Borussia Dortmund 1998–99 Home Shirt – Authenticity Guide
The Borussia Dortmund 1998–99 Home Shirt, sponsored by s.Oliver, marked a shift in both visual identity and commercial partnerships for the club. This was the first season Dortmund replaced long-time sponsor Die Continentale with fashion brand s.Oliver, making this shirt a transitional and highly collectible piece. Common issues include fading of the neon fabric, cracking of the printed sponsor, and replicas using the wrong sponsor or incorrect collar stitching.
Shirt Overview
- Club: Borussia Dortmund
- Season: 1998–99
- Type: Home Shirt
- Manufacturer: Nike
- Main Colours: Fluorescent yellow with black detailing
- Sponsor: s.Oliver (front)
- Competition Use: Bundesliga, UEFA Cup
- Available Versions: Short sleeve and long sleeve, fan replica and player issue
- Retail Release: Summer 1998
Design Details
- Neon yellow base with a thick black chest band
- Fold-over black collar with single-button fastening and yellow trim
- Embroidered Borussia Dortmund crest with two stars on the left chest
- Nike Swoosh embroidered in white on the right chest
- “s.Oliver” sponsor printed in black in stylised script font across the chest
- Mesh ventilation panels down the sides
- Official Bundesliga font used for numbering, typically white with black outline
Variants and Notes
- Early Season Variant: Some rare early versions still featured Die Continentale before the sponsor switch
- Player Issue Shirts: Lighter, more breathable fabric and bonded seams
- UEFA Matches: Sponsor adjusted or replaced due to UEFA advertising restrictions
- Long Sleeve Version: Identical layout with black ribbed cuffs
- Youth Sizes: May use screen-printed crest and sponsor instead of embroidery
Player Info
| Player | Appearances (All Competitions) |
|---|---|
| Andreas Möller | 32 |
| Lars Ricken | 38 |
| Heiko Herrlich | 33 |
| Jörg Heinrich | 29 |
| Jürgen Kohler | 34 |
| Stefan Reuter | 36 |
| Christian Wörns | 35 |
| Jens Lehmann | 37 |
| Evanílson | 28 |
| Sunday Oliseh | 30 |
| Fredi Bobic | 19 |
Season Summary
The 1998–99 season was a transitional year for Borussia Dortmund. Despite a strong squad, they finished 4th in the Bundesliga, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification. Their UEFA Cup run ended early, and domestic cup performances were underwhelming. Off the pitch, the season marked the start of a new commercial era with s.Oliver taking over as shirt sponsor. Coaching changes and inconsistent form defined the campaign, but it laid the groundwork for a more stable period in the early 2000s.
Final Notes
At Shirtchecker.com, our mission is to help collectors visually authenticate football shirts through detailed records and verified features. The Borussia Dortmund 1998–99 Home Shirt is notable for introducing the s.Oliver sponsorship and remains a favourite for collectors of late-90s Bundesliga kits.
