Adidas has sent the past crashing into the present with their latest offering, as the new Man United 2022/23 home kit has many a retro feature.
This is the German manufacturer’s eighth year since returning as the kit maker for the Red Devils. Unfortunately, this period has not seen much silverware compared to previous eras.
Since 2014, Man United have won an FA Cup, a League Cup, a Community Shield, and the Europa League. Of course, this is not bad at all – but compared to the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, fans find the trophy haul underwhelming.
To make matters worse, United have not won a trophy in five seasons – their longest drought in nearly forty years.
As a result, their new home kit for 2022/23 has the task of inspiring Man United back to glory by paying respect to one of their most iconic eras: the 1990s.
Man United 2022/23 home kit: the details
United’s stunning new home strip comes in a traditional red but in a deeper shade than last season. Adidas have also returned their three stripes on the shoulders to black, something they last did in 2018/19.
Arguably the most distinctive feature of the new shirt is the addition of a collar, which is in white. Said collar also has red and black striped triangles in a pattern. Further retro-inspired elements include the button-up design. Previously seen in 2017/18, Adidas’ decision for buttons gives a classic-casual feeling to the shirt.
The German kit maker has opted to put their logo in white on the shirt, with the TeamViewer sponsor in the same colour. Meanwhile, United’s club crest is mounted on a red shield featuring a black and white outline – another nostalgic touch.
Man United have really thrown the design back to the 90s, seeking a touch of magic from an incredibly successful era. But what features have they borrowed from the past?
Return to glory days?
First of all, the collar is a clear nod to the Umbro designs of the 1990s. During this era, Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides picked up trophies with ease. For instance, United won the treble in 1999 in a kit that featured a collar. Umbro flicked between white and black collars during this era; for 2022/23, Adidas went for white, just like the treble-winning kit.
A club badge mounted on a shield is also a classic piece of design borrowed from the glory days for 2022/23. The Red Devils loved to use this in the early 1990s and kept the element on their European shirts. United had a shield-mounted club crest on at least one jersey until the turn of the millennium.
Finally, the red pinstripes running down the shirt are an understated feature that adds quality to the 2022/23 kit. Adidas used this when making United kits in the 1980s, like in their 1983/84 strip. The Red Devils added to their silverware collection with a Community Shield that season.
In a period where Manchester United are going through a rebuild, their latest kit serves as a reminder to fans of how good they used to be. It may inspire Erik ten Hag’s squad to replicate past success and bring trophies back to Old Trafford.