THE VITALS:

Team: Manchester United

Brand: Nike

Era: 2009-10 (Used for the 2009 FA Community Shield, the 2009-10 Barclays Premier League season, and the 2010 Carling Cup Final)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This shirt comes to you in excellent condition with the material, club crest and sponsor displaying very little sign of wear bar the white staining which can be round around the base and side panels of the shirt.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 18.5 inches

Shirt Length: 28.5 inches 

Made by Nike in their ‘NikeFit’ series of shirts they released in 2009 – the dimensions of this shirt suggest that this is fine size medium fitting shirt.

DESCRIPTION:

Nike’s eight season as Manchester United’s kit supplier would see them dig deep into the annals to reprise the chevron design which was employed in the 1920’s to draw a close to the 2000’s and enter the new decade of the 2010’s. Unlike the home shirt which was used between 1922 – 1927 which was white with a red chevron (this design was used for one of the goalkeeper shirts); Nike’s iteration would be red with a black chevron meanwhile a thick black hoop collar was employed for the first time in the club’s history. This would also be the last season to feature the AIG shirt sponsorship after four season’s as the clubs main shirt sponsor. This season would be remembered as a mixed bag for fans of ‘the Red Devils’ as Wayne Rooney bagged 34 goals in all competitions and the once impossible sight of Michael Owen wearing a Manchester United shirt materialised as well as league double over both Arsenal and Manchester City and a successful League Cup defence; there was also the agonising surrender of the Premier League title on the last day of the season and an equally bitter exit from the Champions League quarter against Bayern Munich.

THE SEASON:

The end of the 2008-09 season coincided with the end of an era for Manchester United; however it ended in disappointment as they could only watch on as Barcelona dethroned them of the Champions League in the Rome finale before both Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo left the club shortly after. With that being said, the campaign would go down as one the greatest ever for the club as they won an 18^th league title (and a third in a row), the Community Shield, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Carling Cup, while also reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup and the final of the Champions League – in the process becoming the first team since Juventus did in 1997 to reach the final as defending champions!

After receiving a world record transfer fee of £80,000,000.00 for Ronaldo as he made his long awaited move to Real Madrid; United would bring in another winger in the form of Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic, while Michael Owen was also signed on a free transfer in one of the most unlikely transfers in the history of the Premier League!

United’s quest to win a record fourth consecutive Premier League title began on Super Sunday on 16^th August where Wayne Rooney’s sole strike was enough to see off newly promoted Birmingham City at Old Trafford. Up next came another newly promoted outfit – Burnley, however, the champions would be stunned 1-0 at Turf Moor! That defeat would set the stage for an impressive run of seven games without defeat – claiming six wins, including W’s over: Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and an epic 4-3 win over Manchester City on 20^th September. The winter however would usher a poor turn of form as defeats to: Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Fulham meant that they would lose more games than they did for the entire 2008-09 season and as many as the 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06 and 2004-05 seasons! Despite those five defeats on the board, they would end 2009 in 3^rd place and just two points behind Chelsea who were in 1^st place.

After drawing 1-1 with Birmingham City in the reverse fixture on 9^th January 2010; United would win four on the bounce including a first ever league win at the Emirates Stadium when they beat Arsenal 3-1 on 31^st January and would move five points ahead of ‘the Gunners’ following the 5-0 win over Portsmouth on 6^th February. After a draw with Aston Villa and a defeat to Everton – United won five in a row for the second time in the season to go into the 3^rd April showdown with Chelsea a point clear at the top of the table. Chelsea would win the contest 2-1 and then a draw with Blackburn Rovers in their next outing left United four points behind ‘The Blues’ with only four games to spare. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would negate the arrears to just one point ahead of the final day of the season and despite beating Stoke City 4-0 – United would have to watch on as the Premier League trophy returned to Stamford Bridge after being in United’s possession since 2007.

The tone for the campaign was set for Manchester United in the Community Shield match on 9^th August 2009 when they were beaten by Chelsea on penalties after a 2-2 draw unfolded. In falling short in the shoot-out; they would fall on short becoming the first team to ever win the curtain raiser three seasons running. United’s quest for a first FA Cup title since 2004 would be represent the peak of their low point in the season when they were upset by Football League representatives – Leeds United in the 3^rd Round.

The Red Devils’s would enjoy another fruitful League Cup foray as they successfully defended the title they won in 2008/09. After cursory wins against: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Barnsley and Tottenham; they would be drawn against Manchester City in a huge semi-final. After being beaten 2-1 in the 1^st Leg at the Etihad Stadium; United would come-back to win the 2^nd Leg 3-1 to set up a final against Aston Villa on 28^th February. Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney would be on target as Manchester United saw off Aston Villa’s challenge 2-1 at Wembley Stadium!

After back to back appearances in the Champions League Final – all eyes on how United would perform on Europe’s highest stage without either Cristiano Ronaldo or Carlos Tevez in their ranks. The first hurdle was overcome as they topped a Group B that also featured: Besiktas, CSKA Moscow and German champions – Wolfsburg. Their reward would be a glamour tie with AC Milan in the Last 16 and they would put the continent on notice as they won 7-2 on aggregate. The 2^nd Leg at Old Trafford on 10^th March 2010 would also be a sentimental moment as David Beckham would make his first appearance at the stadium since leaving the club in 2003.

A familiar foe from the Beckham-era would be next on the agenda in the form of a resurgent Bayern Munich. Despite Wayne Rooney’s 64 second opener in the 1^st Leg in Germany; United would be beaten 2-1. Rooney’s inclusion in the 2^nd Leg at Old Trafford was nearly the perfect masterstroke; however, the home side would squander a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 on the night and would bow out of the competition in the quarter final.

The notable players that season were:

Federico Macheda, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Danny Welbeck, Nani, Owen Hargreaves, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Michael Carrick, Darren Gibson, Park Ji-Sung, Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, John O’Shea, Jonny Evans. Wes Brown, Rafael, Fabio, Edwin Van der Sar, Ben Foster