No club in the world exploits the sale of shirts with a good shirt on the back with MU. There are many stars who have tried to get their favorite shirts. But not all players value the shirt …
Cuuna, Rashford & Austria 10
Is the number of shirts in Man United really important? Perhaps ask Matheus Cuha or Marcus Rashford. Last Tuesday, Manchester United's new home shirt was officially opened for sale, with Cunha taking over the No. 10 shirt from Rashford. You can own one if you are willing to spend 85 pounds, plus 20 more tables if you want to print the name of the name, the number of shirts and the Premier League logo on the shirt.
Man United had previously prepared public opinion for Rashford to lose the number 10 shirt, in order to avoid sensational articles like “angry fan” because he spent a large amount of money to buy “Rashford 10” shirt, then discovered that he no longer carried that number.
Except for Cristiano Ronaldo, Rashford has been MU's best -selling player in the past decade, surpassing the boundaries in the hearts of fans, until his performance decline.
Young fans are often attracted to young attackers (like Alejandro Garnacho or Amad last season), while older fans tend to choose names like Bruno Fernandes. But Rashford, a true Manchester son, MU's loyal fans from a young age, have been loved on a large scale. The fact that he lost No. 10 in the hands of Cunha was a clear sign that he was no longer part of coach Ruben Amorim's plan.
The number of shirts printed on the back of the fans is a relatively new, but extremely profitable phenomenon, and no club is more effective than that of United. Despite the record team in recent years, the sector segment has grown strongly.
However, no shirt sells like “Ronaldo 7” shirt. Even when CR7 returned to MU in August 2021, the amount of shirt sold was faster than the first period he wore the Red Devils in the 2003–2009 period. Four years ago, people witnessed the long line of people queuing from Megastore of Old Trafford extending near Hotel Football just to buy Ronaldo's shirt. The new clothes are carried on the shelves continuously instead of fixed models, which have never happened since the store opened 30 years ago.
Man United's Board of Directors understands the importance of “iron when it is still hot”, especially Ed Woodward, CEO at that time, the person who persuaded the Glazer family that the figures were completely reasonable if re -signing a contract with Ronaldo.
Legendary 7 shirt
The concept of a “player -branded” shirt, also known as the “Hero Shirt” in the retail industry, is mostly present thanks to MU to have successfully implemented this idea since the 1990s.
The number 7 shirt has become the most famous shirt in MU history (and since 2017, the phrase “No 7 AT Old Trafford” has been copyrighted by the Club). That reputation was built from famous names such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, before Ronaldo inherited.
Number 7 is considered a shirt for players or attacks, although George Best actually wears the number 11 shirt, and Robson is the central midfielder (and has never worn the number 7 shirt in the Premier League, because he was transferred to No. 12 from 1992).
In general, the strikers are always the best -selling player group, although there are still a few outstanding exceptions. David Beckham is a typical example, but it is impossible not to mention Juan Sebastian Veron. When Veron and Ruud Van Nistelrooy came to MU in 2001, the shirt called Veron was sold four times more than the van Nistelrooy's shirt.
When Juan Sebastian Veron joined Man United, the deal was praised for the first time the club signed a contract with a world -class star in the peak of his form. That excitement immediately reflected through the sales of the shirt, although later Veron did not meet the expectations of the fans. It is not surprising that the shirt sales are usually proportional to the player's performance.
Number of shirts is something to … desire
Printing the name and number of shirts on the fans' shirt only started in the 1993/94 season, a year after the Premier League was born. Before that, players could carry many different shirts in the season, especially if they were versatile people. Even once, “playing with all shirts” is a pride. The assignment of a fixed shirt for each player is also the time when Man United started to provide printing services and the number behind the shirt.
And from here, the number of shirts becomes something to … desire. Just awarded some shirts in the main squad is an important stepping stone for a young player. The more promoted, the more the shirts are “decreasing”, the gradual progress on the group of prestigious numbers (1 to 11).
Of course, the ego of the player is also indispensable in the number of shirt numbers. When Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned after injury and took the number 10 from Romelu Lukaku (who asked for permission to wear the number 9 shirt), he claimed that he had “upgraded the number of shirts”, which said No. 10 more noble.
It is also difficult to object to the list of legends that used to wear: Ferenc Puskas, Pele, Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio, Dennis Bergamp, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. It was Ibrahimovic when he first arrived in MU in 2016 to bring the number 9 shirt, causing Anthony Martial to move to 11. After Ibrahimovic and Lukaku left, Martial returned to the number 9 shirt.
Although Austria is still selling well, but in recent years, Man United lacks a clear “hero” model. Bruno Fernandes is currently the most seller. Lisandro Martinez once created a small wave when carrying the image of “steel” in 2022. Kobbie Mainoo, new hope, also created a clear effect on the face of the shirt last season, before being injured.
Carrick and Valencia's special
It is undeniable that with fans, some shirts are often associated with a specific player. Paul Scholes, Ashley Young, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro were all wearing 18. Roy Keane was famous for the number 16, after refusing the legendary No. 7. Michael Carrick also wears 16.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said: “I told Carrick, 'I will give you the number 16', and he is very happy. That shows the courage, because sometimes the player is quite superstitious to these things. But Carrick excitedly accepted it.”
However, Carrick's memories were … different: “I sat in the coach's office, probably the first day at the club. He asked: 'Which shirt do you want?'
But not everyone “does not care”. Antonio Valencia once could not stand the pressure from the number 7 shirt, the number of shirts considered as a heritage at Old Trafford. And after a unprecedented competition season, he would like to go back to wearing the number 25 shirt.
There are also other weird situations. In a few years after the Premier League was born, Man United did not wear a fixed shirt in the European arena. The last match that the MU squad plays with the numbers from 1 to 11 is the defeat of Juventus in 1996/97 season.
And even if there is a fixed number, the numbering system in Europe is still different from the Premier League: Phil Neville wears No. 12 in the domestic tournament but No. 28 in the European Cup; Paul Scholes is the opposite, number 18 in the Premier League but wears the number 12 shirt when it is in Europe.
It sounds ridiculous? So the number of shirts is really important? The answer is: It depends … who do you ask.
