Get a glimpse into the unreal array of retro kits from renowned collector Megu-Zida.
With a name evoking one of the greatest footballers of all time, Meguro no Zidane’s vast kit collection is either a wild coincidence or actualized destiny. While he has no relation to that Zidane, Megu-Zida, as he’s better known by, has made his own name via a treasure trove of rare and retro shirts.
Meguro is a 48-year-old football coach and sports club manager from Japan. His Instagram page showcases his passion for both fashion and the beautiful game, and he’s become a popular figure in the world of retro football, a niche that has become a central part of modern football culture.
Meguro’s collecting journey began in 1991 when, as a high school football player, he casually purchased a 1989-90 Napoli away kit. This marked the start of a collection that, in his own words, “became part of my personal style.” And what a style it has become.
A World-Class Collection
Meguro’s collection includes some of the most coveted shirts in football history. Among the pieces he’s often seen wearing are the 1997 Real Madrid home kit, the 1990 Manchester United away shirt from the Cup Winners’ Cup, and a Soviet Union 1989-91 home kit, among others.
As his collection grew and the trend of retro kits took off, with even modern clubs beginning to re-issue fan-favorite shirts, Meguro made the logical, albeit tough, decision to start selling some of the jerseys he collected over the years.
“Recently, I realized that my choice depends on how the shirt feels when I actually put it on,” he said. “Factors like the design, size, and the historical context of the shirt all come into play. Even if a shirt is widely popular, if it doesn’t feel right on me, I set it aside for sale. A typical example would be the Arsenal ’05-06 home. I’ve tried various sizes, but none quite feel right. I also have a lot of Juventus shirts, but I’m still not fully satisfied with how any of them feel.”
In Japan, buying football shirts has become increasingly difficult. Meguro relies on vintage clothing stores and second-hand websites to keep his collection growing. Still, he has built a strong following and his Instagram account has become a go-to destination for football fans looking for a retro fix — or for a trip down memory lane to some of the best kits from the 1980s and ’90s.
The Kits for Sale – and Those That Aren’t
Meguro created a separate Instagram account for the kits he is willing to part with, often with reasonable prices under $100. This is a rarity in the world of kits, with new shirts creeping closer to the $200 mark year upon year, and vintage match-issue classics sometimes fetching into the four-figure range.
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However, the vast majority of Meguro’s shirts are not for sale, including his highly coveted Nacional of Uruguay 2003 home kit. That hasn’t stopped fans and prospective buyers from offering some eye-watering prices for some of his prized pieces. The highest offer he’s ever received was around $700 for a 1987-88 Diego Maradona Napoli home kit, which he still refused.
A Passion for Football Shirts
Meguro currently owns close to 400 kits, though he’s had over 3,000 in total over the course of his life. His favorite, like with many other collectors, goes beyond just design.
“It’s tough to choose from my collection, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Colombia national team’s 1990 home kit,” he said. “The reason is that the Colombian team, centered around Carlos Valderrama, played such beautiful football during the 1990 Italy World Cup. Beyond the design, the beautiful football it represents brings that shirt to life.”
Some of the most unique jerseys in his collection include a 1994 Verdy Kawasaki home kit from Japan’s J-League, worn by players like Kitazawa and Totsuka, as well as a long-sleeve 1992-93 Liverpool away shirt given to him by Gérard Houllier, who also coached the team.
Another prized possession of Meguro’s is a rare Tampa Bay Mutiny 1996 home kit from the inaugural MLS season. Having only played six total seasons before folding in 2001, Mutiny kits — much less their first-ever one — are hard to come by these days.
Even with his vast collection, Meguro still has a few kits he has yet to acquire.
“There are quite a few,” he said with a laugh. “But my top choice would be the Yugoslavia 1990 home and away kits. I’ve never seen them in person, so I assume they’re impossible to obtain.
“However, I know there are some out there in the world, and I hope one day it will find its way to me. It’s likely never been sold to the general public, so the quantity must be very limited, making it extremely difficult to acquire.”
It seems that 3,000 kits still isn’t enough for Megu-Zida, and the quest for some of his grails will go on perhaps endlessly. In the meantime, he will continue to enjoy being a go-to figure amongst football fans and collectors alike. For soccer purists, his Instagram account is a nostalgic journey through some of the most iconic kits of the ’80s and ’90s — a time when football shirts became not just a uniform, but a symbol of the culture and beauty of the game.
