Football Training Wear: What to Buy and How to Wear It
Training wear is the part of football kit that gets worn the most and photographed the least. It's what players warm up in, what coaches stand on the touchline in, and, for a lot of supporters, what they actually wear from Monday to Friday. It also tends to be easier to wear than a match shirt: fewer sponsors, simpler designs, more room to move.
What's in the collection
Our training wear collection covers a few different kinds of garment:
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Training shirts and tops, short and long-sleeve, often with bold graphic prints, like the Manchester United 2025/26 Graphic Training Shirt.
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Training sets: a shirt (or sleeveless vest) with matching shorts, such as the Manchester United 2025/26 Training Set – Purple or the Sleeveless Training Set – White.
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Tracksuits: a jacket or half-zip top with matching pants, like the Manchester United 2025/26 Half-Zip Training Tracksuit – White.
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Retro half-zip training tops from the late 1990s and early 2000s, like the Manchester United 1998/99 Retro Half-Zip Training Top.
Training top or match shirt?
If you want something to wear often, a training top is usually the better buy. Training designs are made for movement and warm-ups, they don't carry the same season-specific look as a match shirt, and they sit more easily with jeans or joggers. A match shirt is the one to wear on matchday, or to frame.
If you play five-a-side, a training set (shirt and shorts together) is the simplest way to turn up looking like a team, rather than eleven people in eleven different shirts.
Retro training tops
Old training wear has become a small cult of its own. Half-zip tops from the late 1990s and early 2000s are warm, easy to layer and instantly recognisable to anyone who watched football then. Our range includes the 2002/03 half-zip in red and in black. Like our other retro items, these are new garments made in past designs, not vintage originals.
Sizing training wear
Training tops and sets are cut differently from match shirts, so check the size chart on each product page rather than assuming it matches your jersey size. Measure a top you like flat across the chest and compare. If you plan to layer underneath, or you're between sizes, size up. Where a set includes shorts, the shorts follow the same size as the top in the set, so size for the larger of the two measurements.
How to wear it
- On matchday: a long-sleeve training top under a windbreaker, with the match shirt saved for when it's warm enough.
- At five-a-side: a training set in a single colour for the whole team.
- Day to day: a plain training shirt or a retro half-zip with jeans. The simpler the design, the easier it is to wear.
Care
- Wash cold (30°C) on a gentle cycle, inside out, with similar colours.
- No bleach or fabric softener.
- Hang to dry; avoid the tumble dryer.
- Close any zips before washing, and don't iron over badges or prints.
Delivery and returns
Orders are processed within 1–3 business days, most arrive within 7–14 business days, and shipping is free on all US orders. Return conditions are in our Refund Policy.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a training top and a jersey?
A jersey is the match shirt a team plays in. A training top is what they warm up and train in: usually simpler, easier to layer and easier to wear day to day.
Do training sets include shorts?
Training sets do; the product title says "Set" and the photos show both pieces. Training tops and training shirts are sold on their own.
Are the retro training tops vintage?
No. They're new garments made in the designs of past seasons.
