No flaws at all. On a shirt from 1998 that's rare enough to sound suspicious — so look at the photos full size. The satin gold fabric hasn't dulled, it has kept all its shine. The navy polo collar and the white shoulder stripes are clean, with no yellowing or stretching. The Ericsson sponsor is solid, without a single crack (close-up in photo 4). The embroidered centenary crest is flawless, including the white star at its centre. No holes, no stains, no bobbling.
| Size | L (period adidas label, photo 5) |
| Manufacturer | adidas |
| Season | 1998-1999 (the club's centenary) |
| Version | Gold / yellow third, navy polo collar |
| Sponsor | Ericsson |
| Crest | Special centenary badge « 1899-1999 / 100 ans » |
| Printing | None — blank back (photo 2) |
Unsure about the size? Late-1990s adidas shirts run large: check my vintage football shirt size guide.
100% AUTHENTIC
✦ Authenticity guaranteed for life
Item checked by hand in my authentication workshop. If an item bought from me is ever identified as a unofficial piece, I refund it in full. Guarantee with no expiry date.
- Period adidas neck label (photo 5): size conversion table using national flags (D / GB / I / E / F / US / CH / CND), typical of late-1990s adidas production
- Inner neck tape woven with « OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE » in sky blue across the full width of the collar (visible in photos 1 and 5): an expensive finishing detail that unofficial pieces systematically skip
- Centenary crest embroidered in three tones (navy, sky blue, gold) with the years « 1899 » and « 1999 » legible on the ring, and the white star embroidered at the centre (photo 3)
- Real photos of the exact item sold, never stock images
- Full method: authentication guide
🛠️ Workshop note — The centenary crest existed for one season only. That's what makes this shirt valuable: even if Marseille ever reissue this gold third, they can never reissue the « 1899-1999 » badge. The year is built into the piece.
📖 1999: Marseille turn 100, and come within touching distance of everything
This gold shirt celebrates the centenary of Olympique de Marseille, founded on 31 August 1899. For the occasion adidas designed a satin gold third kit with a completely redrawn badge carrying the years 1899 and 1999. A hundred years in one crest. And a 1998-1999 season that Marseille remember as the season of near-misses.
📅 1998-1999 — runners-up in France. Marseille finished 2nd in the league, beaten to the title by Bordeaux in the run-in. A championship slipping away by a handful of points, in the centenary year: the cruellest script possible.
📅 12 May 1999, Moscow — UEFA Cup final. Marseille reached the European final and fell to a Parma side featuring Hernan Crespo and Gianluigi Buffon (0-3). A superb European run, one step too far at the end — but a campaign that had the Vélodrome rocking all season.
📅 A star-studded squad. That team fielded Laurent Blanc, Robert Pirès, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Christophe Dugarry, Peter Luccin and William Gallas. 1998 world champions and future Arsenal Invincibles on the same pitch, with this centenary badge on their chest.
👑 The gold third — Marseille play in white, sometimes sky blue. Gold is the absolute exception. This is the third kit of a one-off season, with a one-off badge: of all the Marseille shirts of the 1990s, it's probably the hardest to find in good condition today.
❓ Frequently asked questions about this shirt
Is the shirt 100% authentic?
Yes. Period adidas flag label photographed (photo 5), neck tape woven « OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE », centenary crest embroidered in three tones with the years 1899 and 1999. Real photos of the exact item sold, lifetime authenticity guarantee.
Why is the crest different from Marseille's usual badge?
Because it's the special centenary badge. Marseille were founded on 31 August 1899; for the club's 100th anniversary the crest was redrawn with the years « 1899 » and « 1999 » and « 100 ans » around the M. It was worn for that season only, which makes the piece impossible to reissue identically.
The back is blank: can I have a name printed?
Yes. The back is perfectly clean (photo 2). If you want a period-correct printing — Pirès, Blanc, Ravanelli, Dugarry — message me before or after ordering: I do printing in my own workshop, in the style of the relevant season.
How does this 1998 L fit?
The flat measurements are listed above: 60 cm pit to pit and 77 cm in length. adidas shirts of this generation have a roomy cut, so this L is closer to a modern L/XL worn loose. The most reliable check is still to measure a shirt you already own and compare.
How much is shipping and how long does it take?
Dispatched within 48 working hours with tracked Colissimo delivery (€5.99 in mainland France, free from €99.99). International rates and delivery times are detailed in my shipping FAQ. 14-day returns if unworn.