Italian giants AS Roma have revealed their new home kit for 2019-20, based on Nike’s new template.
As anticipated over the last few months, the most striking feature is the lightning bolt detail which adorns the shirt’s collar, sleeves and socks. The lightning bolt is a reference to Roman mythology and the Roman God of the Sky, Jupiter, and is also a nod to Roma’s historical nickname La Magica. It inspires the shirt launch’s accompanying slogan: ‘It’s Magic. It’s AS Roma.’
“Roman mythology and its influence on Roman identity played a huge part in the concept. This year, Jupiter was our focus, and the lightning bolt was an obvious and powerful symbol to use,” explains Pete Hoppins, Nike Football Apparel Senior Design Director.
In theory, the lightning bolt detail is a welcome addition to the otherwise predictable Nike template, but we can’t help but feel the final execution of the pattern on the shirt was a bit lazy (especially when you compare it to some fan concepts of the same idea). A single lightning pattern is replicated on the three areas of the kit, and feels a little lost among the yellow colouring. Some more pattern detail going up the sleeve or a slight gradient would have offered a more lasting impression. Also, you can’t help but notice that aside from these small lightning strips, there is literally no other design element evident on the outside of the kit which differentiates it from any other Nike template (crest aside).
Nicolò Zaniolo – ASRoma.com 
Elisa Bartoli – ASRoma.com
The new kit will be worn by both the club’s men’s and women’s team. “The lightning bolt is something new and exciting,” says talented young midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo. “It’s a really beautiful addition to the Roma jersey and we, as players, will wear it with great pride, giving all our best for our supporters,” says Elisa Bartoli, the captain of the club’s women’s team.
The new Roma home kit is completed by a return to the more familiar white shorts (red last season) and also a change to red socks (although the more traditional black could’ve worked well here). The lightning bolt stands out nicely on the socks, with a Nike logo and AS Roma reference underneath. The main red and yellow colours are the same based on the traditional rosso (Pantone 202c) and giallo (130c), which you can see in the infographic below.
To complete the new Roma home kit a custom numbering and lettering has been produced to match the lightning bolt detail, giving a jagged-edge look. Custom typefaces are always welcome and this detail looks very interesting, but it remains to be seen how this numbering and lettering will stand up when seen on kits on the pitch. The lettering also reminds us of the the Roman Legionaire shields of old, although no reference was made to this in the official release.
The 2019-20 AS Roma home kit will be worn by the players for the first time on Sunday May 26, in the final game of the 2018-19 season against Parma, and what will be Daniele De Rossi’s last game for his beloved club. A special patch will also adorn these match-worn kits in tribute to one of Roma’s last emperors.
The new Roma 2019/20 home kit is available to purchase from May 23 and can be bought at AS Roma Stores, asromastore.com, Nike.com and other approved Nike retailers.
