Manchester United vs. Tottenham: A Kit Battle | OneFootball

The 2025 Europa League final features two Premier League blue bloods with deep kit closets. But whose kits are better — Manchester United or Tottenham?

Strap yourselves in because we’re in for a Europa League final between — *checks notes* — the 16th and 17th placed teams in the Premier League. That’s right, the two teams finishing just above the relegation zone in England are facing each other in this year’s Europa League final, and I’m sure we’re all very, very excited.

Both Manchester United and Tottenham have had terrible seasons. But a European trophy would paper over some of the cracks, especially given that whoever wins it gets Champions League football next year. A UCL spot after staving off relegation? It’s crazy.

But we’re not here to see two poor teams face off in the final. Instead, we’re going to dive into the archives, picking out five kits from each team and pitting them against each other in this Europa League final special of the Urban Pitch Kit Battle series.

Manchester United 1998-2000 Home (Europe)

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While simple in design, this kit is etched into the fabric of United’s history. Worn solely in Champions League play (with the exception of the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, which the club won), this is a memorable shirt that’s most synonymous with the famous 1999 treble and last-gasp winner from Ole Gunnar Solskjær in Barcelona. United would be the only English team to win a treble until their rivals, Manchester City, did it in 2022-23.

Tottenham 1985-87 Home

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When Diego Maradona wears a kit, it’s an instant classic. And no, you’ve not missed anything — El Dios did not play for Tottenham (officially). This Spurs Hummel shirt once donned the back of the great Argentinian in 1986 (Maradona’s pomp, by the way), when he featured in Ossie Ardiles’ testimonial match. Away from that, it’s just a very, very nice shirt, too. Hummel does things well, and this is one of its gems.

Manchester United 1990-92 Away

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Iconic has become far too overused, but there is no other word to describe this kit. Rated as one of the best football designs of all time, Man U won the FA Cup during this period and looked good doing so. They wore this kit in the final at Wembley, where they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0. The shirt is the epitome of ’90s adidas. Trefoil logo, baggier shape, and outrageous pattern. Lovely.

Tottenham 1992-94 Third

Umbro was in its best era during the ’90s. The brand had some incredible kits for a lot of teams, both in its native England and beyond. This Spurs third shirt is an all-timer for this era because it’s everything you love in a ’90s Umbro shirt. Classic collar, baggy shape, and a weird pattern that just adds a little spice. The “Spurs” script across the chest and shoulders takes this kit from good to great, and inspired the much-hyped Supreme football kit collection from 2018.

Manchester United 1994-96 Third

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Another ’90s kit, another Umbro win. This third shirt was worn on the final day of the 1995-96 Premiership season, when Man U were crowned champions. It’s a wonderful mix of stripes, combined with the iconic collar and the sublimated pattern of the Manchester coat of arms and an ode to the 1968 European Cup, where Manchester United became the first English team to lift the trophy.

Tottenham 2018-19 Third

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Lucas Moura. That’s it. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick in this kit as Spurs came from behind against Ajax to take them to a Champions League final. It was one of the most memorable Champions League games ever, and while Mauricio Pochettino’s men didn’t win the title, this game and kit are forever etched in Tottenham’s history book.

Manchester United 2004-06 Home

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For fans from a certain era, this kit is steeped in nostalgia. Think of Ruud van Nistelrooy, a young Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo all tearing up the Premiership in an era where we were blessed with a rivalry between Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, and this United team. Regardless of them not winning the league wearing it, this kit is an icon with the Vodafone sponsor.

Tottenham 2009-10 Home

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Two players. That’s what this kit is defined by. The classic big man/little man strike partnership, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch would be revered by Premier League fans forever, and while this kit isn’t the best looking, it’s a kit that is synonymous with a wonderful era of English football.

Manchester United 2006-07 Home

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This kit took the club back, celebrating 50 years since their first European Cup campaign under Sir Matt Busby. Add in the fact it was modeled on the last shirt before the tragic Munich Air Disaster and you have a shirt that is truly steeped in meaning. Poetically, it marked the start of a successful period for the club as they ended a four-year EPL title drought and clinched the title ahead of Chelsea, leaning on the connection between Rooney and Ronaldo to get them there.

Tottenham 1995-97 Home

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I feel we can’t have a list of Tottenham’s best kits without including at least one made by Pony. This home shirt is just classic. White and blue, like a Spurs shirt should be. But it’s also stunning in long sleeves and has that collar that is just oh-so-’90s. Nothing outlandish about it. It’s just a really good football shirt.

Winner: Manchester United

Spurs are cursed by the “how to make a plain white kit interesting” scenario. Regardless, Manchester United have had some beautiful kits that are made even better when considering the incredible moments in them. When you work with adidas, Umbro and Nike as your kit manufacturer, each offering something unique during periods of peak times for the brands, then you’re onto a winner. Whether you hate them or love them, they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and have the kits to match.