Man Utd forced into kit change for Europa League final due to 64-year tradition

Manchester United have been forced to change their traditional kit before the final. The Red Devils take on rivals in Bilbao on Wednesday evening.

The match gives and the chance to claim silverware at the end of difficult seasons, while the victor will also claim a spot in next season’s . Each side have already arrived in Spain ahead of Wednesday evening’s game.

But will have a slightly unfamiliar look when they take to the pitch at San Mames. It has been announced that Amorim’s side will wear black shorts - as opposed to their traditional white - alongside their famous red shirts and black socks.

That is down to Spurs’ 64-year long European tradition. The North London side have worn all white in Europe since 1961, a tradition adopted by former boss Bill Nicholson.

And with Spurs being dubbed as the ‘home’ team for the game, their kit choice takes precedence over United’s. The reason behind Spurs’ all-white kit tradition began over six decades ago, with Nicholson attempting to increase visibility for his players in stadiums not having the best lighting facilities.

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It began in an away game to Polish side Gornik. “We just turned up in the dressing room for the game and there was the all-white kit,” former Spurs star Cliff Jones said. “No-one said anything; nothing was said to us. We just focused on the game coming up.”

Ricky George, a young apprentice at the time, added: “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,” Jones said. “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.”

Who will win the Europa League?

The Europa League final is not the first time that United have opted for a slight kit change during the season. They also wore black shorts during their away trip to Real Sociedad back in March - after goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mikel Oyarzabal.

They however returned to their more traditional white shorts during the home leg at Old Trafford - thanks to a hat-trick from . Regardless of the kit they wear, United will be desperate to win the final and with it, seal their return to the Champions League.

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