Manchester United F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Manchester United Football Club | ||
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| Short name | Man United Man Utd MUFC |
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| Founded |
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| Ground | Old Trafford | ||
| Capacity | 74,310 | ||
| Owner | Manchester United plc (71.06%) Ineos (28.94%) |
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| Co-chairmen | |||
| Head coach | Ruben Amorim | ||
| League | Premier League | ||
| 2018–19 | Premier League, 6th of 20 | ||
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Manchester United Football Club, often called Man United or simply United, is a famous professional football club. It is based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The team plays in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. They are nicknamed the "Red Devils" because of their red shirts and fierce playing style.
The club started in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. They changed their name to Manchester United in 1902. After playing in Clayton, Manchester, the club moved to their current stadium, Old Trafford, in 1910.
Manchester United has won many trophies. They have won the English league title a record twenty times and the FA Cup thirteen times. They have also won the League Cup six times and the FA Community Shield a record twenty-one times. In international competitions, they have won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times. They also won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup once each.
One of their most famous managers was Matt Busby, who took charge in 1945. He built a young team called the Busby Babes. They won league titles in the 1950s and were the first English club to play in the European Cup. Sadly, eight players died in the Munich air disaster in 1958. Busby rebuilt the team with stars like George Best, Denis Law, and Bobby Charlton. This group, known as the United Trinity, won the European Cup in 1968.
After Busby, Alex Ferguson became manager in 1986. He is the club's longest-serving and most successful manager. He won 38 trophies, including 13 league titles and two Champions League titles, before retiring in 2013. In the 1998–99 season, under Ferguson, the club achieved the "treble." This means they won the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League all in one season. In 2016–17, under José Mourinho, they won the UEFA Europa League. This made them one of only five clubs to win the three main European club competitions.
Manchester United is one of the most popular football clubs globally. They have big rivalries with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Leeds United. The club is also one of the richest and most valuable sports teams in the world.
Club History
Early Years (1878–1945)
Manchester United started in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. It was formed by railway workers in Newton Heath. They first played against other railway teams. In 1880, they played their first recorded match, losing 6–0 to Bolton Wanderers' reserve team. By 1888, they helped start a regional league called The Combination.
In 1892, the club became independent from the railway company. They dropped "LYR" from their name and joined the First Division. After two seasons, they were relegated to the Second Division. In 1902, the club faced serious money problems. Captain Harry Stafford found four local businessmen, including John Henry Davies, who invested money to save the club. On April 24, 1902, Manchester United was officially born.
Under manager Ernest Mangnall, who joined in 1903, Manchester United won promotion to the First Division in 1906. They then won their first league title in 1908. The next season, they won their first FA Cup and the first ever Charity Shield. Mangnall also helped the team move to Old Trafford in 1910. Manchester United won the First Division again in 1911.
After World War I, the club was relegated to the Second Division in 1922. They went up and down between divisions for a while. In 1934, they reached their lowest ever position, 20th in the Second Division. They almost dropped to the Third Division. In 1931, James W. Gibson invested money and took control of the club, saving it from bankruptcy again. In the 1938–39 season, the last before World War II, the club finished 14th in the First Division.
The Busby Years (1945–1969)
In October 1945, Matt Busby became manager. He had a lot of control over the team. Busby led the team to FA Cup victory in 1948. In 1952, the club won the First Division, their first league title in 41 years. They won two more league titles in a row in 1956 and 1957. This young team, with an average age of 22, was called "the Busby Babes." In 1957, Manchester United became the first English team to play in the European Cup. They reached the semi-final and had their biggest win ever, 10–0 against Anderlecht.
On February 6, 1958, a plane carrying the team crashed in Munich, Germany. This Munich air disaster killed 23 people, including eight players. It was a very sad time for the club.
Assistant manager Jimmy Murphy took over while Busby recovered. Busby rebuilt the team in the 1960s with new players like Denis Law and Paddy Crerand, and young talents like George Best. They won the FA Cup in 1963 and league titles in 1965 and 1967. In 1968, Manchester United became the first English club to win the European Cup. They beat Benfica 4–1 in the final. This team included three European Footballers of the Year: Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, and George Best. Busby retired in 1969.
The Ferguson Era (1986–2013)
Alex Ferguson became manager in 1986. After a few difficult seasons, his job was saved by winning the FA Cup in 1990. The next season, Manchester United won their first UEFA Cup Winners' Cup title. They also won the League Cup for the first time in 1992.
