Aldyr Schlee: Creator of Brazil’s distinctive yellow jersey dies, aged 83

If the likes of Garrincha, Pele, Socrates, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar have come to define the distinctive style of Brazil’s international football side over the years so too did Aldyr Schlee, the man who created the team’s distinctive yellow shirt and who has died at the age of 83.

“It’s our unit, our business card for the world,” said the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) in its obituary for Schlee, who passed away on Thursday.

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“We lost the idealizer of ‘Amarelinha,’ as it was affectionately known by the Brazilian fans,” added the CBF statement. “At the age of 83, Aldyr Schlee left us, but his most famous creation will always be part of the Brazilian people.”

The yellow shirt of the Brazil national team is argaubly the most distinctive in world football.

Uruguay and Brazil players honor Schlee with a minute's silence ahead of an international friendly in London on Friday.

READ: The unbelievable plot to eliminate Brazil

On Friday, Brazil beat Uruguay 1-0 in an international friendly at the Emirates Stadium in London and Schlee was honored with a minute’s silence before the game started.

Until 1954, Brazil had played in white shirts with a blue detail, but after losing the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay, the CBF organized a competition to choose a new kit.

Schlee was still a teenager when his entry – a yellow shirt with green collar and cuffs – was chosen as the winner ahead of hundreds of other entrants.

Germany —

During the 1980s, the colors of Germany's flag started creeping into its usual black and white designs. It became one of the most famous kits of all time when Germany won its third World Cup in the final against Argentina in 1990.

England —

England famously wore its red away kit when it won the 1966 World Cup against West Germany. The shirt has continued to influence the designs ever since.

The Netherlands' loud and geometric 1988 European Championship kit was immortalized by victory and Marco van Basten scoring one of the greatest goals in history during the final against the Soviet Union.

Belgium —

Belgium sported a distinctive red, black and yellow argyle design across a white panel at the European Championship in 1984. It's proof that a great looking kit doesn't always inspire a great performance, says football kit design expert John Devlin.

Brazil —

Brazil's yellow kit has become one of the most famous symbols of not only Brazil, but football. As Devlin writes in his book, "When it comes to colors that encapsulate excellence and glamor in football, the palette of yellow, green, blue and white -- the colors of Brazil -- is often the first to spring to mind."

Spain —

While Spain's 1994 US World Cup wasn't the most successful in its history, the shirt -- featuring three stripes made up of yellow and navy diamonds -- was unique and was worn by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Miquel Nadal and Luis Enrique.

Croatia —

Croatia's red and white checkered kit from its first World Cup in 1998 will forever be remembered as the design in which Davor Suker earned the Golden Boot.

Cameroon —

Cameroon's full body suit for the 2004 African Cup of Nations became infamous after it was banned by FIFA for not following regulations.

Unforgettable football shirt designs

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In an interview with writer Alex Bellos for the Independent newspaper in 2014, Schlee said he was “I’m tired of talking about it (the shirt design).

“And it all comes a bit late. They are taking notice of me for something I did 60 years ago. After this World Cup I’m never going to talk about it again.”

A journalist, university professor and novelist, Schlee grew up on the Brazil-Uruguay border and was in fact a supporter of the Uruguay national team.

“I am well-known in Uruguay,” Schlee told Bellos. “I am considered a Uruguayan writer.”

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Schlee’s design debuted in a 1954 World Cup qualifier with Brazil beating Chile 2-0 in Santiago. The legendary shirt was off to a winning start.

“Since then, Amarelinha has accompanied the Brazilian national team in endless glory,” said the CBF statement.

“Four of the five world titles came with Brazil in yellow, as well as Olympic gold and so many South American achievements.

“The yellow shirt is part of the imagination of the Brazilian people and we owe it to Aldyr Schlee.”