History of Manchester United F.C. in Timeline
Manchester United F.C., nicknamed the Red Devils, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR F.C., they changed their name in 1902. They have won a joint-record twenty top-flight league titles, thirteen FA Cups, six League Cups, and a record twenty-one FA Community Shields domestically. Internationally, they have won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times, as well as the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
January 1902: Winding-Up Order Served
In January 1902, Manchester United was served with a winding-up order due to debts.
April 1902: Manchester United Officially Born
On April 24, 1902, after investment from local businessmen, Newton Heath was officially renamed Manchester United.
1902: Colour Change
After the name change in 1902, the Manchester United club colours were changed to red shirts, white shorts, and black socks, which has become the standard Manchester United home kit.
1902: Name Change to Manchester United
In 1902, Newton Heath LYR Football Club officially changed their name to Manchester United.
1902: Bank Street Ground Temporarily Closed
In 1902, The Bank Street ground was temporarily closed by bailiffs. Club captain Harry Stafford raised money, found a temporary ground at Harpurhey and club president John Henry Davies paid £500 for the erection of a new 1,000-seat stand at Bank Street.
1903: Ernest Mangnall Assumes Managerial Duties
In 1903, Ernest Mangnall assumed managerial duties for Manchester United.
1906: Promotion to First Division Secured
In 1906, Manchester United finished as Second Division runners-up and secured promotion to the First Division.
1908: First League Title
In 1908, Manchester United secured its first league title.
February 1909: Old Trafford Named as Home
In February 1909, Old Trafford was designated as the new home of Manchester United after land was purchased for approximately £60,000. This decision was made six weeks before the club secured its first FA Cup title. Architect Archibald Leitch was allocated a £30,000 budget for construction.
1909: FA Cup Final
In 1922 Manchester United adopted white shirts bearing a deep red "V" around the neck, similar to the shirt worn in the 1909 FA Cup final.
1910: Move to Old Trafford
In 1910, Manchester United moved to their current stadium, Old Trafford.
1911: Second First Division Title
In 1911, Manchester United won the First Division for the second time.
1922: White Shirts Adopted
In 1922 Manchester United adopted white shirts bearing a deep red "V" around the neck, similar to the shirt worn in the 1909 FA Cup final.
1922: Relegation to Second Division
In 1922, Manchester United was relegated to the Second Division.
1925: Promotion to First Division
In 1925, Manchester United regained promotion to the First Division.
October 1927: Death of John Henry Davies
In October 1927, principal benefactor John Henry Davies passed away, leading to financial difficulties for the club.
1927: Death of John Henry Davies
Following the death of John Henry Davies in 1927, the club faced bankruptcy again.
1927: Part of Home Kits
The white shirts with red "V" remained part of Manchester United's home kits until 1927.
December 1931: James W. Gibson Assumes Control
In December 1931, James W. Gibson invested £2,000 and assumed control of Manchester United, preventing bankruptcy.
December 1931: James W. Gibson Saves Club From Bankruptcy
In December 1931, James W. Gibson saved the club from bankruptcy with an investment of £2,000, assuming control of the club.
1934: Hooped Change Shirt Became Home Colours
For a period in 1934, the cherry and white hooped change shirt became the home colours for Manchester United.
1934: All-Time Lowest League Position
In 1934, Manchester United reached its all-time lowest position of 20th place in the Second Division.
1937: Relegation and Resignation of Scott Duncan
In 1937, Manchester United suffered another relegation, leading to the resignation of manager Scott Duncan in November of that year.
1938: Fourteenth Place Finish
In 1938, Manchester United finished fourteenth in the First Division.
March 1939: Record Attendance
In March 1939, Old Trafford recorded its highest attendance with 76,962 spectators at an FA Cup semi-final match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
October 1945: Matt Busby Appointed Manager
In October 1945, Matt Busby was appointed as manager of Manchester United.
1945: Matt Busby Appointed Manager
In 1945, Matt Busby was appointed as the manager of Manchester United. He built a young team known as the Busby Babes.
1947: League Second-Place Finish
In 1947, Manchester United finished second in the league.
