How have Manchester United’s shirts undergone changes from 1990 to 2020? Let’s take a look back!
In the early days, Manchester United shirts were dominated by the classic red and white colours, with the club’s logo and players’ names printed on them. Over time, the design of the jersey evolved to include more elements and details.
In the 2000s, Manchester United’s shirt design reached a new level. The colours of the shirts were brighter and the patterns were more intricate, showcasing the team’s energy and innovative spirit.
In recent years, Manchester United’s shirt designs have been designed with more attention to detail and quality. The material of the shirts is more comfortable and breathable, and the colour scheme is more harmonious, allowing the players to be more comfortable in the game.
1990/92 Manchester United Jersey
The 1990/91 season proved to be a rather lackluster one for the Red Devils. Alex Ferguson, in his fourth year at the helm, had only managed to secure one FA Cup thus far. Manchester United ended up in the sixth position that season. Interestingly, defender Steve Bruce and Brian McClair jointly topped the club’s goal-scoring chart in the league with 13 goals each.
During these two seasons, the club donned the same kits. The iconic blue and white Adidas originals away shirt was quite prominent. It was worn during the remarkable 6-2 victory over Arsenal and also in the 1992 League Cup final. In that final, a goal from Brian McClair enabled United to triumph over Notts Forest 1-0 at Wembley. The previous season, they had lost in the final to Sheffield Wednesday. The home shirt was a traditional red kit, featuring delicate graphics on the front, which was quite innovative for the early 90s.
In the 91/92 season, the team’s performance on the pitch improved significantly. They narrowly missed out on the league title, finishing just five points behind Leeds. A crucial factor in their enhanced form was the relatively unknown Danish signing, Peter Schmeichel. He made an impressive 40 appearances in his first season and contributed to the team conceding a mere 33 goals, the lowest in the league.
1992/93 Manchester United Jersey
The 1992 – 1993 season witnessed Manchester United initiating an all – out offensive in the pursuit of silverware. They achieved a remarkable feat by winning the English First Division after a span of 26 years and also emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the English Premier League, surpassing Aston Villa and Norwich.
Regarding the club’s jerseys, a transition in manufacturers took place, with Umbro replacing Adidas. The home shirt was a red one featuring a lace – up collar and the white Sharp sponsor. For the away kit, they chose a different blue design this time. It was a combination of blue and black and had a black collar, in contrast to the white collar of the previous season’s away shirt. These were the first jerseys that Eric Cantona wore after joining the Red Devils from Leeds, and he was the first to make such a transfer in nine years.
Furthermore, the club introduced a highly popular gold and green third shirt. This design was modeled after one of the earliest jerseys donned by the club back in the 1800s when it was known as Newton Heath. The jersey was in use when Cantona scored an outstanding goal with a remarkable first touch and a powerful volley during a match against Wimbledon in the FA Cup.
1993/94 Manchester United Jersey
In the 1993 – 1994 season, Manchester United retained the same home and third kits. However, they introduced a new away jersey. For the very first occasion, the club opted for a black away shirt. This particular shirt would gain great fame the subsequent year, mainly due to Eric Cantona. It had a black base color, with yellow and blue accents adorning the collar and sleeves.
Manchester United went back to back at the beginning of the premier league, helped by the most expensive english club signiner ever Roy Keane costing 3.7 Million Euros. United beat out Alan Shearer and Blackburn to retain their Champions status with Cantona scoring 18 goals for the season.
1994/95 Manchester United Jersey
For the 94/95 season, Manchester United made alterations to their home and third kits. They did away with the lace while still maintaining a collar on the home kit. Moreover, there was a design of Old Trafford on both the front and the back of it.
The new third kit had a blue and white design, drawing inspiration from the away jersey of the 90 – 92 period. Additionally, this jersey had the watermarked names of every player who had ever played for the club. The away kit remained the same as the previous year. However, Eric Cantona had an infamous moment this time. He jumped into the crowd and performed a kung fu kick on a fan.
Manchester United was unable to secure a third consecutive title. They fell short by just 1 point to Blackburn Rovers. This was largely due to Alan Shearer’s remarkable 34 – goal season.
1995/96 Manchester United Jersey
In the 1995/96 Premier League season, one of the most notoriously remembered jerseys in the club’s history was introduced. The new away kit was worn for merely one half. Sir Alex Ferguson then instructed the players to remove it as he believed they seemed invisible while wearing it.
