Manchester United – The Most Known Logo in the Sport’s History?

Manchester United is the name with which many people are already familiar. It is a name cheered by millions of followers who watch the game from the stadium or at home. They have a rich history, and you should be aware that their logo has played a significant role in their marketing efforts. Manchester United was founded in 1878 by Newton Heath and the Lancashire Railway. The club has a rich history that has helped it become a global sports identity.

Like today, there is almost no one who cannot recognize the team. You can show the logo or crest of MU, and they will tell you about it. The logo is now present on wallets, car keys, wallpapers, car images, and so much more. However, you must know that, like any other logo, it has also undergone multiple changes over time. Today, the crest that we love has undergone many modifications, which we proudly display as our screensaver. 

The long history of the Manchester United Logo

1878 - 1891

Back then, the name Manchester United had not yet been decided. The club’s first crest had two iconic colors, yellow and green. And, if you follow this club, you might know that these colors have been on the crest up to now. Back then, it was a simple logo with the club name and showcased the club founders. 

1891 - 1902

The club, until this time, was still known by its founder's name, Newton Heath. This time, the logo was simplified by incorporating a football. They removed the train and club name, and the year was in the logo. Of course, this logo was primarily about the club's ownership. 

1902 - 1960

In 1902, the club underwent some changes and was in debt. At this time, stakeholders were appointed, and they all invested 500 pounds in the club. Now, the ownership was not only in the hands of Heath, but the name and logo were about to change. Owing to the debt, the club's name was changed to Manchester United. Just as its name suggests, the logo incorporates several key elements related to the city.

Being a dominant city in world trade, the Manchester ship became part of the crest. There was a lion that showed the Roman Hamlet and three yellow stripes, which were the rivers. 

1960 - 1970

The 1960s crest was the first one made that resembles the logo as it is today. Even the shape and color scheme take us back to this time. But, it did not have a yellow color; it still featured the crucial elements of the previous logo. However, it was marketed with simple wording that read 'Manchester United Football Club'.

1970 - 1973

The fifth logo features some slight modifications. For the first time, it contained the yellow color, which made the crest more potent than ever. The ship and the three stripes were still part of it. But two footballs were added this time. 

1973 - 1998

This logo introduced the Red Devil, a familiar figure to us all. It was a nickname for the club that gained considerable popularity worldwide. It was a name under the legendary Matt Rubsy. It was meant to be an exciting yet intimidating name for the opponents. The three stripes were removed and have not become part of the logo since then. 

1988 - present

This was the final logo that we are all familiar with. It is the logo we see on the club kits. It closely resembles the 1973 edition but has several modifications. There is no doubt that it now has a modern and sleek look. The logo has not changed for the past 23 years. Unlike the other clubs, the Manchester United logo was a powerful marketing tool for the club. And, it is hard to imagine that the logo will be changed anytime soon.

Font and color of the Manchester United logo

It has a simple Sans-Serif font used in the current and previous editions. The logo has been quite minimalist since its inception, and today it represents Manchester United even without any words. Since the beginning, the two primary colors of the logo have been red and yellow. White and black are used as auxiliary colors in the logo.