In 1993, the club won their first league title since 1967, in the new Premier League. A year later, they won a second league title in a row and the FA Cup. This was their first "Double" (winning the league and FA Cup in the same season). They became the first English club to win the Double twice in 1995–96. They won the league again in 1996–97.
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The 1998–99 season was historic. Manchester United became the first English team to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League – known as "The Treble." In the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, they scored two late goals to beat Bayern Munich in a dramatic comeback. Ferguson was later knighted for his achievements.
In November 1999, the club became the only British team to win the Intercontinental Cup. They beat Palmeiras 1–0 in Tokyo. Manchester United won the league again in 2000 and 2001, becoming only the fourth club to win the English title three times in a row. They won the league again in 2003 and the 2003–04 FA Cup in 2004.
In 2006, they won the 2006 Football League Cup final. They regained the Premier League title in 2007. In 2008, they won both the Premier League and the Champions League, beating Chelsea in the final. Ryan Giggs played his record 759th game for the club in that match. In December 2008, they won the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first British team to do so. They won their third straight Premier League title in 2009 and the League Cup again in 2010.
United won a record 19th league title in 2011 and their 20th in 2013.
Recent Years (2013–Present)
After Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013, David Moyes became manager. However, Moyes was sacked in April 2014 after a difficult season. The club failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1996. Ryan Giggs took over as interim player-manager.
In May 2014, Louis van Gaal became manager, with Giggs as his assistant. Under Van Gaal, United won their 12th FA Cup in 2016. However, he was sacked shortly after, as the team finished fifth in the league.
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José Mourinho was appointed manager in May 2016. In his first season, he won the FA Community Shield, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League. Wayne Rooney became the club's all-time top scorer in January 2017. Mourinho was sacked in December 2018. Former United player Ole Gunnar Solskjær became caretaker manager and then permanent manager in March 2019.
In April 2021, Manchester United announced they would join a proposed new competition called the European Super League. This caused strong reactions from supporters and others, and the club withdrew two days later. Protests against the club's owners, the Glazer family, led to a league match being postponed in May 2021.
On the field, United had a big 9–0 win over Southampton in February 2021. However, they lost the Europa League final and finished four seasons without a trophy. Solskjær left in November 2021.
In April 2022, Erik ten Hag was appointed manager. Under him, Manchester United won the 2022–23 EFL Cup in 2023, ending their longest trophy drought since the 1980s. In the 2023–24 season, the club finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest league finish since 1990. However, they went on to win their 13th FA Cup by beating Manchester City 2–1 in the final. Erik ten Hag was sacked in October 2024. On November 1, 2024, Ruben Amorim was announced as the new head coach. In May 2025, Manchester United lost the UEFA Europa League Final to Tottenham Hotspur. They finished 15th in the Premier League that season.
Club Crest and Colours
The club's badge comes from the Manchester City Council coat of arms. The ship on the badge is from that original design. The devil symbol comes from the club's nickname, "The Red Devils." This devil was added to the club badge in 1970.
Newton Heath's early uniform in 1879 was white with blue. A photo from 1892 shows players in red-and-white shirts and navy blue shorts.
After the name change in 1902, the club colours became red shirts, white shorts, and black socks. This is still the standard home kit today. Sometimes, black shorts and white socks are worn with the home strip, especially for away games if there is a colour clash. Since 2018–19, black shorts and red socks have been the main choice for the home kit.
The away kit is often a white shirt, black shorts, and white socks. But there have been different designs, like an all-black kit or a navy blue shirt with silver stripes. An all-grey away kit in 1995–96 was quickly stopped because players said they had trouble seeing each other. Since 2016, the team has used various colours for their away kits.
The club's third kit was traditionally all-blue. Other designs have included green-and-gold, blue-and-white stripes, and all-black.
Club Grounds
Early Grounds: North Road and Bank Street
Newton Heath first played on a field called North Road. It could hold about 12,000 people. In 1891, the club bought two stands for 1,000 spectators each. The highest attendance recorded there was about 15,000.
In 1893, the club moved to the Bank Street ground in Clayton. At first, it had no stands, but two were built by the start of the 1893–94 season. By 1902, after new investments, the stadium could hold about 50,000 spectators.
