An authentic original, checked by hand before it was listed.
Vintage sizing runs differently. Go by the measurements in the description. Size guide
Low stock
Authenticity checked in person before listing
Worldwide tracked and insured shipping from Spain
7-day returns on every order
Authenticity checked ✓ Condition: 8.5/10 Season: 2012-13 3rd Shirt Player: Clean Shirt Size: M Measurements 70x50 cm Manufacturer: Adidas Product code: X23816 Item number LS581
Note: These jerseys are authentic. Due to their age, some jerseys may show minor imperfections such as light staining, faded sponsor logos, or loose threads.
Condition details: Excellent. Sponsor Logo Faded.
History
The 2012/13 season was one of the most unusual and memorable seasons in Chelsea's history. They began the campaign as reigning European champions, having won the 2012 Champions League, but ended it by becoming Europa League champions.
The season at a glance
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo initially, then Rafael Benítez from November 2012
Premier League: 3rd, 75 points
FA Cup: Semi-finalists
League Cup: Quarter-finals
Champions League: Group-stage elimination
Europa League: Winners
UEFA Super Cup: Runners-up
FIFA Club World Cup: Runners-up
Top scorer: Fernando Torres — 22 goals
Most appearances: Juan Mata, Oscar and Fernando Torres — 64 each
Top assists: Juan Mata — 35
A very difficult start
Chelsea entered the season with huge expectations after their extraordinary 2011/12 Champions League triumph.
The club spent heavily in the summer, bringing in Eden Hazard, Oscar, Marko Marin and César Azpilicueta. Hazard in particular was expected to become the new creative star of the team.
The opening months were actually very promising. Chelsea beat Wigan and Newcastle in their first two league games and produced some excellent attacking football.
However, European and domestic form became increasingly inconsistent. The low point came in the Champions League group stage. Chelsea were eliminated after finishing behind Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming the first reigning Champions League holders to fail to reach the knockout stage.
Di Matteo was dismissed in November, and Rafael Benítez was appointed interim manager.
Benítez and the Europa League
Benítez inherited a talented but somewhat unbalanced squad. His biggest success was getting Chelsea to refocus on the Europa League after the Champions League disappointment.
Chelsea progressed through the knockout stages, defeating:
Sparta Prague
Steaua București
Rubin Kazan
Basel
Benfica
The final against Benfica in Amsterdam on 15 May 2013 became one of the great moments of the season.
Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead, Óscar Cardozo equalised from the penalty spot, and then, deep into added time, Branislav Ivanović headed in the winning goal.
Chelsea won 2–1 and became the first club to simultaneously hold the Champions League and Europa League trophies.
Key Players
Juan Mata
Probably the most important creative player of the season.
Mata was outstanding between the midfield and attack, producing goals, assists and chances throughout the campaign. He finished the season with 35 assists according to the season statistics.
He was essentially Chelsea's creative hub.
Eden Hazard
The major new arrival.
Chelsea signed Hazard from Lille and he immediately became one of the most exciting players in the Premier League.
His first season wasn't completely consistent, but his pace, dribbling and ability to create something from nothing made him one of Chelsea's defining players.
UEFA specifically identified Hazard as Chelsea's player to watch during their Europa League campaign.
Fernando Torres
Torres had one of his better Chelsea seasons.
He finished as Chelsea's leading scorer with 22 goals in all competitions and was particularly important in Europe.
He scored Chelsea's opening goal in the Europa League final against Benfica before Ivanović's late winner.
Frank Lampard
Still a hugely important figure despite being in the latter part of his Chelsea career.
Lampard scored 17 Premier League goals, an impressive return for a midfielder, and his leadership was particularly valuable during the transition from Di Matteo to Benítez.
Petr Čech
Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper and still one of Europe's elite.
He played all nine of Chelsea's Europa League matches and was an important part of the side that won the trophy.
Branislav Ivanović
A hugely important defender who became immortalised by his 93rd-minute winner in the Europa League final.
That header gave Chelsea their second major European trophy in consecutive seasons.
David Luiz
Now a midfielder as well as centre-back, Luiz became increasingly influential under Benítez. His passing ability and physical presence made him particularly useful in Chelsea's transition from defence into attack.
Ramires
One of the team's great engines.
His pace, stamina and ability to cover huge areas of the pitch were particularly valuable in European matches.
Oscar
Another major summer signing. His technical quality and work rate made him an important part of the attacking midfield rotation alongside Mata and Hazard.
The 2012/13 Third Kit
This is a particularly interesting Chelsea shirt because it was very different from the traditional blue Chelsea look.
Design
The third kit was:
Black + Sun Yellow
with:
adidas manufacture
Samsung Mobile sponsor
black base
yellow adidas shoulder stripes
yellow/black graphic across the chest
yellow trim
black-and-white Chelsea crest
It was officially unveiled on 26 July 2012.
