Manchester United Kit History — Every Shirt Since 1878

Green-and-gold halves as Newton Heath LYR. Changed to red shirts and white shorts in 1902 when renamed Manchester United.

Founded by railway workers, Newton Heath's original green-and-gold identity lasted 24 years before the 1902 rebrand to Manchester United. The red-and-white kit has been the constant ever since.

Red shirt, white shorts, black socks. Busby Babes era saw the white collars and round crest become standard.

Matt Busby rebuilt United into a European force in the 1950s. The Munich air disaster in 1958 devastated the squad in the famous Busby Babes era — the kits worn that season remain among the most emotionally loaded in football kit history.

Classic round crest era. 1968 European Cup victory in the Umbro red home. White away at Wembley became iconic.

United's 1968 European Cup triumph was won in a timeless Umbro red home. Best, Charlton and Law became household names. The kit design stayed conservative — rugby-style collars, round crest, minimal branding — throughout the 1970s.

Adidas trefoil era briefly, then Umbro. Sharp sponsorship began in 1982 — one of the longest-running shirt sponsor relationships in English football.

Sharp's £500,000 deal in 1982 became a 18-year partnership. The 1983-84 and 1985-86 FA Cup-winning shirts are cult classics. Ron Atkinson's flamboyant team wore some of the brightest kits of the era.

Ferguson era explodes. 1990-92 snowflake print, 1994-96 Cantona navy away, 1996 grey away (retired at half-time at Southampton), and the 1999 Treble home.

Alex Ferguson's first trophy as United boss (1990 FA Cup) started a decade of sustained success. Every major kit of the decade has cult status — the 1990-92 snowflake home, the 1994-96 navy away that Cantona made his own, the infamous 1996 grey away changed at half-time at Southampton after players complained they couldn't see each other, and the 1999 Treble-winning home with Sharp sponsorship.

Nike mega-deal (2002-2015). Vodafone (2000-2006), AIG (2006-2010), Aon (2010-2014), Chevrolet (from 2014).

Nike's 2002 £303m deal was the biggest in football at the time. The Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez era produced some of the cleanest commercial kits United have worn. The 2007-08 Champions League home was particularly well-received.

Adidas return with the three-stripe shoulder reintroduced. Chevrolet (to 2021), then TeamViewer (2021-2024), then Snapdragon (from 2024).

Adidas's £75m-per-year return produced classic templates — the 2016-17 home was particularly well-regarded. The Ten Hag era has seen cleaner, more heritage-driven designs. 2024-25 Snapdragon-sponsored home is seen as one of the better modern Adidas Uniteds.