Nike's mission has always been to provide a competitive edge, to help players perform better, and this is the absolute focus of the company's partnership with Manchester United. The first shoe Nike made in the early 1970's was a football boot, but it was the 1994 World Cup that really saw Nike 'arrive' in football. Since then, the company has never looked back.
The famous 'Swoosh' has adorned some of the greatest players in the history of the game - including United legend Eric Cantona, who was given a sponsorship deal by Nike when other boot manufacturers wouldn't touch him thanks to his maverick image.
This season Nike joins forces with Manchester United in a wide-ranging partnership. The players will benefit from the company's innovative 'Cool Motion' double-layer kit, while fans will be able to buy high-quality replicas, as well as training wear and other United merchandise. Cool Motion was first used in the kits of eight of the teams competing in the 2002 world cup and proved its worth as Brazil went on to lift the trophy using the new technology.
As well as the new kit, many of the United first team squad also wear Nike boots, including Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre.