THE VITALS:

Team: Manchester United

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2016-17 (Used for the 2016-17 Premier League season)

Name/Number: Pogba #6

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This shirt remains in very good condition with the sponsor, Adidas embroidery in great condition. The crest and shirt material however are somewhat crumpled, and the name and numbering is a tad off alignment also.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 19 inches

Shirt Length: 28.5 inches 

Made in the Adidas ‘ClimaCool’ template that was introduced ahead of the 2016-17 season; the dimensions lend themselves to a great size medium fitting shirt.  

DESCRIPTION:

Following on from Adidas’ second debut as Manchester United’s kit supplier; they would evolve the traditional white alternate United shirt into a modern off-white/cum grey away shirt complete with anthracite grey accents. In addition to the new feature implemented by Adidas to have the 3-stripes applied on the side panels, the standout feature was the ghosting pattern running down the sleeves of the arms. The strip is completed with matching grey shorts and white socks, and the crest has also been altered to match the colour scheme of the kit; a trademark of the AdidasxUnited modern pantheon!

THE SEASON:

Although Manchester United would end a 3 year trophy drought as they claimed their 12^th FA Cup title on 21/05/16; the win was overshadowed by the news that Jose Mourinho would be replacing Louis Van Gaal as Manchester United’s manager ahead of the 2016-17 season! The match that once upon a time, was considered a match made in hell, was now a reality. It would be a summer of all sorts of speculation, and the transfer arrivals didn’t disappoint as Eric Bailly became the first signing of the Mourinho-era, before the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic was finally unveiled as a United player on July 1^st! Henrikh Mkhitarayan would then join from Borussia Dortmund a few days later, before Paul Pogba returned to the club on August 6^th, and in the process, his transfer broke the world record, costing Manchester United £89 million! The wave of optimism would be further fuelled the day after Pogba’s arrival, as United defeated Leicester City 2-1 to win the Community Shield. Zlatan Ibrahimovic made an electric start to life in England; scoring 4 times in his first 3 games, and when they edged past Hull City 1-0 on August 27^th; they’d enter the Manchester Derby joint top with City and Chelsea. United would be defeated by City, and the defeat usher in 3 months of inconsistency, the year of 2016 would end on a high note, as United accumulated 5 straight wins in the league, progression to Last 32 of the Europa League and the semi-final of the Carabao Cup. 2017 would again be a series of stop-start; while United eeked into the final of the EFL Cup, and reached the next round of the Europa League, they would split 3 draws and 3 wins in the league. February would end with United defeating Southampton 3-2 in a thrilling Carabao Cup Final. On 13/03/17, United would exit the FA Cup in the round of the quarter final against Chelsea, there would be a Europe League quarter final to look forward too following the elimination of Rostov, but just as United looked to threaten the top 4, they would drop points, as evidenced by their 3 draws in 4 games between 04/03/17 and 04/04/17. Injuries would begin to decimate the squad as the toll of the long season began to run its course and while a fine 3 match winning streak in the league, which included a 2-0 triumph against champions elect Chelsea. A 2-legged war of attrition with Anderlecht in mid/late April would end in United reaching the semi-final of the UEL on 20/04/17, before April ended with United going unbeaten in the league for a 25^th consecutive game. Jose Mourinho was seemingly left with a choice to either prioritise finishing 4^th or winning the Europa League, and the Portuguese would select the latter, seeing his charges toil to a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in their Europa League semi-final, however, 6 days later, Arsenal would end the United unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win at the Emirates, and move 3 clear of United in 5^th place. United would reach their first European final since 2011 as they withstood Celta Vigo’s best efforts to set up a date with Ajax in Stockholm on May 24^th. Jose Mourinho’s debut league season would see United finish in 6^th place, however, the season would be considered a flying success following their 2-0 victory over Ajax, winning the Europa League and 3^rd trophy of the season!  

The notable players that season were:

Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitarayan, Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly, Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, David de Gea, Sergio Romero