1948: Alan Gibson Promoted to the Board
In 1948, James W. Gibson promoted his son, Alan, to the board of Manchester United.
1948: FA Cup Victory and Second-Place League Finish
In 1948, Manchester United won the FA Cup and finished second in the league.
1948: FA Cup Victory
In 1948, Manchester United won the FA Cup, marking the start of a successful period under Matt Busby.
1949: Second-Place League Finish
In 1949, Manchester United finished second in the league.
1952: First Division Title
In 1952, Manchester United won the First Division, their first league title for 41 years.
1956: Back-to-Back League Titles
In 1956, Manchester United won back-to-back league titles. The squad was nicknamed the "Busby Babes".
March 1957: Floodlights erected at Old Trafford
On March 25, 1957, four 180-foot pylons, each containing 54 floodlights, were erected at Old Trafford at a cost of £40,000.
1957: European Cup Competition
In 1957, Manchester United became the first English team to compete in the European Cup. They also recorded a 10–0 victory over Anderlecht.
1957: Second Consecutive Title
In 1957, Manchester United won a second consecutive title
February 1958: Munich Air Disaster
In February 1958, the Munich air disaster occurred, claiming the lives of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.
1959: Socks changed to white
From 1959 to 1965, the black socks were changed to white.
1963: FA Cup Win
In 1963, Manchester United won the FA Cup after Busby rebuilt the team.
January 1964: Louis Edwards Takes Control
In January 1964, Louis Edwards acquired a 54% shareholding in Manchester United, taking control of the club with an investment of approximately £40,000.
1964: Last Transfer Between Clubs
Since 1964, no player has been transferred between Manchester United and Liverpool.
1965: Socks replaced with red
In 1965, white socks were replaced with red socks up until 1971.
1967: European Cup Anniversary
During the 2008–09 season, an all-blue kit was launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967–68 European Cup success.
1967: Premier League Title
In 1967, Manchester United won the Premier League title.
1968: European Cup Win
In 1968, Manchester United became the first English club to win the European Cup, defeating Benfica 4–1 in the final.
1968: Manchester United wins European Cup
In 1968, Manchester United became the first English club to win the European Cup, defeating Benfica.
1969: Eighth-Place Finish
In the 1969 season, Manchester United finished in eighth place.
1970: Poor Start to Season
In 1970, Manchester United had a poor start to the season.
1970: Red Devil Incorporated into Club Crest
In 1970, the devil, stemming from the club's nickname "The Red Devils," was incorporated into the Manchester United club crest.
January 1971: Lillian Gibson's Shares Transferred
Upon Lillian Gibson's death in January 1971, her shares in Manchester United passed to Alan Gibson.
June 1971: Frank O'Farrell Appointed Manager
In June 1971, Frank O'Farrell was appointed as manager of Manchester United.
1971: Crest on Shirt
In 1971, Manchester United club crest was included on the chest of the shirt.
December 1972: Tommy Docherty Appointed Manager
In December 1972, Tommy Docherty replaced Frank O'Farrell as manager.
1973: Worst League Campaign Since Relegation
Manchester United finished the season 15th in the Premier League, their worst league campaign since their relegation in 1973–74.
1974: Relegation
In 1974, Manchester United was relegated from the First Division.
1975: Deal with Admiral Sportswear
In 1975, Admiral Sportswear and Manchester United agreed to a five-year deal.
1975: Heraldic Badge Granted
In 1975, the red devil was granted as a heraldic badge by the College of Arms to the English Football League for use by Manchester United.
1976: FA Cup Final
In 1976, Manchester United reached the FA Cup final, but were beaten by Southampton.
1977: FA Cup Win and Docherty's Dismissal
In 1977, Manchester United won the FA Cup, but manager Tommy Docherty was dismissed shortly afterwards.
1977: Dave Sexton Replaces Docherty as Manager
In the summer of 1977, Dave Sexton replaced Tommy Docherty as manager of Manchester United.
