Season 2016/17
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


The Season in brief

Jose Mourinho took over on a three-year contract on July 4th. The appointment signalled the end of Ryan Gigg's twenty-nine year assocaion with United.

Strengthened by the summer signings of Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the return of Paul Pogba, signed for a world record fee of £89m, United started the season by lifting the Community Shield, and winning their opening three Premier League games. Unfortunately only one more win in their next six games seriously undermined their title aspirations. An unbeaten run of 25 League games followed, which was a new club record in a single season, but as twelve of those games were drawn, United remained outside the top four. They eventually finished sixth.

Mourinho became the first manager in Unitred's history to win a trophy in his first season, when United beat Southampton in the EFL Cup Final in February. Two days after a tragic terrorist outrage in Manchester, United, depleted by injuries and suspension, beat Ajax 2-0 with goals from Pogba and Mkhitaryan in the Friends Arena, Stocholm to win the Europa League for the first time.

adidas produced new home, change and third kits; unusually the announcement of the change kit was made before the 2015/16 season had ended. The home shirt featured two distinct halves joined down the centre with a honeycomb graphic inspired by the worker bee. The kit was launched in Shanghai on July 23rd. The third kit was launched six days later.