It’s Not Orange, It’s Salmon.

THE 2009-10 FC BARCELONA AWAY JERSEY

Photo Credit: spiegel.de

Ask any non-football fan to name five football teams and inevitably, FC Barcelona will be on the list. As iconic a club as they come, Barca have, across the years, stood as a symbol of football’s flare and the panache with which it can be played. For spells, they’ve been the Mount Olympus of the game, boasting an eye-catching stable of talent book-ended by Cruyff and Messi, and including almost every demigod in between. For large stretches of football history, they've been the ones putting the beautiful in Beautiful Game – so, it stands to reason that their kits over the years, would be a reflection of this. But one jersey stands out from the rest: the 2008-09 away shirt.

For over a century, the Blaugrana were famous for their namesake colours – blue and garnet. But Nike had another idea: "Let’s design a jersey that speaks to Barcelona’s willingness to embrace innovation without abandoning its rich heritage." And so was born the salmon shirt – something exciting and new that still saluted the city’s maritime heritage.

This bold decision wasn't taken lightly, and raised eyebrows among Catalan fans and critics alike. But the jersey was ready to make a statement, just like Pep Guardiola’s squad, who debuted it in the ’09 UEFA Champions League clash against French side, Lyon. The match ended in an anti-climatic 1-1 draw but the image of Messi, Hernandez and Iniesta in this gorgeous new colour was enough to win the hearts and minds of most Barcelona supporters.

The jersey went on to become synonymous with the Golden Era of FC Barcelona, as the team clinched a historic treble, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League that season; and Messi's mesmerizing performances, often in the salmon jersey, only solidified its place in footballing folklore.

In the years that followed, Barcelona continued experimenting with different jersey designs. But the salmon kit remains an enduring symbol of the club’s innovation and history, and serves as a reminder that football is not just about the result on the field but also the stories, emotions and identities that make the game so enthralling to those who love it.