Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 11 December 2025
size? x adidas Manchester Handball Spezial City Series 25th Anniversary – Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
About the release
The size? x adidas Manchester returns for its 25th anniversary, closing out a huge year for the City Series with one of the most talked about colour flips to date. First introduced in 2002 for the Commonwealth Games, the Manchester silhouette became a grail thanks to its links with Gary Aspden, Mike Chetcuti and Jay Nalbach. It helped pave the way for the terrace footwear culture that dominates today.
For 2025, size? brings the baton home with a full rework in bold red, celebrating the city’s dual Man City and Man United identity while honouring the original blueprint. Built on the Handball Spezial tooling, this anniversary edition features a sheeny red nylon upper, reflective light blue 3-Stripes and gold accents marking the limited run. The legacy continues, and terrace collectors are already circling the date.
Pairs drop exclusively at size? Manchester on 11 December 2025, with a wider release on 13 December 2025 online and across select size? stores.
TL;DR – Quick Specs
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 13 December 2025 (11 December Manchester in-store) |
| Model | adidas Manchester Handball Spezial | City Series 25th Anniversary |
| Style Code | IH6665 |
| Colour | Red / Light Blue / Navy / Gold |
| Price | £110 |
| Where to Buy | size? Manchester • size? online • size? stores • Side Kicks |
| Sizing | True to size • half size up for wide feet |
Highlights
Colour flipped heritage
This pair reverses the original 2002 Manchester, swapping the light blue upper for a bold red base with light blue 3-Stripes. It mirrors the city’s split football identity and nods directly to the shoe that helped spark the modern City Series wave.
Premium terrace build
Sheeny red nylon uppers, tonal suede T-toe overlays, reflective blue leather stripes and a navy sole bring classic Handball Spezial DNA into 2025. Gold “Manchester” lettering and the “1/2025” foil stamp confirm its place in the numbered anniversary run.
City Series legacy
Co-branded insoles, custom City Series patchwork and that familiar Spezial tooling link this release back to the early 2000s origins and the size? x adidas collaborations that shaped terrace culture for decades.
Why this release hits different
The Manchester was not part of the original 70s City Series, yet its 2002 launch reshaped the entire landscape. Only 600 pairs were made, but the idea helped ignite a new era of terrace footwear built on storytelling, local pride and subculture.
Since its debut, the Manchester has returned in key forms. The 2010 size? rerelease, the CP Company collab and the Córdoba twin city pair all showed its staying power. This new 2025 edition takes a different approach. It is not trying to copy the past. It flips it. Red has always divided opinions, but those divisions are exactly what make City Series drops so memorable.
Early reactions suggest this might be one of the standout entries from size?’s Anniversary releases, sitting comfortably next to Glasgow, Shanghai and Birmingham. With rumours of an event in Manchester on 11 December, the timing feels perfect for a homecoming.
Fit and comfort
- True to size for most wearers.
- Wide feet may prefer half size up.
- Spezial tooling offers dependable terrace grip.
- Lightweight feel makes it an easy all day option.
Price and availability
Retail price sits at £110, dropping first at size? Manchester on 11 December and online plus stores on 13 December 2025.
size? x adidas Manchester
The Manchester has always represented the spirit of a city built on football loyalty, music culture and a strong terrace identity. This 25th Anniversary edition brings that history into 2025 with a confident colour flip that celebrates both sides of the city while honouring the original 2002 design that started it all.
Earlier models like the 2010 size? rerelease, the CP Company collaboration and the Córdoba twin city edition showed how deep the Manchester story runs. This new version leans into that heritage, giving collectors a bold twist built on Spezial DNA. If you missed out on the older pairs, this is one of the strongest chances to claim a piece of City Series history.
Official images
size? x adidas Manchester City Series 25th Anniversary in all angles.
FAQ
When does the size? x adidas Manchester drop?
11 December 2025 in-store at size? Manchester, followed by a wider 13 December online and in select stores.
How much do they cost?
Retail price is £110.
Do they fit true to size?
Yes for most. Half size up is recommended for wide feet.
Where can I buy them?
Exclusively through size? Manchester • size? online • select size? stores • and tracked resale through Side Kicks.
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