As much as the on-field achievements themselves, the shirt a successful team is wearing becomes entrenched in history. Take one look at a particular jersey and it immediately brings back those memories as though the crucial games were yesterday.
In United’s 1998/99, the white away kit will forever be associated with Ryan Giggs' iconic solo goal against Arsenal in extra-time of the FA Cup semi-final replay.
Poised at 1-1, United were down to 10 men after Roy Keane was sent off and had already survived on a knife edge when Peter Schmeichel saved a Dennis Bergkamp penalty. It is often mused that had Giggs not produced those few seconds of genius, it might well have been Arsenal who went on to win a domestic double at the expense of United’s treble dream.
Collecting a loose pass in midfield, Giggs carried the ball the best part of 70 yards, beating three Arsenal defenders and lashing the ball into the roof of the net. Arsenal had no response and the FA Cup final beckoned for United, and with it the momentum for the treble.
But it wasn’t only the Arsenal semi that makes the white jersey famous. United wore it in both epic 3-3 draws against Barcelona in the Champions League group stage that season, 12 goals over two games split between two of Europe’s most exciting teams.
Buy now – United's iconic white 1999 semi-final away kit is available from United Direct for £38.50
In one, an inch perfect David Beckham free kick at Old Trafford, in the other a telepathic-like one-two goal created by Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole at Camp Nou.
For a number of years, United had a special European home kit, but it is of course most famously associated with the treble season and in particular the Champions League final back at Camp Nou against Bayern Munich – that unthinkable late comeback.
The red shirt with its white trim and embellished badge within a grand shield gave off an aura of distinct class and sophistication.
United's classic 1999 Champions League final shirt is available for just £38.50 here
See the shirt and you immediately think of Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the unbreakable spirit that United had that season more than ever.
Even before the Champions League final, the European shirt had a special place in history, for it had been that kit United were wearing in Turin when Keane led a heroic semi-final second leg comeback against Juventus, despite knowing he would miss the final through suspension.
Even the quarter-final against an imposing Inter carry precious memories in that kit, and back-to-back group stage thrashings of Brondby when United scored 11 goals in two thrilling games.
Source : 90min