1977: Without a Trophy
Under Ten Hag, Manchester United won the 2022–23 EFL Cup, defeating Newcastle United in the final to end their longest period without a trophy since a six-year span between 1977 and 1983.
1978: Martin Edwards Acquires Shares
In 1978, Alan Gibson sold a percentage of his shares to Louis Edwards' son, Martin Edwards.
1979: FA Cup Final Loss
In 1979, Manchester United lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup final.
1980: Adidas Contract
In 1980, Adidas won the contract to be Manchester United's kit manufacturer.
1980: Martin Edwards Becomes Chairman
In 1980, Martin Edwards became chairman of Manchester United upon his father's death.
1981: Sexton Dismissed
In 1981, Dave Sexton was dismissed as manager and was replaced by Ron Atkinson.
1982: First Shirt Sponsor
In 1982, Sharp Electronics became Manchester United's first shirt sponsor through a five-year deal valued at £500,000.
1983: FA Cup and Charity Shield Win
In 1983, Manchester United won the FA Cup and Charity Shield under Ron Atkinson.
1983: Without a Trophy
Under Ten Hag, Manchester United won the 2022–23 EFL Cup, defeating Newcastle United in the final to end their longest period without a trophy since a six-year span between 1977 and 1983.
1984: Robert Maxwell's Takeover Attempt
In 1984, media tycoon Robert Maxwell attempted to buy Manchester United but did not meet chairman Martin Edwards' asking price.
November 1986: Alex Ferguson Arrives
On November 6, 1986, Alex Ferguson and his assistant Archie Knox arrived from Aberdeen to manage the club.
1986: Alex Ferguson Appointed Manager
In 1986, Alex Ferguson became the manager of Manchester United, beginning a long and successful tenure.
1987: Floodlight Pylons Dismantled
In 1987, the four 180-foot floodlight pylons that were erected in 1957 were dismantled and replaced with a new lighting system embedded in the roof of each stand.
1987: League Finish
In the 1987 season, the club finished in 11th place in the league.
1989: Lowest League Finish Since 1989
At the end of the following season, the club finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest league finish since the 1989–90 season, but went on to beat cross-city rivals Manchester City 2–1 in the FA Cup final, to win their 13th FA Cup title.
1989: Founding Members of the NWWRFL
In 1989, Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies became founding members of the North West Women's Regional Football League.
1989: Michael Knighton Takeover Attempt
In 1989, chairman Martin Edwards attempted to sell Manchester United to Michael Knighton for £20 million, but the sale fell through, and Knighton joined the board of directors instead.
1990: FA Cup Victory
In 1990, Manchester United won the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, which saved Ferguson's job.
1990: Europa League Qualification Failure
Manchester United failed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, the first time Manchester United had not qualified for a European competition since 1990.
June 1991: Manchester United Floated on Stock Market
In June 1991, Manchester United was floated on the stock market, raising £6.7 million.
1991: Float on London Stock Exchange
In 1991, Manchester United became the second English football club to float on the London Stock Exchange, raising significant capital to further develop its commercial strategy.
1992: Green-and-Gold Halved Shirt
Between 1992 and 1994, Manchester United's third kit was a green-and-gold halved shirt.
1992: League Cup Victory
In 1992, Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest to win the League Cup for the first time.
1992: Umbro's Second Spell
In 1992, Umbro began its second spell as Manchester United's kit manufacturer, lasting for ten years.
1993: All Black Away Strip
Between 1993 and 1995, Manchester United had an all-black away strip with blue and gold trimmings.
1993: Old Trafford Capacity Reduced
By 1993, the Taylor Report's requirement for an all-seater stadium reduced Old Trafford's capacity to around 44,000.
1993: Premier League Title
In 1993, Manchester United won their first league title since 1967, in the first season of the newly founded Premier League.
1993: Stretford End Roof Completed
In 1993, the Stretford End received its cantilevered roof in time for the 1993–94 season.
1994: Green-and-Gold Halved Shirt
Between 1992 and 1994, Manchester United's third kit was a green-and-gold halved shirt. Also between 1994 and 1996 a blue-and-white striped shirt worn .
