Retro KAA Gent Shirt – The Buffalo's Through the Decades

KAA Gent's story is one of patience rewarded. Founded on 5 November 1900, the club spent much of the twentieth century in the shadow of Belgium's more glamorous clubs – Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Standard Liège. Gent yo-yoed between divisions for decades, building a regional following but rarely threatening the national elite. Their first Belgian Cup victory arrived in 1963–64, a landmark moment that hinted at what the club could become when it clicked. A second Cup win followed in 1983–84, but consistent top-flight football remained elusive until the 1989–90 season, when Gent finally established themselves in the Belgian First Division A on a permanent basis.

The Jules Ottenstadion in Gentbrugge served as their home from 1920 to 2013, a crumbling but beloved ground that witnessed generations of Buffalo's supporters. The move to the modern Ghelamco Arena in 2013 signalled a new era of ambition – and the payoff came almost immediately.

The 2014–15 season stands as the defining chapter in Gent's entire existence. Under coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, the Buffalo's produced a campaign of breathtaking consistency, claiming the Belgian Pro League title for the first, and so far only, time in the club's history. It was a triumph that sent the city of Ghent into raptures. The following season brought the Champions League group stage – Gent became the first Ghent club ever to reach that stage, defeating Zenit St Petersburg in a thrilling playoff. They finished third in a group containing Valencia, Lyon, and Zenit, securing Europa League football and announcing themselves to a European audience.

Cup glory has continued in the modern era, with victories in 2009–10 and most recently 2022–23, confirming Gent as one of Belgium's most consistent cup fighters. Their rivalry with fellow Ghent clubs, and the broader tension with Anderlecht and Brugge, adds edge to every season. De Buffalo's have never had it easy – but they have always had heart.

KAA Gent has produced and harboured some remarkable footballers over the years, players who became legends in the blue and white. The title-winning 2014–15 squad was packed with character: Sven Kums marshalled midfield with elegance and authority, earning him the Belgian Golden Shoe that season and eventually a move to Anderlecht and Udinese. Kalifa Coulibaly led the attacking line with physical menace and crucial goals, while Danijel Milicevic contributed craft and creativity from deeper positions. Defender Stefan Mitrović was a colossus at the heart of defence during those European nights.

Laurent Depoitre, a bustling forward with a nose for goals, became a fan favourite before earning a move to Huddersfield Town and Porto. Moses Simon lit up the flanks with pace and skill, catching the eye of Nantes, where he flourished. Perhaps most eye-catching of all: Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who is now one of the world's elite forwards at Napoli, had an early loan spell in Gent's orbit, foreshadowing his explosive potential.

In goal, Matz Sels became one of the most reliable Belgian keepers of his generation during his time at the Ghelamco Arena. More recently, Hugo Cuypers has emerged as a prolific striker beloved by the Gent faithful. On the managerial front, Hein Vanhaezebrouck remains the architect of the club's greatest moment, his name forever linked to that title-winning season.

The KAA Gent retro shirt is defined above all by the iconic blue and white – colours that have remained at the heart of the club's identity for over a century. In earlier decades, Gent wore simpler designs that reflected the era: bold stripes, minimal branding, and the straightforward aesthetic of Belgian football in the mid-twentieth century. The 1980s brought bolder graphic elements and the kind of retro polyester texture that collectors now treasure.

The most sought-after piece of KAA Gent retro kit is undoubtedly from the 2014–15 championship-winning season, when the Buffalo's lifted their first and only Belgian title. That shirt – worn during home matches at what was then a relatively new Ghelamco Arena – represents the pinnacle of the club's achievements and is a genuine collector's item. The blue-dominant design of that era, with white accents and the sponsor branding of the time, captures a moment of pure club history.

The 2015–16 Champions League kits also carry enormous sentimental value, representing Gent's greatest European adventure. Whether home or away, those shirts were worn on nights that will never be forgotten in Ghent. With 6 authentic retro KAA Gent shirts available in our shop, there are options spanning different eras of the club's journey – from pre-title strivers to European competitors.