For the 95/96 season, Manchester United persisted with the same home and third kits. They achieved the remarkable feat of being the first team to win the FA Cup and League double on two occasions. During this season, Ferguson started to regularly utilize players such as Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, and Paul Scholes for the first time.
1996/97 Manchester United Jersey
The jerseys from the 1996/97 season are among the most easily distinguishable in the history of the Man Utd. The red home jersey featured a button-up collar, and notably, the club crest was relocated to the middle for the first time since the 1980s. This home shirt is perhaps best remembered for Eric Cantona’s delicate chip shot against Sunderland and his memorable celebration that followed.
Manchester United opted for traditional colors for their away and third jerseys, choosing white and blue respectively. David Beckham was honored as the PFA Young Player of the Year, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær had a breakthrough season, finding the back of the net 19 times. With such strong performances, United managed to claim another title.
1997/98 Manchester United Jersey
During the 1997 – 1998 season, the club retained its home and third jerseys while making a change to the away kit. They added more intricate details to the rather plain white away jersey from the previous season. Manchester United seemed to be firmly on course to secure their third consecutive Premier League title, as there was a significant 12 – point gap between them and Arsenal, who were in second place.
However, Arsene Wenger’s team went on an impressive 10 – game winning streak and managed to edge past Manchester United by just a single point. This was the first season for Manchester United without their captain Eric Cantona, and Roy Keane took over the captain’s armband.
1998/99 Manchester United Jersey
The 1998 – 1999 season is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable seasons ever achieved by an English football club. Manchester United accomplished the extraordinary feat of winning the treble, clinching the League title, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.
In the league, United took to the field with a new home jersey and a third jersey. The home kit boasted a zip-up collar and Umbro shoulder tape, which contributed to making it one of the most iconic kits of the Premier League era.
The away jersey remained unchanged from the previous season. For the third shirt, the club opted for a black design with green accents, paying homage to their roots as Newton Heath.
Moreover, the Red Devils donned a special European shirt in the Champions League, featuring a gold crest. This jersey was worn during their momentous victory over Bayern Munich in the final of the competition. In injury time, goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær secured a historic treble for United, etching their names in football history.
1999/00 Manchester United Jersey
For the 99/00 season, Manchester United decided to retain the same home shirt that had been associated with great success in the previous season. Once again, the Umbro kit proved its worth as United managed to secure yet another Premier League title.
However, there were changes in the away and third shirts. The club opted for an uncommon dark navy away jersey with white stripes, and a rather simple white and navy third shirt.
United achieved their sixth league title within an eight-year span. Dwight Yorke had an outstanding season, netting an additional 24 goals. Meanwhile, Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich returned to guard the United goalposts, having made a favorable impression during his time at Villa.
2000/01 Manchester United Jersey
As the new millennium dawned, Manchester United ushered in a new era with fresh jerseys and a brand-new sponsor, a change that hadn’t occurred in nearly two decades. Vodafone replaced Sharp on the front of all the new Umbro jerseys. The home jersey was a fairly traditional red one, enhanced with a black and white collar and sleeve cuffs. The away jersey was, in essence, the same as the third jersey from the previous season, with the only difference being the updated sponsor. The third jersey boasted an appealing navy and red design.
United carried on their winning ways from the 1990s into the 2000s, clinching their third consecutive Premier League title. Teddy Sheringham had truly hit his stride at United, finding the back of the net 21 times across all competitions.
2001/02 Manchester United Jersey
The 01/02 season did not meet the expectations for Manchester United. They ended up in third place, which was surprisingly their poorest finish in the Premier League’s history at that particular moment. Among the few bright spots during that season was Ruud Van Nistelrooy. After his transfer from PSV for 19 million Euros, he made a significant impact by scoring 36 goals in all competitions.
Manchester United maintained the same home shirt. However, they were quite innovative with the away and third shirts. They came up with a reversible design, combining the two. The outward appearance of the away shirt was white and navy. But when it was turned inside out, it revealed the gold design of the third shirt, which was a unique and creative concept.
2002/03 Manchester United Jersey
For the 2002/03 season, Manchester United came back with three new kits and a different kit manufacturer. The inaugural Nike home kit presented a more contemporary design, yet it bore some resemblance to the previous years’. It had a red base color with black accents and the white Vodafone sponsor logo. The away shirt was notable for its sleek black collar with hints of red, and there was also a traditional all-blue third shirt.