1995: All Black Away Strip
Between 1993 and 1995, Manchester United had an all-black away strip with blue and gold trimmings. Also, an all-grey away kit worn during the 1995–96 season was dropped after just five games.
1995: Blue-and-White Striped Shirt
During the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons Manchester United used a blue-and-white striped shirt.
1995: First Double
In 1995, United became the first English club to do the Double twice.
1995: North Stand Redevelopment
In 1995, the North Stand at Old Trafford was redeveloped into three tiers, increasing the stadium's capacity to approximately 55,000.
1995: Champions League Qualification Failure
Manchester United failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1995–96 after a poor season.
1996: Blue-and-White Striped Shirt
During the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons Manchester United used a blue-and-white striped shirt. The blue-and-white shirt was worn once in 1996–97.
1996: First Double
In 1996, United became the first English club to do the Double twice when they won both competitions again
1997: White socks for European games
Since 1997–98, white socks have been the preferred choice for European games, which are typically played on weeknights, to aid with player visibility.
1998: East and West Stands Expansion
At the end of the 1998–99 season, second tiers were added to the East and West Stands, increasing Old Trafford's capacity to around 67,000.
1998: All-Black Kit
During the Treble-winning 1998–99 season, Manchester United wore an all-black third kit.
1998: Takeover Bid from British Sky Broadcasting Corporation
In 1998, Manchester United received a takeover bid from Rupert Murdoch's British Sky Broadcasting Corporation, leading to the formation of Shareholders United Against Murdoch.
1998: The Treble
In the 1998 season, Manchester United became the first team to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League – "The Treble" – in the same season.
1998: Continental Treble Achieved
In the 1998 season, Manchester United, under Alex Ferguson, became the first team in English football history to achieve the continental treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
April 1999: BSkyB Takeover Blocked
In April 1999, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission blocked the £623 million takeover bid by British Sky Broadcasting Corporation for Manchester United.
November 1999: Intercontinental Cup Victory
In November 1999, Manchester United became the only British team to win the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Palmeiras.
1999: Vodafone Sponsorship Deal
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, Vodafone agreed a four-year, £30 million deal with Manchester United.
1999: Navy Blue Away Shirt
During the 1999–2000 season, Manchester United's away kit was the navy blue shirt with silver horizontal pinstripes.
1999: Treble Win
In 1999, Manchester United became the first English club to win the Treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League).
1999: Premier League Title
In 1999, Manchester United won the Premier League title.
1999: Champions League Win & Ferguson Knighthood
In 1999, Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich. That summer, Alex Ferguson received a knighthood.
2000: End of Sharp Sponsorship
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, Manchester United's relationship with Sharp Electronics, which began in 1982, concluded.
2000: Navy Blue Away Shirt
During the 1999–2000 season, Manchester United's away kit was the navy blue shirt with silver horizontal pinstripes.
2000: Premier League Title
In the 1999–2000 season, Manchester United won the Premier League title again.
2001: Official Partnership
In 2001, Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies made an official partnership with Manchester United, becoming the club's official women's team.
2001: Reversible Away Kit
In 2001, to celebrate 100 years as "Manchester United", a reversible white and gold away kit was released, although the actual match day shirts were not reversible.
2001: Premier League Title
In the 2000–01 season, Manchester United won the Premier League title, becoming only the fourth club to win the English title three times in a row.
2002: Partnership with Nike
In 2002, Manchester United and Nike agreed to a £303 million 13-year partnership, where Nike managed the club's merchandising operation.
2002: Alex Ferguson Quote on Liverpool
In 2002, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson stated, "My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch".
2002: Third Place Finish
In the 2001–02 season, Manchester United finished third in the league.
2002: FIFA World Cup
In the 2002 FIFA World Cup future goalkeeper Marcos experienced an unexpected goalkeeper fail.
2003: White Shirt with Pinstripes
Between 2003–04 and 2005–06, Manchester United's third kit was a white shirt with black-and-red horizontal pinstripes.
