With the fashion world mourning the death of icon Giorgio Armani, there is a Manchester United connection that lives on fondly 29 years later.
Giorgio Armani’s death at 91 has left Italy in mourning. There will be a minute’s silence ahead of the World Cup qualifier between Italy and Estonia, reports 24 Ore.
Armani’s influence occasionally crossed over into the sporting arena, and caught the attention of former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
It was a moment that preceded Ferguson’s biggest achievement prior to the Treble, the famous ‘Double Double’.
Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp in white Armani suits - 1996 FA Cup Final - Wembley
Photo by Mark Leech/Getty Images
Liverpool’s famous white suits pushed Manchester United on
Rewind back to 1996, when Manchester United were preparing to take on Liverpool in the FA Cup Final at the old Wembley.
United were the favourites, playing in a third FA Cup Final in three years, having just clinched the Premier League title. It was an opportunity to win the Double for a second time, becoming the first ever English club to do so.
That was plenty of motivation for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men. And then Liverpool’s young upstart squad turned up in white Armani suits.
Speaking to a BBC documentary in 2015, Ferguson blasted: “I think that’s, what would you call it? Arrogance or over-confidence.
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“It was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Blue shirt, red and white tie and white suit. And a blue flower.
“Who designed that? They say it was Armani. I bet his sales went down.
“Between Manchester United and Liverpool, they’ve won more trophies than any other club in Great Britain. That didn’t represent Liverpool.”
Ferguson said that as soon as he saw the suits, he knew Manchester United were going to win: “I said to [assistant] Brian Kidd ‘1-0’. Because of that.”
Liverpool were dubbed ‘The Spice Boys’ by the media with their glaring white suits in clear contrast with tradition.
Manchester United went on to win the game 1-0 and win the FA Cup, with Eric Cantona scoring a late half-volley winner to capitalise on a mistake from David James.
In 2023, Ferguson took another dig at his former rivals while giving an inspirational speech to the Sale Sharks rugby league team ahead of their final.
He was quoted via ESPN: “I wish you all the best on Saturday. The thing is, I’m telling you, don’t wear a white suit for Christ’s sake! Concentration … you’re not there to enjoy it, you’re there to win.”
Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and Brian Kidd of Manchester United, with the FA Cup trophy
12 May 1996: Alex Ferguson (left) Manager of Manchester United, Eric Cantona (centre) and Brian Kidd (right) both of Manchester United hold the trophy after winning the F A Cup Final match against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London. Manchester United won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botter…
Jamie Redknapp admitted mistake but denied Ferguson claim
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was one of the ‘Spice Boys’ who rocked up at Wembley in the white Armani suits.
Quoted by The Mirror in 2020, Redknapp admitted: “I still to this day don’t understand why no-one went: ‘Listen guys, why don’t we just wear our normal suits?'”
“In that game we were actually marginally better I’d say,” he claimed, disputing Ferguson’s pre-match claim and still showing some of the arrogance that befell Liverpool at the time.
Roy Evans’ Liverpool team of that era never lived down their mistake, and the team began to break up, with Redknapp later signing for Tottenham.
But even almost a full 30 years on, the Final is remembered by most for the iconic, badly thought out white suits, every bit as much as Eric Cantona’s winning goal.