The Red Devils had a considerably improved season compared to the previous one. They managed to reclaim the title from Arsenal. Ruud Van Nistelrooy had an outstanding performance, scoring a remarkable 44 goals in all competitions. This was also David Beckham’s final season at the club. There had been a confrontation in the dressing room with Sir Alex Ferguson, which culminated in an incident where a boot was thrown and hit Beckham.
2003/04 Manchester United Jersey
During this particular season, the home shirt remained unaltered. This was a common practice back then, as home jerseys typically had a lifespan of two seasons. However, the club introduced new away and third shirts. The away kit was an all-black design, while the third jersey was white with thin red and black stripes.
Manchester United’s performance saw them slide back to third place, as they were surpassed by the formidable Arsenal Invincibles side. Nevertheless, the club achieved a significant milestone by winning the FA Cup for the 11th time. They triumphed over Tim Cahill’s Millwall in the final. Ruud Van Nistelrooy continued his goal-scoring prowess, reaching 30 goals in all competitions for the third consecutive season. Additionally, the club made a notable signing, bringing in a young Portuguese winger by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo.
2004/05 Manchester United Jersey
For the new Manchester United Home Jersey, Nike implemented the t90 template, which was also utilized by other renowned clubs such as Arsenal, Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund. The United home jersey had a red base, with delicate white accents adorning the neckline and the left sleeve.
The 2004/05 season proved to be a calamitous one for Manchester United, as they ended the campaign without any trophies for only the fourth instance in the Premier League’s history. However, the club did manage to unearth a silver lining during this season. The newly signed teenage sensation, Wayne Rooney, emerged as the top scorer for the club.
2005/06 Manchester United Jersey
In the design of Manchester United’s away shirt, Nike incorporated the t90 template, resulting in a jersey that was mainly blue with accents of red. The club retained the same white jersey for the third kit, which had been introduced in the 03/04 season. This marked the third consecutive season that United went without a Premier League title, as they finished in second place, trailing behind Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team.
Nevertheless, the club did manage to secure a trophy during this season. They defeated Wigan 4-0 in the League Cup final, with goals coming from Rooney and Ronaldo. The young duo was beginning to assert their dominance in English football.
2006/07 Manchester United Jersey
For the 06/07 season, Nike unveiled a completely new set of kits. The home kit was an elegant combination of red, gold, and white, featuring a retro-inspired badge. There was also a new shirt sponsor, as AIG took over from Vodafone. The away jersey was a white, gold, and black iteration, while the club continued with a blue and red third kit.
This was the season when Cristiano Ronaldo truly made his mark on the global stage. He netted 23 goals throughout the season and received numerous individual accolades, such as the PFA Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year. The potent combination of Rooney and Ronaldo propelled Manchester United to their first title in four seasons, finishing six points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
2007/08 Manchester United Jersey
In the 07/08 season, the new home shirt of Manchester United was a timeless all-red design, adorned with a white Nike swoosh and the AIG sponsor logo. Paired with it was a new black away jersey, while the white away shirt from the previous year was designated as the third kit for this season.
Manchester United had an outstanding season, achieving a remarkable Champions League and domestic league double. The Premier League title race was intense until the very end. United managed to edge past Chelsea by a narrow margin of 2 points, largely due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive tally of 31 league goals. In the Champions League final, it was a showdown between the two English powerhouses. The moment that became etched in football history was when John Terry slipped and missed his penalty, inadvertently handing the trophy to Manchester United.
2008/09 Manchester United Jersey
During the 2008/09 season, Manchester United was presented with new away and third jerseys. The all-blue third shirt was designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the club’s first victory in the European Cup against Benfica. The date of this historic win was delicately embroidered around the club crest, adding a touch of nostalgia and significance to the garment.
Wearing the red Nike home jersey, the club once again claimed the Premier League Title, finishing with a comfortable 4-point lead over their fierce rivals, Liverpool. In addition to their domestic success, United also came remarkably close to achieving a rare feat. They were on the verge of becoming the first club since Milan in the 90s to win consecutive European Cups. However, fate had other plans, and they faced defeat in the final. Guardiola’s Barcelona emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline, with Leo Messi playing a pivotal role in securing the win for his team.
2009/10 Manchester United Jersey
For the Manchester United home jersey, Nike introduced one of the most significant alterations that had been witnessed. A bold black ‘V’ was added across the chest of what would otherwise have been an all-red home shirt. The away jersey shared a similar design concept, but with a black base color and a blue ‘V’. The third jersey for this particular season was the away jersey from the previous year.