2003: Premier League Title and FA Cup Win
In 2002–03, Manchester United regained the Premier League title and won the 2003–04 FA Cup, beating Millwall 3–0 in the final.
May 2005: Malcolm Glazer Acquires Controlling Interest
In May 2005, Malcolm Glazer purchased the 28.7% stake held by McManus and Magnier, acquiring a controlling interest in Manchester United through Red Football Ltd in a leveraged takeover valuing the club at approximately £800 million.
July 2005: Stadium Expansion
In July 2005, Manchester United began expanding Old Trafford, adding second tiers in the north-west and north-east quadrants.
2005: White Shirt with Pinstripes
Between 2003–04 and 2005–06, Manchester United's third kit was a white shirt with black-and-red horizontal pinstripes.
2005: Formation of F.C. United of Manchester
Following the Glazer family's takeover in 2005, a group of Manchester United fans formed a splinter club named F.C. United of Manchester.
2005: Club Taken Private by Malcolm Glazer
In 2005, Manchester United was taken private by American businessman Malcolm Glazer in a purchase valued at almost £800 million.
2005: Team Disbanded
In 2005, following Malcolm Glazer's takeover, Manchester United disbanded its official women's team.
2005: Highest Commercial Income
In 2005-06, Manchester United's commercial arm generated £51 million, surpassing Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle United, making them the highest commercial income earner among English clubs.
2005: Champions League Disappointment
In the 2005–06 season, Manchester United failed to qualify for the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade.
March 2006: Premier League Record Attendance
On March 26, 2006, part of the new seating was used for the first time, setting a new Premier League record with an attendance of 69,070.
May 2006: Stadium Expansion Complete
In May 2006, Manchester United completed the stadium expansion, adding 8,000 more seats via second tiers in the north-west and north-east quadrants.
July 2006: Debt Refinancing Package Announced
In July 2006, Manchester United announced a £660 million debt refinancing package, reducing annual interest payments by 30%.
September 2006: AIG Sponsorship
In September 2006, American insurance corporation AIG's four-year £56.5 million deal with Manchester United became the most valuable in the world.
2006: Third Kit Becomes Previous Away Kit
From 2006–07 to 2013–14, the third kit was the previous season's away kit, albeit updated with the new club sponsor in 2006–07 and 2010–11.
2006: Lack of Development Criticism
In 2021, Joel Glazer cited 'increasing criticism' over the lack of development of Old Trafford since 2006 as one of the reasons to start redevelopment.
2006: Second Place and League Cup Victory
In the 2005–06 season, Manchester United secured a second-place league finish and victory over Wigan Athletic in the 2006 Football League Cup final.
March 2007: Peak Attendance Record
On March 31, 2007, a peak attendance of 76,098 spectators was recorded at Old Trafford for the Manchester United versus Blackburn Rovers game, which Manchester United won 4-1. Only 114 seats were unoccupied.
June 2007: Club Debts Reach High of £777 Million
In June 2007, Manchester United's debts reached a high of £777 million.
2007: Premier League Title
In the 2006–07 season, Manchester United regained the Premier League title.
December 2008: FIFA Club World Cup Win
In December 2008, Manchester United became the first British team to win the FIFA Club World Cup, defeating LDU Quito 1-0 in the final.
2008: All-Blue Kit Launched
During the 2008–09 season, an all-blue kit was launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967–68 European Cup success.
2008: FIFA Club World Cup Win
In 2008, Manchester United won the FIFA Club World Cup.
2009: Seating Reorganisation
In 2009, a reorganization of the seating at Old Trafford resulted in a reduction of capacity by 255, bringing the total capacity to 75,957.
2009: Runners-up
In the 2009–10 season, Manchester United finished as runners-up to Chelsea.
January 2010: Further Refinancing and Fan Protests
In January 2010, Manchester United, with debts of £716.5 million, further refinanced through a bond issue worth £504 million. This prompted fan protests at Old Trafford and the Trafford Training Centre.
2010: Aon Sponsorship
At the beginning of the 2010–11 season, American reinsurance company Aon became the club's principal sponsor in a four-year deal reputed to be worth approximately £80 million.
