Retro LA FC Shirts – The Black & Gold of South Los Angeles
Few clubs in modern American soccer have made an impact as immediate and seismic as Los Angeles Football Club. Born in 2014 and stepping onto the pitch for the first time in 2018, LAFC didn't arrive to participate – they arrived to dominate. With their unmistakable black and gold colours, a fervent supporters' group known as The 3252, and a state-of-the-art home at BMO Stadium in the heart of Exposition Park, LAFC has redefined what a Major League Soccer expansion club can become. They are the team of Hollywood owners, of breathtaking attacking football, and of a city that finally embraced soccer as its own. For collectors, a retro LA FC shirt represents more than fabric – it represents the dawn of a new era for football in Southern California. From the inaugural 2018 kit to the MLS Cup-winning campaign of 2022, every jersey tells a story of bold ambition, record-breaking moments, and a club that turned the Western Conference upside down in record time. This is the story behind every retro LA FC shirt worth owning.
Club History
The Los Angeles Football Club was officially established on October 30, 2014, when MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the city's second top-flight club. With a star-studded ownership group including Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell, Mia Hamm, and tech entrepreneur Larry Berg, LAFC was conceived as something different from the start – a club rooted in the diverse cultural fabric of Los Angeles, blending Latin American passion with American ambition. Their debut MLS season in 2018 set a new benchmark for expansion clubs, with the team finishing third in the Western Conference and immediately establishing themselves as title contenders. The 2019 campaign cemented their place in MLS history: under head coach Bob Bradley, LAFC broke the all-time MLS points record with 72 points and lifted the Supporters' Shield, with Carlos Vela producing arguably the greatest individual season the league has ever witnessed, scoring 34 goals. The crown jewel arrived in 2022, when LAFC captured both the Supporters' Shield and their first-ever MLS Cup in a dramatic final against Philadelphia Union at BMO Stadium – a match many consider the greatest in MLS Cup history. Their rivalry with cross-town giants LA Galaxy, known as El Tráfico, has become the most-watched and most intense derby in American soccer, producing memorable moments like Zlatan Ibrahimović's debut hat-trick in 2018 and countless thrilling encounters at both ends of Los Angeles. Continental ambition culminated in their CONCACAF Champions League final appearance in 2023, narrowly losing to Liga MX side Club León but signalling that LAFC are no longer just an MLS power – they are a continental force.
Great Players and Legends
No player embodies the LAFC era quite like Carlos Vela. The Mexican magician arrived as the club's first-ever Designated Player and quickly became the face of the franchise, winning the 2019 MLS MVP and rewriting the league's single-season goalscoring record. His partnership with Uruguayan striker Diego Rossi formed one of the most prolific attacking duos MLS has ever seen. The 2022 championship squad introduced an even more illustrious cast: Welsh wizard Gareth Bale arrived from Real Madrid and scored the dramatic 128th-minute equaliser in the MLS Cup final, while Italian World Cup winner Giorgio Chiellini brought defensive nobility and leadership to the back line. Coach Bob Bradley, the American tactician who came from European stints at Stabæk, Le Havre and Swansea City, laid the foundation of LAFC's attacking philosophy from 2018 to 2020. He was succeeded by Steve Cherundolo, the former USMNT defender, who guided the club to its historic 2022 double. More recently, Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga has carried the torch with stunning seasons of goalscoring brilliance, while Olivier Giroud's 2024 arrival from AC Milan added another World Cup winner to the LAFC legacy. Captains like Carlos Vela and Maxime Crépeau have shaped the soul of the club, while academy products and homegrown talents continue building the foundation for the next decade of black and gold success.
Iconic Shirts
LAFC kits are among the most distinctive in modern football. The inaugural 2018 home shirt set the template: predominantly black with subtle gold pinstripes, the club's stunning monogram crest, and adidas branding – it remains one of the most coveted retro LA FC shirts among collectors today. The 2019 Supporters' Shield-winning kit introduced bolder gold accents, while the 2020 'Smoke' away shirt, with its grey marble effect, became an instant cult classic. The 2022 MLS Cup home jersey, featuring a refined art deco-inspired pattern celebrating Los Angeles architecture, holds special significance as the shirt worn during Bale's iconic equaliser. Title sponsor Flagstar Bank has appeared prominently across the chest in recent seasons. Special editions have included the 'Heart of Los Angeles' community kit and Hispanic Heritage Month editions that pay tribute to the city's Latino fanbase. For collectors hunting a genuine retro LA FC shirt, the inaugural 2018 home jersey and the 2022 MLS Cup edition are absolute grails, with player-issue versions of Vela #10 and Bale #11 commanding premium prices.
Collector Tips
When hunting a retro LA FC shirt, the inaugural 2018 home jersey is the holy grail – limited in production and historically significant as the club's first-ever kit. The 2019 Supporters' Shield season and 2022 MLS Cup-winning jerseys are equally collectible, especially with Vela #10 or Bale #11 nameset printing. Always check for authentic adidas climalite or HEAT.RDY technology tags, correctly stitched MLS patches, and the holographic security label. Match-worn shirts with locker tags command serious premiums over replicas. Inspect the gold detailing carefully, as it's prone to fading. Our shop currently has 9 retro LA FC shirts available – browse before the rarest pieces disappear.