Old Trafford: The Current Home (1910–Present)
After winning their first league title in 1908, the club decided Bank Street was too small. In February 1909, Old Trafford was chosen as the new home. Land was bought for about £60,000. The stadium was designed to hold 77,000 people. The record attendance was 76,962 for an FA Cup semi-final in 1939.
During World War II, much of Old Trafford was destroyed by bombs. While it was rebuilt, the team played their home games at Manchester City's Maine Road ground. Improvements were made over the years, including adding roofs to all stands. The stadium's capacity was reduced to about 44,000 in 1993 due to new rules requiring all-seater stadiums.
Since then, Old Trafford has been expanded several times. In 1995, the North Stand was rebuilt, increasing capacity to 55,000. More seats were added in 1999 and between 2005 and 2006. The stadium's capacity is now around 74,310. Manchester United has one of the highest average attendances among European football clubs.
Future Plans: A New Stadium?
In 2021, there were talks about redeveloping Old Trafford. After Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in 2024, plans for a new, larger stadium (100,000 capacity) near Old Trafford were discussed. The current stadium might be used for the women's team and academy. In November 2024, most fans surveyed supported building a new stadium.
On March 11, 2025, the club announced that Foster and Partners would design a new 100,000-seat stadium next to Old Trafford. This new stadium is being considered as a host for the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Club Support
Manchester United is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. They have a huge number of fans globally. The club has over 200 official fan clubs in at least 24 countries. They also have a massive following on social media. A 2014 study even said Manchester United had the loudest fans in the Premier League.
The West Stand at Old Trafford, known as the "Stretford End," is where the most vocal and passionate fans gather.
Club Rivalries
Manchester United has strong rivalries with Liverpool and their local neighbours Manchester City. They also have rivalries with Arsenal and Leeds United.
The matches against Manchester City are called the Manchester derby. These are very important games for the city. This rivalry has grown stronger as both clubs have competed for major trophies in recent years.
The rivalry with Liverpool is one of the biggest in English football. It comes from the historical competition between the cities of Manchester and Liverpool. Both clubs are the most successful in English football history, winning many league titles and European cups. No player has moved directly between these two clubs since 1964.
The "Roses Rivalry" with Leeds comes from old historical conflicts between the regions of Lancashire (Manchester) and Yorkshire (Leeds).
The rivalry with Arsenal became very strong when both teams often battled for the Premier League title, especially under managers Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.
Global Brand Status
Manchester United is known as a "global brand." This means it's a very famous and valuable name around the world. In 2017, Forbes magazine valued the club at over $3.6 billion, making it one of the most valuable football clubs.
The club's global fame grew a lot after the Munich air disaster. Manager Matt Busby rebuilt the team with exciting players like Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Denis Law, and George Best. Their attacking style of play was very popular. George Best, with his famous haircut, became one of the first footballers to be a big media star outside of the game.
Manchester United was one of the first English clubs to sell shares on the stock market in 1991. This helped them grow their business side. The club's focus on both winning and making money has brought in big profits. Famous players like David Beckham also helped boost the club's image and attract more fans and sponsors, especially in Asia.
Because of their success, Manchester United gets a large share of money from TV rights. They also have high commercial income from sponsorships and merchandise. The club's own TV channel, MUTV, helps them connect with fans all over the world.
Club Sponsorships
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) | Shirt sponsor (back) |
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| 1945–1975 | Umbro | — | — | — |
| 1975–1980 | Admiral | |||
| 1980–1982 | Adidas | |||
| 1982–1992 | Sharp Electronics | |||
| 1992–2000 | Umbro | |||
| 2000–2002 | Vodafone | |||
| 2002–2006 | Nike | |||
| 2006–2010 | AIG | |||
| 2010–2014 | Aon | |||
| 2014–2015 | Chevrolet | |||
| 2015–2018 | Adidas | |||
| 2018–2021 | Kohler | |||
| 2021–2022 | TeamViewer | |||
| 2022–2024 | DXC Technology | |||
| 2024– | Snapdragon | Microsoft Copilot+ PC (League Cup) |
Sharp Electronics was the club's first shirt sponsor from 1982 to 2000. Then, Vodafone took over until 2006. After that, AIG and then Aon became the main shirt sponsors. In 2011, DHL became the first training kit sponsor in English football.
