The Jersey Swap Tradition

Anyone who enjoys watching soccer has seen the jersey exchange that takes place between opposing players at the end of a game. There is nothing like this in any other sport. But, how did this tradition begin?

Well, it goes back nearly eighty years. The day was May 14, 1931. There was a match held between France and England commemorating the friendship between them. The match was held at the Stade Olympique in Colombes, France. The French team scored five goals to win the game against England, who was considered the soccer powerhouse at the time. As a way of showing the goodwill between the teams, and to make this event as memorable as it could be, France requested the English team members exchange Jerseys at the end of the game.

And since that day, jersey trading at the end of the game has become much more than a simple gesture.

One famous swap took place in 1970 between soccer legends, Bobby Moore of England and Brazil’s Pele after a world cup match. The jersey exchange marked the near end of both their fantastic soccer careers and is regarded as a historic moment in soccer history.

In 1966, England defeated Argentina in the quarterfinals. Alf Ramsey, England’s manager, stopped the jersey exchange between one of his players and an Argentinean player because he believed the Argentinean team had played like “animals.” 

Exchange rituals are freighted with cultural functions, such as reinforcing social solidarity, affirming friendships and perpetuating economic partnerships.” Ellis Cashmore, a professor of sociology, media and sport at England’s Staffordshire University says.

The exchange of jerseys has evolved from a simple sign of good sportsmanship between players to a representation of the friendship between entire countries.