• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Why Italy play in blue despite it not being a colour on their flag

Home> Football> Football News

Published 16:49 6 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Why Italy play in blue despite it not being a colour on their flag

Italy play in blue for a bizarre reason.

Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins

Italy will always play in blue when they are at home but why do the Azzurri wear that specific colour despite it not featuring on their flag?

Luciano Spalletti's side had a rather underwhelming summer at Euro 2024, as they failed to carry momentum from their 2-1 win over Albania in their opening game.

The Italians eventually crashed out to tournament surprise package Switzerland, as they were defeated 2-0 in the round of 16 after finishing second in Group B, behind eventual winners Spain.

Advert

Their blue Adidas kit looked as glorious as ever in the German sunshine with the colour having been in use since their early international matches in the early 1910s.

Their first kit, worn for an international friendly against France in 1910, was all-white - but only because the country's football federation had yet to decide on an official colour.

The real reason behind the wearing of the colour blue, as per multiple sources, is to honour the Italian House of Savoy, the country's Royal Family, which was in place when Italy was unified back in 1861.

The future of the Royal Family was the subject of a constitutional referendum after World War II, and it was succeeded by the Italian Republic in 1946.

Advert

A total of 54.27 per cent of people voted for a republic, with the other 45.73 per cent voting for the retention of the monarchy. The south of Italy was largely in favour of the monarchy, with the north of Italy largely in favour of the republic.

Still, the blue kit remained - despite Italy's flag being green, white and red and the country no longer having a Royal Family.

Italy and Euro 2024- Getty
Italy and Euro 2024- Getty

The official shade is known as 'savoy azure', with the nation's Azzurri nickname literally standing for 'Blues'.

Advert

Italy did move away from their 'savoy azure' roots in 2004, however.

In Marcelo Lippi's first match in charge, an away fixture in Iceland, Italy and Puma unveiled an all-navy blue kit.

It was worn once and then never again - prompting questions over why it was worn in the first place.

Featured Image Credit: Getty
Tom Jenkins
Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins is a Social Editor and Journalist for SPORTBible. Specialises in Football and F1 but has experience covering a variety of sports such as MMA, Boxing and Cricket. Suffers weekly as an Evertonian.

X

@tomjenkns

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    9 hours ago

    Wrexham Take Drastic Action After Ryan Reynolds Watches Third Defeat of The Season

    Reynolds was in the stands for Saturday's clash against QPR.

    Football
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    10 hours ago

    Alejandro Garnacho's Reaction to Moises Caicedo Goal vs Brentford Has Got People Talking

    The Argentine played a huge role in Chelsea's second goal.

    Football
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    11 hours ago

    Man Utd Fans Are Making Same Point After Seeing Rasmus Hojlund Score on Napoli Debut

    Hojlund has opened his account for Napoli.

    Football
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    12 hours ago

    Dele Alli Handed Wrexham Transfer Blow as Midfielder Tipped to Join Unthinkable Club

    Alli is currently a free agent after leaving Serie A side Como.

    Football
  • Why Germany's national kit is white despite it not being a colour on their flag
  • Football fans are only just realising why Italy play in blue despite it not being a colour on their flag
  • Why Germany play in white despite it not being a colour on their flag
  • Why Germany play in white despite it not being a colour on their flag