Never Seen Before: 11 Manchester United 90s Prototype Shirts Revealed
Every now and then previously unseen photos of sample or prototype football kits surface on the internet, giving us a look at some of the ideas that brands came up with but ultimately didn't get used. Author and Manchester United writer Wayne Barton has shared a selection of shirts that Umbro proposed to United in the 90s and early 2000s, but were rejected in favour of other options.
Umbro Manchester United 90s Prototype Shirts
A long time ago, before they became the laughing stock of world football, Man Utd used to be a very successful, well-run club. During the 90s they won pretty much every trophy they could, wearing Umbro kits as they did so. Umbro took over from Adidas as United's kit suppliers in 1992 and stayed in the role for ten years, until Nike replaced them in 2002.
In that time they produced some real classics, but some of these rejected or unused designs could well have gone on to be just as iconic if things had been different. Check them out below.
92-94
The first shirt pictured above is the design that was used for Umbro's first United home jersey, but this version without the Sharp sponsor logo was never released.
This design was proposed for the same season, featuring a lot more white than we're used to seeing on United home kits, possibly one of the reasons it wasn't chosen. Aston Villa and Napoli made use of the same template.
This one may look familiar as it basically the same as the blue away shirt that they wore that season, but with a different colourway and collar.
United's famous half green half yellow shirt pays tribute to the club's origins as Newton Heath. This proposal took the reference several steps too far, combining the current United crest with the Newton Heath badge for a nauseating look that also obscured the Umbro logo and stitched on club badge.
The lace-up collar on this blue away shirt suggests it dates from the 1992-1994. Not a bad look.
93-95
This black away kit may have been proposed as an alternative to the one in which Eric Cantona famously kung-fu kicked a fan. If that is indeed the case, United made the right call there. It could also have been a possibility for the 98-99 season, when another black shirt was the third kit.
98-99
This design is essentially that season's home kit, but in blue. A great template, this jersey would likely have been a success.
The white version is even better, as the combination of red and black accents give it that little extra. Probably the best of the bunch.
99-00
A slightly different version of the 99-00 away shirt with a centralised badge. The placement of the Umbro logo isn't shown here, so hard to say how the final, finished version would have compared to the shirt that was released.
00-01
The year 2000 was when Vodafone replaced Sharp as shirt sponsor, but this prototype - essentially the final home shirt - was obviously made before the Vodafone deal came about. Umbro also updated their logo around this time, elongating the double diamond and dropping the text, as it appeared on the final version.
This goalkeeper shirt didn't get chosen in the end either, as some more modern designs were preferred.
What do you think of these prototypes? Did Manchester United go for the wrong option on any occasions? Comment below.
Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Originals 26-27 Collection Leaked
The upcoming Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Originals collection has been leaked online by Bundesliga kit specialist @Bundesleaker. The new images give us a comprehensive first look at the retro-inspired lifestyle range for the Bundesliga club, which prominently features the classic Adidas Trefoil logo.
The leaked collection includes a variety of apparel, highlighted by a long-sleeve retro jersey that is currently predicted to be 95 percent accurate to the final design. In addition to the clothing, the leak also showcases a first real picture of a special edition Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Samba sneaker, confirming that footwear will be a key part of this release.
Embracing a clean aesthetic that heavily utilizes the club's traditional black and white colors, the range is designed for off-pitch wear. The Eintracht Frankfurt Adidas Originals collection is expected to be officially launched soon, joining the brand's growing lineup of retro club collections for the 2026-27 season.
Benfica 26-27 Away Kit Font Revealed
Following the official launch of the club's first-ever Adidas Originals game jersey, the bespoke lettering for the Benfica 2026-27 away kit has been revealed. The new font complements the predominantly white shirt and its distinctive central red heart graphic, which draws inspiration from the 'Papoilas Saltitantes' (jumping poppies) lyric in the club's anthem.
Juventus 26-27 Europa League Training Top Leaked - Official Look
The new Adidas Juventus 2026-27 European training top delivers a stealthy and premium aesthetic with a black base, dark grey side panels, and metallic gold accents used for the Juventus crest, Adidas logo, and shoulder stripes, sharing the same concept with the home kit.
The European training shirt will be worn in the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League.
What do you think of the new Juventus 2026-27 Europa League training top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Flamengo 26-27 Third Kit Leaked
The new Flamengo 2026-27 third kit has been leaked ahead of its official release. Brazilian rapper 2ZDinizz was spotted wearing the unreleased shirt during a performance in Macapá on July 4, giving fans their first look at the upcoming design.
Produced by Adidas, the Flamengo 2026-27 third shirt prominently features the classic Trefoil logo. The kit has a predominantly red base, complemented by black and white details alongside the old rowing crest.
The official launch of the Flamengo 2026-27 third kit is expected to take place later in July 2026.
Rot-Weiss Essen 26-27 Away Kit Revealed
German 3. Liga club Rot-Weiss Essen has officially unveiled its new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Produced by Jako, the new away strip introduces a sleek black design and will be worn during the upcoming campaign.
The Jako Rot-Weiss Essen 2026-27 away shirt is predominantly black, providing a sharp contrast to the club's traditional red home colors. It is not a custom design but a 100% standard teamwear shirt.
Following a recent major sponsorship announcement, the iconic RWE AG logo is prominently featured on the front of the shirt. RWE AG signed a three-year deal to return as the club's main sponsor, while the previous primary partner, ifm-Unternehmensgruppe, has voluntarily moved to the left sleeve as a co-main sponsor.
Rot-Weiss Essen 26-27 Home Kit Revealed - RWE Returns as Main Sponsor
Mallorca 26-27 Third Kit Leaked
No More Kappa: Adidas Le Mans 26-27 Third Kit Released
Newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Le Mans has just revealed their third kit for 26-27 season, partner with Adidas after 10 years wearing Puma.
The new strip bring bold design featuring green and white checkers along with golden accents. Similar to most of their kits in recent years, the crest is kept in full color and placed at the center of the shirt.
The kit is now available on the club's new online store, along with its new collection box.
What do you think of Le Mans 26-27 third kit? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
No More Nike: Çaykur Rizespor 26-27 Adidas Kits Released
Turkish Süper Lig club Çaykur Rizespor has unveiled new kits for the 2026-27 season, marking the return of Adidas as official kit supplier for the first time since 2008.
The launch features a total of five different shirts, utilizing standard Adidas templates adorned in the club's traditional blue and green colors. The new 2026-27 Adidas Çaykur Rizespor kits will be available for purchase at Atmaca SM stores starting next week.
What do you think of the new 2026-27 Çaykur Rizespor kits? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Nike 2026 Template Leak Coming
Nike has created something very good for Euro 2028 and the 2028-2029 season. Stay tuned for the full leak on Footy Headlines very soon.
Argentina Stick To White Shorts Against Egypt
Following latest document published by FIFA and thanks to @jerseystory_vn with interesting insight, it is now confirmed that Argentina will continue to use the white shorts & socks version of their home kit against Egypt on July 7, despite being the team to choose kit first. This would be their third game using the iconic variant in this World Cup.
This is the eleventh time Argentina play in this combination in their last 12 knock-out games at major tournaments. It is the colorway that saw them won 2021, 2024 Copa América and 2022 World Cup.