Designer of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning kit also created England's most hated shirt
“People were livid with the colour choice. Ironically, it would likely be well received today.”
An England fan who designed Italy's iconic 2006 World Cup winning kit was also the man behind the most hated Three Lions shirt.
Designer Rob Warner, 47, has worked for legendary sports brands like Puma and Umbro in his career and helped create countless kits.
He penned the final drawings for Italy's iconic royal blue kit which helped them beat France in a penalty shoot-out to win the 2006 World Cup.
The legendary shirt, worn by the likes of Andrea Pirlo, was inspired by comic book superheroes and made a bright shade of blue to give the illusion of speed.
Rob's also kitted out Premier League clubs like Manchester City and Everton as well as Sporting Lisbon, Villa Real and Monaco.
Now ahead of England's first World Cup clash against Croatia on Wednesday, he's revealed the true design choices behind the most hated Three Lions strip.
His all white design with red highlights for the 2012 Euros became Umbro's final ever England kit.
Fans blasted for the white and red strip for its colour choices, claiming it was too similar to Denmark.
Rob, who lives in Stockport., said: “It was the first time England had a kit without blue on it. It was the last Umbro kit, too, which was something special. It was designed to be in the colours of the George Cross.
“The intention of that kit was for them to have red shorts and Joe Hart be all in red, so when they lined up for the national anthem they would line up and make a George Cross for the cameras.
"That was the intent, at the time we didn’t know it was the last Umbro kit, but I think we made a good job of it.
“Back then it was too much like Denmark and people were furious there was no blue.
“The England home kit is a really difficult one to design. If it’s just white you’re lazy or if you go a different colour you’re ruining it.
“People were livid with the colour choice. Ironically, it would likely be well received today.”
The Aston Villa superfan, originally from Sutton Coldfield, West Mids, also revealed how he was able to include a subtle nod to his beloved club in the World Cup winning kit.
Rob said: “I remember drawing that World Cup kit, I was a young kid at the time. For all the Puma teams the brief was to get players to the ball faster.
"We looked at it from a perspective of aerodynamics and weight in the product.
"We looked at elements where footballers ran fast.
“Because we landed on the fastest kit in the world and we tested it in a wind tunnel, we didn’t want to put them all in the same kit.
“We took the move to put a national icon as a graphic on the front of the shirts.
"Cameroon had an elephant, but for Italy we realised the national team are icons in their own right and seen as superheroes in their own right.
"The navy details were so that in a still photo the players would look like they were still moving like in a comic where the colour bleeds off.
"It makes them appear like they're in motion when photographed.
“For the away kit the intent of that was to be the Clark Kent of the kits, the mask. You can see the blue poking out from underneath, it’s very Superman.
“I’m a big Aston Villa fan and I did manage to sneak some claret into Buffon’s shirt and all the coaching staff were kitted out in claret, white and blue as a subtle nod. No one at the time knew."
Rob praised England's squad for the tournament and reckons they could win it.
He said: "I think England have got a good chance this year. We've got a strong squad, a very pragmatic coach.
"So whilst a lot of fans won't necessarily appreciate the style of football, I think it's proven to bring results.
"So I am hopeful that England will get quite far in the competition this year.
"The kits this year are clearly drawing on elements from previous England kits.
"Some classic design details from all of the years have been brought together."
On what makes a great World Cup kit, he added: “For me it’s that mix of sporting performance, the players have trained their whole life for this.
"As a designer you have to give your everything for them.
"They’re also representing their nation, so you have to work out what works best for that and what represents them the best. It’s a crucial thing to get right.”