The graphic was designed to give the impression of speed and power, with a fading/sunburst effect across the front.
It was also quite unusual historically because Chelsea had traditionally used yellow as an accent colour, but the black base with vivid yellow graphics gave the shirt a much more aggressive appearance.
What makes it historically significant?
The shirt is strongly associated with the period immediately after Chelsea's first Champions League triumph.
It was worn during a season in which Chelsea went from:
Champions League holders → Champions League elimination → Europa League winners
So although it wasn't the shirt worn in the 2012 Champions League final, it belongs to the fascinating post-Champions League / Europa League-winning era.
The kit is documented as having been used in the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and Club World Cup during the 2012/13 campaign.
The official shirt
This is the 2012/13 adidas Third Shirt.
Shipping and delivery
All orders are shipped from Spain, fully tracked and insured at our expense.
International — Australia, Japan and Singapore. Standard tracked: 1 shirt €19.95, 2 shirts €24.95, 3 shirts €29.95, 4 shirts €29.95. Estimated delivery 6–8 working days, fully tracked from Spain to your door.
EU countries. Standard tracked €15.99 up to 2 kg. Estimated delivery 3–5 days.
United Kingdom and United States. Shipping cost on request — send us a message before you order and we will confirm the exact cost.
Delivery times are estimates and may vary due to customs processing. Any import taxes or duties applicable in the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer.
Returns
You have 7 days from delivery to request a return. The shirt must come back unworn and in the same condition it was sent, with all tags intact. Return postage is paid by the buyer. Once the shirt is received and checked, we refund the full purchase price. We do not accept refunds or exchanges for change of mind or incorrect sizing. We encourage you to carefully review your purchase before completing your order.
How we verify authenticity
Every shirt is inspected by hand before it is listed. We check construction, neck and wash labels, stitching, sponsor and badge application, and the manufacturer product code against period-correct examples. Only shirts that pass are photographed, graded and added to the Vault. If a shirt is not an authentic original, we do not sell it.
Condition and sizing
These shirts are vintage, aged and normally used, so they will almost always show some degree of wear. Each listing carries a condition grade out of ten and any notable fault is called out in the description. Sizing on older shirts differs from modern sizing — always go by the pit-to-pit and length measurements listed, not the size on the label.
100% authentic originals
Every shirt is authentic
Worldwide tracked shipping
7-day returns
Why this shirt costs what it costs
Original, not a reproduction
A reproduction and an original can look identical in a listing photo. Drag the slider to see the difference, and what we checked on this exact shirt before it was listed.
Embroidered crest with real stitch texture, never a flat print
Period-correct fabric weave, weight and cut for the season
Woven sponsor lettering applied the way that era did it
Original neck and wash labels, matched to the year
Manufacturer product code checked against the genuine one
Reproduction
Authentic original
How a shirt reaches you
Three steps, every single time. No shortcuts, no exceptions.
Step one
Found
We track down originals across Europe: private collectors, club sales, and the people who were actually there.
Step two
Verified
Construction, neck and wash labels, stitching, sponsor application and product code, all checked by hand against period-correct examples.
Step three
Yours
Photographed in detail, graded out of ten with full measurements, then shipped worldwide tracked and insured from Spain, with reduced rates on more than one shirt.
Go by the flat measurements in the description, not the size on the label. Sizing on older shirts is nothing like modern sizing. Lay a shirt you already own flat, measure pit to pit and length, and compare. Not sure? Send us the listing and we will tell you honestly.
What condition is it in?
This shirt is vintage, aged and normally used, so it will show some degree of wear. The condition grade out of ten and any notable fault are stated in the description above. Nothing is hidden in the photographs.
What makes it an original?
Every shirt is an authentic original from its season, found and checked by hand before it is listed. Stock is limited and often a single piece, so when one sells it is usually gone for good.
How do I know it is authentic?
Every shirt is inspected by hand before listing: construction, neck and wash labels, stitching, sponsor and badge application, and the manufacturer product code, all against period-correct examples. If a shirt is not an authentic original, we do not sell it.
When will it arrive?
Orders are dispatched within 2 working days from Spain, fully tracked and insured at our expense. EU standard tracked is €15.99 up to 2 kg with estimated delivery in 3–5 days. Australia, Japan and Singapore are €19.95 for one shirt, €24.95 for two and €29.95 for three or four, with estimated delivery in 6–8 working days.
What if it is not right?
You have 7 days from delivery to request a return. Send it back unworn and in the same condition, with tags intact, and we refund the full purchase price. We do not accept refunds or exchanges for change of mind or incorrect sizing, so please review your purchase carefully before ordering. If it arrives damaged or not as described, we cover the return postage too.
Every shirt in the Matchday Vault is an authentic original — sourced, inspected and graded by hand, and photographed in detail before it is listed. No replicas. No modern reproductions. Ever.