This season marked Manchester United’s first without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had made a record-breaking move to Real Madrid. Wayne Rooney was resolute in compensating for Ronaldo’s departure and managed to score 26 goals in the league. In the Premier League standings, United concluded the season just a single point behind Chelsea. However, they did manage to claim the League Cup, triumphing over Aston Villa with a 2-1 scoreline in the final.
2010/11 Manchester United Jersey
In the 10/11 season, Manchester United entered a new era with AON as their shirt sponsors, following a four-year partnership with AIG. This change in sponsorship was accompanied by fresh home and away shirts from Nike, both of which underwent substantial redesigns. The home jersey did away with the previous black ‘V’ design and instead incorporated an elegant white collar and white sleeve taping, resulting in a refined and sophisticated appearance. The away shirt featured a white base, with black and red patches adorning the sleeves, creating a visually appealing jersey set.
Complementing these stylish jerseys was some remarkable football. United managed to secure the league title, triumphing over Chelsea. Wayne Rooney also provided one of the most memorable Premier League moments, donning the home jersey and scoring a spectacular bicycle kick during the Manchester derby against City. Additionally, the club reached the final of the Champions League, unfortunately suffering a defeat at the hands of Barcelona for the second time in three years.
2011/12 Manchester United Jersey
For the 11/12 season, Nike took a minimalist approach to the Manchester United home jersey. It consisted of a simple red base, complemented by a stylish white and black collar. The away jersey, on the other hand, was a blue and black striped design, drawing inspiration from the away shirt of the 92/93 season.
Wayne Rooney had one of his most productive goal-scoring seasons in the Premier League while wearing these jerseys. He netted an impressive 27 goals throughout the season, trailing only three behind Robin Van Persie, who won the golden boot.
The 2011/12 season was among the most thrilling in the history of the Premier League. Manchester United believed they had sealed the title after defeating Sunderland. Meanwhile, Manchester City was trailing Queens Park Rangers. However, in stoppage time, goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero dramatically snatched the title away from United’s grasp, preventing them from claiming their 20th Premier League trophy.
2012/13 Manchester United Jersey
In the 12/13 season, Nike presented yet another unforgettable home jersey, this time featuring a chequered design for Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season at the helm. The home shirt was paired with an all-white away jersey that boasted a red collar and sleeve cuffs. To bolster their title aspirations, Manchester United made a significant signing in Robin Van Persie, the previous season’s golden boot winner.
United rebounded from the heartbreak of the previous season. Van Persie’s outstanding performances propelled them to their 20th league title. After this remarkable achievement, Ferguson announced his retirement, having established himself as the most accomplished manager in football history, with an astounding 38 trophies to his name.
2013/14 Manchester United Jersey
During the 2013/14 season, Nike launched two new jerseys. The home shirt was designed with a button-up black collar, while the away jersey was another blue and black shirt, this time sporting a chequered pattern that bore a resemblance to the home jersey of the previous season.
This particular season witnessed a significant decline for the club under the management of David Moyes. They ended up in 7th place, which was their poorest showing in the league since the 1980s. Despite the team’s overall struggles, Wayne Rooney maintained his goal-scoring prowess, netting an additional 27 goals across all competitions.
2014/15 Manchester United Jersey
In the 2014/15 season, Nike concluded its tenure with Manchester United by introducing three new kits. This was also the inaugural season for the new shirt sponsor, Chevrolet. The home jersey bore some resemblance to the previous season’s design, yet it featured a single button-up collar and black and white sleeve cuffs. The away jersey was entirely white, complemented by a black collar, and the third kit was a solid blue.
Following David Moyes’ departure, Louis van Gaal assumed the managerial reins at United and managed to guide the team back into the Champions League positions. Notably, this was the first season since 89/90 that Manchester United did not participate in any European competitions, a consequence of their underwhelming finish in the previous campaign.
2015/16 Manchester United Jersey
After a hiatus of more than 20 years, Adidas returned to collaborate with Manchester United. The initial three jerseys they produced for the club were met with favorable reception. The home jersey was adorned with white sleeve cuffs, and the characteristic three stripes were positioned along the shoulder. The away jersey presented a combination of white and red, while the third jersey, which was perhaps the most favored among the set, featured a black and red color scheme.
