Manchester United kit history: adidas, Umbro, Nike and back to adidas

The Corner · 27 October 2026

A red shirt, sometimes a white collar, and a devil with a trident on the crest. That has been Manchester United for over a century, and it all began with a team of railway workers and one stubborn kit myth. Here is where the red came from, who has made United's shirts since the 1970s, how the chest sponsors changed, and four shirts from our rail, one from each major era.

Newton Heath and the green and gold myth

The club was founded in 1878 as Newton Heath, a works team of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. The popular story says they played in green and gold halves, and those colours still turn up on supporters' scarves and special edition shirts. United's own history writers, though, say they have never found evidence for that design and that green and gold was a short-lived episode. In 1887/88 the club registered red and white halves. In April 1902, after financial trouble and a rescue by a new owner, it became Manchester United and moved to red shirts.

Where the Red Devils came from

The Red Devils nickname only arrived in the 1960s. The most common version credits Matt Busby with borrowing it from the rugby league side in nearby Salford, who had been called the red devils in France. The devil with the trident later made it onto the club crest, where it still is.

Who made United's shirts

Admiral made the shirts from 1975 to 1980, followed by twelve years of adidas. Umbro arrived in 1992 and stayed for a decade, right through Ferguson's golden years. Nike took over in 2002 and stayed until 2015, and since 2015/16 United have been back with adidas. Each era has its own feel: Umbro means simple collars and tonal patterns, Nike means chevrons and bold experiments, and the new adidas years keep digging into the archive.

The sponsors on the front

The first chest sponsor was Sharp, from 1982 to 2000, the name everyone links with United in the 1990s. Then came Vodafone (2000 to 2006), AIG (2006 to 2010), Aon (2010 to 2014), Chevrolet (2014 to 2021) and TeamViewer (2021 to 2024). Since 2024/25 the front has carried Snapdragon. For collectors that is the quickest dating tool there is: the sponsor alone narrows a United shirt down to a few seasons.

Four eras on our rail

The 2009/10 Nike home shirt is deep red with a black chevron across the chest and AIG in big letters. It was AIG's last season on the shirt and United's first without Cristiano Ronaldo, the year Wayne Rooney carried the team with 34 goals in all competitions.

The 2012/13 Nike home shirt is red gingham from collar to hem, a nod to Manchester's cotton history. Fans still argue about it, and it is the shirt United won their 20th English title in, Ferguson's last. Ours is the long-sleeve version.

The 2015/16 adidas training top comes from the first season back with adidas and flips the colours: blue base, red stripes. It is the season Marcus Rashford burst out of the academy.

The 2021/22 adidas away shirt is white with a blue pattern that nods to the away shirt of 1990 to 1992, with TeamViewer on the front. It is from the season Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford. Why the number seven means so much at United is part of Football shirt numbers: what they mean and where they came from.

From our rail

• Manchester United 2009/10 home shirt by Nike: black chevron and AIG, Rooney's 34-goal season.
• Manchester United 2012/13 home long sleeve shirt by Nike: gingham and Aon, Ferguson's final title.
• Manchester United 2015/16 training shirt by adidas, adizero: the return of adidas, blue base.
• Manchester United 2021/22 away shirt by adidas: early-90s pattern and TeamViewer.

All of them are in the Manchester United shirts category, with the rest of England under Premier League.

FAQ

Why are Manchester United called the Red Devils?

The nickname caught on in the 1960s. The usual story is that Matt Busby borrowed it from the rugby league side in nearby Salford. The devil later appeared on the club crest.

Who has made Manchester United's kits?

Admiral (1975 to 1980), adidas (1980 to 1992), Umbro (1992 to 2002), Nike (2002 to 2015) and adidas again since 2015/16.

Who have Manchester United's shirt sponsors been?

Sharp (1982 to 2000), Vodafone (2000 to 2006), AIG (2006 to 2010), Aon (2010 to 2014), Chevrolet (2014 to 2021), TeamViewer (2021 to 2024) and Snapdragon from 2024/25.

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