Venezia FC Home Shirt 2002/03 – Paolo Poggi – No. 71 – Player Issued – Kelme – Serie B – Vintage

Paolo Poggi's Player Issued Shirt: A Rare Piece of Reborn Venezia FC History

The first Venezia FC jersey for the 2002/2003 season in its Player Issued version is one of the rarest and most fascinating memorabilia items in Venetian football collecting. After being relegated from Serie A, Venezia started again from Serie B with Kelme as the technical sponsor and the inseparable Emmezeta as the main sponsor — a partnership that had characterized the club's visual identity for over a decade. The kit is one of the most iconic in the club's recent history: a solid black background with orange and green inserts on the sleeves, a V-neck collar with tricolor stripes recalling the historic Venetian colors, and the A.C. Venezia crest with the golden Lion of Saint Mark. The back features the number 71 and the surname POGGI in white. The inner label shows the Kelme fútbol marking with size XL. The wash label indicates the manufacturer Kelme from Elche (Spain), Made in Taiwan manufacturing, REF 91014 code. The Lega Calcio patch on the sleeve completes the technical documentation of this item. The condition is Excellent vintage, with fabric and graphics perfectly preserved despite more than twenty years since production.

The Player: Paolo Poggi

Paolo Poggi (Venice, February 16, 1971) is one of the most beloved and representative figures in the history of Venetian football. A striker of great experience and generosity, he spent almost twenty years of his professional career with a loyalty to his colors that is rare in modern football. Having grown up in Venezia's youth sector, he reached the peak of his career with Udinese between 1994 and 2000, scoring 54 goals in 198 appearances and participating in the historic qualification for the UEFA Cup. In the 2001/02 season with Piacenza, he scored the fastest goal in Serie A history: 8 seconds against Fiorentina on December 2, 2001, a record that remained unbeaten for 19 years until Rafael Leão's goal in 2020. In the summer of 2002, he returned to Venezia — accepting a significant pay cut — to lead the team back from Serie B. With 8 goals that season, he contributed decisively to their survival, becoming a symbol of shirt attachment that is now extremely rare in professional football.

What is a vintage Player Issued jersey?

A vintage Player Issued jersey is a kit specifically prepared for a particular player, dating back over twenty years, not necessarily worn in an official match. It differs from the commercial version due to the finishes reserved for team supplies, the quality of the match materials, and the internal technical details — such as the Kelme REF 91014 production code — which are absent in store versions intended for the public. The Vintage classification applies to all jerseys produced more than 20 years ago, which over time acquire increasing collector's value linked to rarity, club history, and difficulty of finding them on the market. Venezia FC jerseys from the 2000s with Emmezeta sponsor and Kelme brand are now among the most sought-after items by Italian vintage football enthusiasts.

Authenticity and MTM Guarantee

MTM Memorabilia is the Italian reference point for discerning collectors of authentic sports memorabilia. Each jersey is selected with rigorous criteria of authenticity, provenance, and quality by our experts. The originality of this item is guaranteed directly by MTM. Every shipment is made with rigid, shock-proof, and humidity-proof packaging to ensure maximum protection during transport. Express courier with delivery within 24/72 hours from payment confirmation, both for Italy and abroad.