The club's kits have been made by different companies. Umbro was the first, followed by Admiral Sportswear, then Adidas, and Umbro again. Nike had a big deal from 2002 to 2015. Since 2015, Adidas has made Manchester United's kits as part of a huge 10-year deal.
From 2014 to 2021, General Motors (with their Chevrolet brand) was the main shirt sponsor. Then, TeamViewer took over in 2021. Since 2024, Snapdragon has been the main sponsor. Kohler became the club's first sleeve sponsor in 2018.
Club Ownership and Finances
The club started with money from the railway company. In 1892, it became a company and sold shares to fans. In 1902, four businessmen saved the club from bankruptcy and took control. Later, in 1931, James W. Gibson invested money and took over, saving the club again.
In 1964, Louis Edwards gained control of the club. His son, Martin Edwards, became chairman in 1980. In 1991, Manchester United was listed on the stock market. In 1998, Rupert Murdoch's company tried to buy the club, but fans protested, and the deal was stopped.
Glazer Family Ownership
In May 2005, Malcolm Glazer bought a controlling share of the club. He used a lot of borrowed money for this, and these debts were then transferred to the club. This meant the club, which was debt-free, suddenly had over £500 million in debt.
Fans protested against the Glazer ownership because of the debt. In 2010, the club refinanced some of its debt. In 2012, Manchester United listed some of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. However, the Glazer family still kept most of the shares and control over the club. By 2019, it was reported that the club had paid over £1 billion in debt interest and fees related to the Glazer takeover.
In 2023, the Glazers started looking for buyers for the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns Ineos, bought 25% of Manchester United in December 2023. His company, Ineos Sport, now manages the football side of the club. Ratcliffe's share increased to 28.94% in December 2024. The Glazers remain the majority owners.
Club Players
First-Team Squad
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Players on Loan
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Under-21s and Academy Players
List of under-21s and academy players with articles
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Academy Players on Loan
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Player of the Year Awards
| Team | First team | U21s | U18s | |
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| Award | Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year | Players' Player of the Year | Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year | Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year |
| Inaugurated | 1987–88 | 2005–06 | 1989–90 | 1989–90 |
| Holder (2024–25) |
 Bruno Fernandes |
Bruno Fernandes |
 Tyler Fredricson |
Harry Amass |
Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Head coach | Ruben Amorim |
| Assistant head coach | Carlos Fernandes |
| First-team coaches |  Adélio Cândido Emanuel Ferro |
| Goalkeeping coach | Jorge Vital |
| Assistant goalkeeping coach | Craig Mawson |
| Head of sports medicine |  TBC |
| First-team doctor | TBC |
| Head physiotherapist | Jordan Reece |
| First-team physiotherapist |  Ibrahim Kerem |
| First-team sports therapists |  Abner Bruzzichessi Alan Watmough Andy Caveney |
| Head of physical performance | Ed Leng |
| Physical performance coaches | Charlie Owen Paulo Barreira |
| First-team strength and power coach | Michael Clegg |
| First-team sports scientist | Michael Eglon |
| Director of academy | Nick Cox |
| Head of player development & coaching (U19–U23) |  Travis Binnion |
| Under-21s lead coach | |
| Under-18s lead coach |  Darren Fletcher |
| Head of loans & pathways |  Jonny Evans |
Managerial History
| Dates | Name | Notes |
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| 1878–1892 | Unknown | |
| 1892–1900 | A. H. Albut |
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| 1900–1903 | James West |
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| 1903–1912 | Ernest Mangnall |
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| 1912–1914 | John Bentley |
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| 1914–1921 | Jack Robson |
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| 1921–1926 | John Chapman |
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| 1926–1927 | Lal Hilditch |
Player-manager |
| 1927–1931 | Herbert Bamlett |
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| 1931–1932 | Walter Crickmer |
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| 1932–1937 | Scott Duncan |
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| 1937–1945 | Walter Crickmer |
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| 1945–1969 | Matt Busby |
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| 1958 |  Jimmy Murphy |
Caretaker manager |
| 1969–1970 | Wilf McGuinness |
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| 1970–1971 | Matt Busby |
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| 1971–1972 | Frank O'Farrell |
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| 1972–1977 | Tommy Docherty |
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| 1977–1981 | Dave Sexton |
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| 1981–1986 | Ron Atkinson |