2010: League Cup Win
In 2010, Manchester United defeated Aston Villa 2–1 at Wembley to retain the League Cup, its first successful defence of a knockout cup competition.
May 2011: 19th League Title
On 14 May 2011, Manchester United achieved a record 19th league title, securing the championship with a 1–1 away draw against Blackburn Rovers.
August 2011: DHL Training Kit Sponsorship
In August 2011, Manchester United announced their first training kit sponsor, DHL, agreeing a four-year deal reported to be worth £40 million.
August 2011: Initial Public Offering (IPO) Preparations
In August 2011, the Glazers were believed to have approached Credit Suisse in preparation for a $1 billion IPO on the Singapore stock exchange.
2011: Brand Value Report
A 2011 report by Brand Finance valued Manchester United's trademarks and intellectual property at £412 million, an increase of £39 million from the previous year, valuing it at £11 million more than Real Madrid. The brand was given a strength rating of AAA (Extremely Strong).
2011: Royal Blue Away Kit
The 2011–12 Manchester United away kit had a royal blue body and sleeves with hoops made of small midnight navy blue and black stripes, with black shorts and blue socks.
July 2012: Most Valuable Sports Team Brand
In July 2012, Forbes magazine ranked Manchester United as the most valuable sports team brand, valuing it at $2.23 billion.
July 2012: New Shirt Sponsor and IPO Plans
In July 2012, Manchester United signed a seven-year shirt sponsorship deal with General Motors, featuring the Chevrolet logo, starting from the 2014–15 season. Also in July 2012, the club announced plans for an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange.
October 2012: Buy Back DHL Contract
In October 2012, Manchester United bought back the training kit sponsorship contract from DHL after just over a year, although they remained the club's official logistics partner.
2012: Shares Listed on the New York Stock Exchange
From 2012, some shares of Manchester United were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, although the Glazer family retained overall ownership.
2012: Rivalry for Trophies with Manchester City
In 2012, Manchester United and Manchester City were fighting for trophies, such as the league title.
2012: Debt Interest and Fees
In 2012, it was estimated that Manchester United had paid over £500 million in debt interest and other fees on behalf of the Glazers.
2012: League Title
Manchester United extended their league titles to 20 in 2012-13 season.
January 2013: First Sports Team Valued at $3 Billion
In January 2013, Manchester United became the first sports team in the world to be valued at $3 billion.
April 2013: Aon Training Kit and Naming Rights Deal
In April 2013, Manchester United sold the training kit sponsorship to Aon for a deal worth £180 million over eight years, which also included purchasing the naming rights for the Trafford Training Centre.
April 2013: 20th League Title
On 22 April 2013, Manchester United secured their 20th league title with a 3–0 home win against Aston Villa.
May 2013: Ferguson Announces Retirement
On 8 May 2013, Alex Ferguson announced that he would retire as manager at the end of the football season, remaining at the club as a director and club ambassador.
2013: Third Kit Becomes Previous Away Kit
From 2006–07 to 2013–14, the third kit was the previous season's away kit, albeit updated with the new club sponsor in 2006–07 and 2010–11.
2013: Alex Ferguson Retires
In 2013, Alex Ferguson retired as manager of Manchester United after a highly successful 26-year tenure.
2013: Rivalry for Trophies with Manchester City
In 2013, Manchester United and Manchester City were fighting for trophies, such as the league title.
2013: Highest League Placing Since 2013
Manchester United finished second in the league in the 2017-2018 season. Their highest league placing since 2013.
April 2014: Moyes Sacked
On 22 April 2014, Ryan Giggs took over as interim player-manager after David Moyes was sacked.
May 2014: Van Gaal Appointed
On 19 May 2014, it was confirmed that Louis van Gaal would replace David Moyes as Manchester United manager on a three-year deal, with Giggs as his assistant. On 28 May 2014, Malcolm Glazer died.
2014: Loudest Fans in the Premier League
A 2014 study found that Manchester United had the loudest fans in the Premier League.
2014: All-Blue Third Kit
During the 2014–15 season, Manchester United's third kit was all-blue.