In the league, Manchester United’s performance continued to be a source of disappointment as they concluded the season in fifth place, a significant 15 points behind the title-winning Leicester City. Nevertheless, the Red Devils did achieve some domestic success. They claimed the FA Cup for the 12th time, courtesy of a Jesse Lingard goal in extra time.
2016/17 Manchester United Jersey
In the 2016/17 season, Adidas introduced a rather unexciting home kit with a gradient red design. However, the away kit was more appealing. It had a base that combined blue and black, once again drawing inspiration from the 1992/93 Umbro jersey. The collection of jerseys this season was a mixed lot. The third kit, which was white and grey with a honeycomb pattern on the sleeve, did not receive a warm welcome.
This season also witnessed the arrival of Jose Mourinho, who had previously managed Chelsea. He guided the team to victory in the League Cup, Europa League, and Community Shield, achieving a sort of treble. In the league, though, it was another underwhelming performance as they finished sixth. Zlatan Ibrahimovic led the goal-scoring charts with 28 goals in all competitions. The 2016/17 season was Wayne Rooney’s final one at the club. He left as the all-time leading goal scorer, having won the Premier League five times and also claiming the Champions League trophy.
2017/18 Manchester United Jersey
During their second association with the club, Adidas crafted what are arguably their finest home and away jerseys to date. The home jersey presented a sleek and uncluttered look, enhanced by white and black sleeve cuffs and a two-buttoned collar. The away jersey, however, stole the show. It boasted a black base, adorned with the renowned all-over pattern that was characteristic of the 1990 – 1992 away jerseys. As for the third jersey, it was part of an Adidas competition to design the kit, and the chosen design featured a graphic of the trinity statues on a light grey shirt.
In the 2017/18 season, Manchester United achieved their highest points total and best league finish since the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, coming in second place, albeit 19 points behind the dominant Manchester City. Despite this relatively respectable league position, the club unfortunately failed to secure any trophies during this particular season.
2018/19 Manchester United Jersey
In the 2018/19 season, the jerseys introduced by the brand for Manchester United were rather peculiar. The home jersey was arguably the least appealing one they had ever designed for the club. It had a strange combination of black and red as its base design, which failed to resonate with the fans. The away shirt was also far from satisfactory. For the first time in the club’s history, pink was incorporated into its design, a choice that received mixed reviews at best. However, the third jersey was relatively more acceptable. It had a navy and gold design, made from ocean plastic and prominently featured the Adidas Parley logo, highlighting the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
The 2018/19 season turned out to be a somewhat disastrous campaign for the Red Devils. Their performance in the Premier League saw them slide down to sixth place, marking a significant decline. It had been six long years since they last lifted the Premier League trophy, and this season did little to change that. In the cup competitions, they faced early exits. They were knocked out in the initial rounds of the League Cup and couldn’t progress beyond the quarter-finals in both the FA Cup and the Champions League. With only seven wins in the first 17 games of the season, the pressure on the manager grew. Eventually, Jose Mourinho was dismissed and replaced by club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær, in the hope of turning the team’s fortunes around.
2019/20 Manchester United Jersey
In the 2019/20 season, the home jersey was truly a sight to behold. It was a tribute to the 1999/2000 treble-winning kit, as it marked the 20th anniversary of that remarkable achievement. This jersey boasted an all-new gold and black badge, and the date of the treble victories was inscribed on its side. Even the minutes of the famous stoppage-time goals scored by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær against Bayern Munich were engraved at the bottom of the jersey, adding a touch of nostalgia and significance.
The away jersey, on the other hand, had a simple beige color with a mosaic pattern. This pattern was inspired by the mosaics found in Manchester’s creative district, giving it a unique and artistic flair. The third shirt was also an outstanding piece, featuring a black base with a rose pattern. This design was inspired by the Manchester rose and was reminiscent of the kit worn when the club won the 1909 FA Cup final.
However, despite the aesthetically pleasing jerseys, Manchester United endured a rather disappointing season. It was their third consecutive trophyless campaign, which was the first such occurrence since 1989. The club was eliminated in the semi-finals of the League Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League. In the league, the Red Devils managed to finish third, yet they trailed Liverpool by a significant margin of 33 points.
Now, Manchester United’s jerseys have become a cultural symbol, representing the team’s honor and tradition. Whether you are a Manchester United fan or a football lover, you can feel the charm and spirit of the team through these jerseys!