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| 1986–2013 | Alex Ferguson |
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| 2013–2014 | David Moyes |
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| 2014 | Ryan Giggs |
Caretaker player-manager |
| 2014–2016 |  Louis van Gaal |
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| 2016–2018 | José Mourinho |
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| 2018–2021 |  Ole Gunnar Solskjær |
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| 2021 | Michael Carrick |
Caretaker manager |
| 2021–2022 |  Ralf Rangnick |
Interim manager |
| 2022–2024 | Erik ten Hag |
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| 2024 | Ruud van Nistelrooy |
Interim manager |
| 2024– | Ruben Amorim |
Club Management
Ownership Structure
| Person / People | Associated company | Shares | Ref. |
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| Glazer Family | Red Football Shareholder Limited | 63.3% | |
| Sir Jim Ratcliffe | Ineos | 28.94% |
Manchester United plc Board
| Position | Name |
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| Executive co-chairmen | Avram Glazer Joel Glazer |
| Chief executive officer | Omar Berrada |
| Chief operating officer | Collette Roche |
| Chief financial officer | Roger Bell |
| Chief communications officer | Toby Craig |
| Chief business officer | Marc Armstrong |
| General counsel | Martin Mosley |
| Chief of international football relations | Jean-Claude Blanc |
| Directors | Avram Glazer Joel Glazer Kevin Glazer Bryan Glazer Darcie Glazer Kassewitz Edward Glazer John Reece Rob Nevin |
| Independent directors | Robert Leitão John Hooks |
Manchester United Football Club Leadership
| Office | Name |
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| Life president | Martin Edwards |
| Directors | Omar Berrada Dave Brailsford Michael Edelson Alex Ferguson David Gill |
| Director of football | Jason Wilcox |
| Director of recruitment | Christopher Vivell |
| Director of football negotiations | Matt Hargreaves |
| Director of performance | Sam Erith |
| Club secretary | Rebecca Britain |
Club Honours (Trophies Won)
Manchester United is one of the most successful clubs in Europe. Their first trophy was the Manchester Cup in 1886. In 1908, they won their first league title, and the FA Cup in 1909.
They have won a record 20 top-division titles, including 13 Premier League titles. Their 13 FA Cup wins are second only to Arsenal. They have also won the FA Community Shield a record 21 times.
Under Matt Busby, the club won the FA Cup in 1948 and became the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968. They also won five league titles and two FA Cups during his time.
The 1990s were their most successful decade under Alex Ferguson. They won five league titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup, five Charity Shields, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup. They won the "Double" (league and FA Cup) three times. In 1999, they became the first English club to win the "Treble" (Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League).
United is one of only three British clubs to win the FIFA Club World Cup (in 2008). In 2017, they won the UEFA Europa League. This made them one of only five clubs to win the three main European club competitions.
The club's most recent trophy is the 2023–24 FA Cup, which they won in 2024.
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
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| Domestic | First Division/Premier League | 20s | 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| Second Division | 2 | 1935–36, 1974–75 | |
| FA Cup | 13 | 1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2015–16, 2023–24 | |
| Football League Cup/EFL Cup | 6 | 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2022–23 | |
| FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield | 21 | 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 (* shared) | |
| Continental | European Cup/UEFA Champions League | 3 | 1967–68, 1998–99, 2007–08 |
| European Cup Winners' Cup | 1 | 1990–91 | |
| UEFA Europa League | 1 | 2016–17 | |
| UEFA Super Cup | 1 | 1991 | |
| Worldwide | FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2008 |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1 | 1999 |
- record
- s shared record
Doubles and Trebles
- Doubles
- League and FA Cup (3): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99
- League and UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
- League and EFL Cup (1): 2008–09
- EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League (1): 2016–17
- Trebles
- League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League (1): 1998–99
Short competitions, like the FA Community Shield or FIFA Club World Cup, are usually not counted towards a Double or Treble.
Manchester United Women's Team
Manchester United used to have a women's team that started in the late 1970s. It became officially linked with the club in 2001. However, in 2005, the team was stopped.
In 2018, Manchester United started a new women's football team. They joined the second division of women's football in England. The women's team won their first trophy on May 12, 2024. They lifted the Women's FA Cup by beating Tottenham Hotspur 4–0.
See also
In Spanish: Manchester United Football Club para niños
- List of world champion football clubs
- List of football clubs in England
