Manchester United are set for a kit switch-up ahead of their crucial Europa League final against Spurs in Bilbao come Wednesday evening.
It's a significant fixture for both Ruben Amorim and Ange Postecoglou, providing them with an opportunity to clinch silverware after tough seasons, not to mention securing a coveted Champions League spot for next season. Preparations are underway as both teams have already touched down in Spain for the much-anticipated match.
However, there will be a twist for United fans as their team will sport a different look at San Mames stadium. Official reports confirm that Amorim's squad will don black shorts instead of their regular white, complementing their iconic red jerseys and black stockings.
This change stems from Tottenham's long-standing European tradition. Dating back to 1961, Tottenham began wearing all-white kits in continental games under the influence of then-manager Bill Nicholson.
With Tottenham assigned as the 'home' side for this encounter, they earn preference in the kit department. The historic roots of Spurs' pristine all-white strip trace back to attempts by Nicholson to improve the visual acuity for his players during night matches where lighting was inadequate, reports the Mirror.
The tradition famously started during an away confrontation against Polish team Gornik, as recalled by ex-Tottenham star Cliff Jones: "We just turned up in the dressing room for the game and there was the all-white kit," he recounted. "No-one said anything; nothing was said to us. We just focused on the game coming up."
Ricky George, recalling his days as a young apprentice, shared: "The all-white kit was for visibility. It was Bill Nick's way of looking for those marginal gains. Those nights at White Hart Lane, under the lights, were just very special.
"We loved playing in all-white," added Jones. "I honestly cannot say for certain it made any difference in making us see each other better under the floodlights, but we did love playing in it. European nights we felt fresher, the air was different."
The upcoming Europa League final isn't the first instance where Manchester United have deviated from their standard kit this season. They sported black shorts during their away draw with Real Sociedad back in March—a match that finished 1-1 with goals courtesy of Joshua Zirkzee and Mikel Oyarzabal.
For the return fixture at Old Trafford, they reverted to their classic white shorts—a decision that perhaps paid off as United clinched a 4-1 victory, with Bruno Fernandes netting a brilliant hat-trick. Irrespective of their attire, United are eager to triumph in the final and guarantee their spot in next season's Champions League.