2014: Chevrolet Becomes Shirt Sponsor
In 2014, Chevrolet became Manchester United's shirt sponsor, replacing Aon, as part of a seven-year deal with General Motors.
2015: Adidas Becomes Kit Manufacturer
In 2015, Adidas became Manchester United's kit manufacturer as part of a world-record 10-year deal, replacing Nike.
2015: End of Nike Deal
In 2015, Manchester United's record-breaking £302.9 million deal with Nike, which began in 2002, came to an end. 3.8 million replica shirts were sold in the first 22 months of the partnership.
May 2016: Mourinho Appointed
On 27 May 2016, José Mourinho was appointed manager of Manchester United, replacing Van Gaal.
2016: Highest-Earning Football Club
For 2016, Manchester United was the highest-earning football club in the world, with an annual revenue of €676.3 million.
2016: UEFA Europa League Win
In 2016-17, Manchester United won the UEFA Europa League, beating Ajax in the final.
2016: Experimenting with Colors
Since 2016, Manchester United has experimented with various colors and designs for the away kit, going away from the traditional white.
January 2017: Rooney's Record-Breaking Goal
In January 2017, Wayne Rooney scored his 250th goal for Manchester United, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton as the club's all-time top scorer.
February 2017: Bond Maturity Date
The £504 million bonds issued in January 2010 were set to mature on 1 February 2017, with annual interest payable of approximately £45 million per annum.
June 2017: Return to Top of Forbes List
In June 2017, Manchester United returned to the top of the Forbes list of most valuable sports teams, with a valuation of $3.689 billion.
2017: UEFA Europa League Win
In 2017, Manchester United won the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League, beating Ajax in the final.
December 2018: Mourinho Sacked
On 18 December 2018, José Mourinho was sacked as manager of Manchester United.
2018: Black shorts and red socks for home kit
For 2018–19, black shorts and red socks became the primary choice for the Manchester United home kit.
2018: New Women's Team Formed
In 2018, Manchester United formed a new women's football team, entering the second division of women's football in England.
2018: Kohler Becomes Sleeve Sponsor
In 2018, plumbing products manufacturer Kohler became Manchester United's first sleeve sponsor.
March 2019: Solskjær Appointed Permanent Manager
On 28 March 2019, Ole Gunnar Solskjær was appointed permanent manager of Manchester United.
2019: Glazers Retain Ultimate Control
As of 2019, the Glazers retained ultimate control over Manchester United, holding over 70% of the shares and even higher voting power.
2019: Total Fees Rise to £1 Billion
In 2019, it was reported that the total sum paid by Manchester United for debt interest and other fees had risen to £1 billion. At the end of 2019, the club had a net debt of nearly £400 million.
February 2021: Record-Equalling Win
On 2 February 2021, Manchester United equalled their own record for the biggest win in Premier League history with a 9–0 win over Southampton.
April 2021: European Super League Announcement and Withdrawal
On 18 April 2021, Manchester United announced they were joining the European Super League, but withdrew two days later due to backlash. This led to Ed Woodward's resignation.
May 2021: Protest and Game Postponement
On 2 May 2021, protests against Woodward and the Glazer family led to a pitch invasion ahead of a league match against Liverpool, which saw the first postponement of a Premier League game due to supporter protests in the competition's history.
November 2021: Solskjær's Departure
On 20 November 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjær left his role as manager of Manchester United.
2021: Old Trafford Redevelopment Planning
In 2021, Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer announced that "early-stage planning work" for the redevelopment of Old Trafford was underway, prompted by "increasing criticism" over the lack of development since 2006.
2021: TeamViewer Becomes Main Sponsor
In 2021, Manchester United signed a five-year sponsorship deal with TeamViewer, replacing General Motors as the main sponsor.
2021: Erik ten Hag Appointment
In 2021-22 season, Erik ten Hag was appointed as the manager.
April 2022: Ten Hag Appointed
On 21 April 2022, Erik ten Hag was appointed as the manager of Manchester United from the end of the 2021–22 season.
