If there's one thing Manchester United has consistently delivered from the beginning of the Premier League era, it's high-quality football shirts.
While many of United's home jerseys began to deteriorate in quality in the 2010s, our time in the Premier League produced some undeniable bangers. On that topic, and with no firm timetable for the publication of our next set of jerseys, it's time to look back at the best home shirts the club has created over the years.
5 - Bald Becks and His Free-Kicks: 2000-2002
Some shirts are simply attractive. Others can transport you back in time with just a photograph. Some, though... Some are made magnificent by the players who wore them, such as the 2000-2002 team.
The home shirt from 2000-2002 is unmistakably the latter.
The Vodafone era of Manchester United shirts began with this plain shirt. Nonetheless, it will be remembered for David Beckham and his incredible free kicks. Becks would slot home eight of his twenty-six Manchester United free-kicks in this shirt, head shaved, goal scoring and crosses curling.
In 2000, David Beckham celebrates after scoring a free kick against Manchester City.
To be honest, if it hadn't been for Beckham, this jersey could be forgotten. It occurred at a time when United were not necessarily at their best, still winning the Premier League in the 2000/01 season, but the foot was starting to ease off the gas in a post-treble period.
The design was flawless, from the Umbro trim flowing down the sleeves to the zip collar. A shirt worn at probably the pinnacle of Manchester United's Premier League reign, in which United lost just six games and won the title on back-to-back occasions.
One of Paul Scholes' two career hat-tricks would be scored in this shirt, as United defeated West Ham 7-1 in early April 2000. The triumph would put United within striking distance of the crown they'd eventually win, thanks to a spectacular effort from a special player.
Paul Scholes celebrates his third goal of the season against West Ham United.
A shirt fit for a king(s), it was brutally denied the privilege to be worn in the Champions League at United's greatest hour owing to UEFA's sponsorship rulings. It was, however, worn in both United's Premier League-winning match against Tottenham on the final day of the season and the FA Cup final victory over Newcastle.
'The Treble In Spain...' 3 - 1997 - 2000 UCL
In terms of United's best UCL performance, that night in Barcelona versus Bayern may never be topped. We all know how it ended, with Sheringham's late drama and Solskjaer capping off a genuinely memorable Champions League run.
However, the final was only the tip of the iceberg, as United faced up against the best players in the world. Throughout the group stage and knockouts, United faced reigning champions from Spain, Italy, and Denmark in Barcelona, Juventus, and Brondby, as well as top sides from Inter Milan and Bayern Munich; however United remained unbeaten from start to finish in the competition, looking great while doing so.
Manchester United players celebrate after winning the Champions League final in 1999.
The shirt isn't as visually appealing as our fourth-placed entry. However, shirts are often defined by the events in which they are worn, and with few occasions in football history as special as the 1999 Champions League, it's difficult to argue with our selection of this shirt.
2 - 2007 - 2009 - 'We Were Champions Again That Night In Moscow':
The 2007-2009 Manchester United home shirt was possibly the club's last truly great home shirt. It was also the last time the club wore the same home shirt for two years in a row.
The shirt was worn as United reached back-to-back Champions League finals, notably in 2008, when the team narrowly overcame Chelsea on penalties to win their most recent title.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wes Brown celebrate their Champions League final victory in 2008.
The shirt will also be remembered as Cristiano Ronaldo's final home shirt before his then-world-record move to Real Madrid.Ronaldo's achievements while wearing the shirt would earn him the Ballon D'or, the first time a Manchester United player had won the award since George Best in 1968.
Even after a decade and a half, it remains one of the best shirts ever worn by Premier League and Manchester United fans.
1 - 1994 - 1996 - Cantona and Those Collars, Old Trafford's Finest:
When it comes to the 94/96 jersey, there are three easy reasons why it is at the top of our list.
The first reason is straightforward: Eric Cantona and his rolled-up collars. The coolest player to ever walk onto the Old Trafford grass deserved a similarly cool garment,Cantona would score historic goals against Manchester City and Arsenal while wearing the 94/96 home shirt, to name a few.
Andy Cole celebrates his hat-trick in a 9-0 thrashing of Ipswich Town.
Second, the shirt's appearance alone would easily propel it to the top of any list. The shirt features an image of Old Trafford, the aforementioned elegant collar, and the legendary Sharp sponsor. It's kit design at its finest from the 1990s.
Finally, like with many of the shirts on our list, a fantastic shirt need exceptional situations to become genuinely iconic. The 94/96 jersey features plenty of these major occasions.Whether it's five-nil victories against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest (the latter of which sealed the Premier League title in 1995), or the record-breaking nine-nil victory over Ipswich Town.
The 94/96 home shirt is definitely Manchester United's finest shirt since the Premier League began, whether worn at home, away, third, or goalkeeper.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0