which have incorporated Adidas kits into their matchday wardrobes in recent years.
Adidas and Romanian Football: A Forgotten Connection
Adidas’s influence in Romanian football dates back decades, with the brand supplying kits to some of the country’s most storied clubs like Steaua Bucharest, Universitatea Craiova or the Romanian national team. In the current 2024/25 season, Romanian teams primarily use older Adidas templates, such as the Striped 24 and designs from the 2022/23 season. These kits are typically acquired through third-party distributors rather than direct sponsorships, reflecting the financial realities of many Romanian clubs.
U Cluj stands out as one of the most prominent Romanian teams currently wearing Adidas. They’ve opted for a Tiro 24 (for away matches) and Striped 24 (for home games), showcasing their commitment to maintaining a professional look on the pitch. However, with the Tiro 24 template being phased out, the question remains whether U Cluj will upgrade to the Tiro 25 or explore partnerships with other suppliers.
Oțelul Galați, another Adidas user, has embraced the practicality of teamwear templates to maintain a cohesive identity. Meanwhile, clubs like Slobozia, Sepsi, and FC Botoșani rely on older designs sourced through distributors, highlighting the challenges faced by smaller teams in securing top-tier kit deals.
Challenges and Opportunities for Romanian Clubs
Romanian football clubs face unique challenges when it comes to securing kit deals. Unlike major European leagues, where Adidas invests heavily in sponsorships, Romanian teams often operate with limited budgets. This has led to a reliance on older templates and third-party suppliers, which can sometimes limit the visual appeal and functionality of their kits.
FC Botosani shop selling adidas template with their logo applied:
However, the introduction of the Tiro 25 presents an opportunity for Romanian clubs to elevate their kit game. With its sleek design and advanced performance features, the Tiro 25 could help teams like U Cluj and Oțelul Galați stand out in domestic and European competitions. Additionally, the growing trend of sustainability in sportswear aligns with the broader movement toward eco-conscious practices in Romanian football.
As Adidas continues to innovate, there’s hope that Romanian clubs could benefit from more direct partnerships with the brand. While this may take time, the popularity of Adidas kits among fans and players alike suggests that the demand is there. For now, clubs like U Cluj and Oțelul Galați will need to weigh the costs and benefits of upgrading to the Tiro 25, especially as older templates like Striped 24 are gradually phased out.
Design Simulations: Imagining Romania’s Adidas Teams in Tiro 25
To envision what the future might hold, I’ve created design simulations of how the Tiro 25 template could look on Romanian teams like U Cluj, Oțelul Galați, Slobozia, Sepsi, and FC Botoșani. The sleek lines and bold aesthetics of the Tiro 25 would undoubtedly bring a fresh, modern look to the Romanian First League, helping these teams stand out both on and off the pitch.
Conclusion
The launch of the Tiro 25 template marks another significant milestone for Adidas and its commitment to innovation in football. While elite clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madridwill lead the way in adopting this new design, the potential for its impact in Romanian football is equally exciting.
Whether through direct partnerships or creative use of teamwear options, Romanian clubs have the chance to embrace the future of football fashion and performance with Adidas’s latest offering.
As the 2025/26 season approaches, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how the Tiro 25 shapes the identity of teams both big and small. For Romanian football, this could be the beginning of a new chapter in its relationship with one of the sport’s most iconic brands.
Also if you are intersted about the competiton, Nike, I wrote a tiny story about their 2025 template game: Total 90. You can read it here: -> Nike’s Total 90 Template and Its Romanian Football Legacy
And this is how Romania shirts could look if it would adapt Adidas Tiro 25 template today!
I post regularly on Instagram as OnRomanianFootball https://www.instagram.com/onromanianfootball/