March 2023: Thomas Zilliacus Publicly Declares Interest
In March 2023, Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus publicly declared his interest in Manchester United.
March 2023: Heaviest Defeat
On 5 March 2023, Manchester United suffered their joint-heaviest defeat, losing 7–0 to rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
July 2023: Facebook Followers Count
As of July 2023, Manchester United had over 82 million Facebook followers, placing them third among sports teams worldwide in terms of social media following, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.
December 2023: Ratcliffe Purchases 25% Stake
On 24 December 2023, it was announced that Jim Ratcliffe purchased 25 per cent of Manchester United, with his Ineos Sport company taking control of football operations.
2023: Snapdragon Becomes Main Sponsor
At the end of the 2023-24 season, TeamViewer was replaced by Snapdragon, becoming the club's main sponsor.
2023: FA Cup Final Manchester Derby
In 2023, Manchester United and Manchester City competed in the FA Cup Final.
2023: Red Devil Motif on Third Kit
In 2023, the Red Devil motif alone, which had been used in promotional items and merchandise previously, was used as the sole badge on the Manchester United third kit.
2023: FA Cup Win
Manchester United's most recent trophy is the 2023-24 FA Cup.
August 2024: Snapdragon Extends Sponsorship Deal
In August 2024, Snapdragon's parent company, Qualcomm, exercised an option to extend their sponsorship deal with Manchester United by two years, continuing through to 2029.
October 2024: Erik ten Hag Sacked
On 28 October 2024, Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag with the club 14th in the Premier League and having recorded just four wins all season.
November 2024: Fan Preference for New Stadium
In November 2024, it was revealed that the majority of fans surveyed are in favor of constructing a new stadium rather than redeveloping the existing Old Trafford stadium.
November 2024: Amorim Appointed
On 1 November 2024, Manchester United announced that they would be appointing Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim as head coach from 11 November 2024.
December 2024: Ratcliffe's Shareholding Increases
In December 2024, Jim Ratcliffe's shareholdings increased to 28.94%, with the Glazers remaining as majority shareholders.
2024: FA Cup Final Manchester Derby
In 2024, Manchester United and Manchester City competed in their second consecutive FA Cup Final.
2024: Second-Most-Valuable Football Club
In 2024, Manchester United was the world's second-most-valuable football club, valued at £6.55 billion ($5.22 billion).
March 2025: Launch of Jewish and Sikh Supporters' Clubs
In March 2025, Manchester United officially launched their first Jewish supporters’ club and also welcomed the "Stretford Sikhs", a non-geographic official supporters' club for Sikhs.
March 2025: New Stadium Construction Announced
On 11 March 2025, Manchester United announced the retention of Foster and Partners to construct a new, 100,000-capacity stadium adjacent to Old Trafford, stating they are consulting with fans on key aspects of the build.
April 2025: Trophy and Head-to-Head Records
As of April 2025, Liverpool leads Manchester United in terms of the number of trophies won, with 69 to United's 68. However, United leads in the head-to-head record between the two teams, with 83 wins to Liverpool's 72, with 61 draws.
June 2025: Record Revenues But Net Loss Reported
In the year to June 2025, Manchester United reported record revenues of £666.5 million, up 0.7% from the previous year, but still recorded a net loss of £33 million.
June 2025: Ten Hag Contract Option
On 21 April 2022, Erik ten Hag signed a contract until June 2025 with the option of extending for a further year.
2025: Carrick Appointed Head Coach
Darren Fletcher took over on an interim basis, before Carrick was appointed as head coach until the end of the 2025–26 Premier League season.
January 2026: Amorim Relieved of Duties
On 5 January 2026, Manchester United announced that Amorim would be relieved of his duties after nearly 14 months.
2029: End of Snapdragon Sponsorship Deal (Projected)
Snapdragon's sponsorship deal with Manchester United is projected to continue through to 2029, following an extension triggered in August 2024.
2035: Stadium Considered for Women's World Cup
In 2035, the new Manchester United stadium is under consideration as a potential host venue for the FIFA Women's World Cup.
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