THE VITALS:

Team: Real Madrid

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2015-16 (Used for the 2015-16 La Liga season)

Name/Number: Modric #19

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This article comes to you in truly excellent condition! The material shows absolutely no sign of wear at all and each of the respective applications are immaculate bar the name and numbering which displays a faint slit; likely emanating from how the shirt was once folded.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Extra Large (XL)

Pit to Pit Measurement: 21 inches

Shirt Length: 30 inches 

Made by Adidas in their ‘ClimaCool’ range of shirts that they introduced in 2015; the dimensions of this shirt lend themselves to what is seemingly a perfect size extra large football shirt!

DESCRIPTION:

Beautifully complimenting the fantastic home shirt; Adidas would also craft a sensational grey and volt away strip for ‘Los Blancos’ ahead of the 2015-16 season, Unlike the home shirt which features a waffle print material; the away shirt is crafted with a very a soft material, while the Adidas template that season would see the 2-tone being spread across the light grey used for the main body of the shirt, and a darker grey that was used for the sleeves and hem, and the shorts. This shirt would utilise a heat applied plastic crest which has been expertly modified to grey and white to compliment the rest of the strip. With this being the Champions League edition of the shirt, the shirt features the Champions League and UEFA Respect emblems on the sleeves, however, the FIFA Club World Cup Champions shield incorrectly reads ‘2015’, not ‘2014’.

THE SEASON:

The 2014-15 season would be a true tale of 2 halves for Real Madrid as the 2014 portion of the season yielded the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and saw the club embark on a legendary 22 match winning streak; yet in 2015, they would relinquish both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League titles and see Barcelona romp to a treble, ultimately costing Carlo Ancelotti his job as the Real Madrid manager

Rafa Benitez was the man chosen to succeed the Italian, and he would be gifted with the additions of: Mateo Kovacic, Lucas Vasquez, Jesus Vallejo, Kiko Casilla and Danilo to compensate for the departures of: Iker Casillas, Fabio Coentrao, Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi.

Although the Benitez era began with a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Sporting Gijon, the club would go unbeaten in their opening 10 league games, winning 7 times to lead the way in La Liga on goal difference! Back to back defeats however, to Sevilla and crucially, Barcelona, followed by a disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev, would spell the end of Rafa Benitez’ run as Real Madrid manager in early January 2016.

Club legend and former ‘Galactico’ – Zinedine Zidane would be appointed as his successor with Real Madrid lying in 3^rd place and 5 points off the paces. He would go unbeaten in his first 7 league games in charge, before an untimely defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Madrid Derby on 14/02/2016. This would only the spur the side to win their remaining 12 league games to eventually finish 2^nd with 90 points; losing out to Barcelona by just a single point after a thrilling 3 horse race for the 2015-16 La Liga title.

Rafa Benitez would successfully navigate the Champions League Group Stages, however, it would be the work of Zidane that would define the season as he guided Real Madrid to an 11^th UEFA Champions League title; defeating Atletico Madrid in a rematch of the 2014 Final! Like the Lisbon showcase 24 months earlier; this tense showdown would go into extra-time with the scores at 1-1, however, there would be no extra time salvo in Milan; rather, penalties were needed to determine the winner, and fittingly, Cristiano Ronaldo would score the winning penalty in the 5-3 shootout triumph!

The notable players that season were:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Borja Mayoral, Jese, Lucas Vasquez, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Isco, Luka Modric, Denis Cheryshev, Toni Kroos, Marcos Llorente, Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, Danilo, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Pepe, Raphael Varane, Keylor Navas, Kiko Casilla