Manchester United is 3,700 miles from Astana in Kazakhstan, and in football terms Thursday night's Europa League combatants are arguably even farther apart.

While United have a proud 141-year history that has seen them become one of the world's most iconic sporting organistations, Astana were founded as recently as 2009 and been past the group stages in European competition just once.

United are red, Astana sky blue and yellow. Sportsmail looks at the other huge differences between the teams that are about to meet at Old Trafford.

Manchester United host Astana in their opening Europa League clash on Thursday evening

HISTORY

Manchester United were founded in 1878 and boast 66 major trophies in their collection including a record 20 English championships and three European Cups/Champions Leagues.

They've had two legendary managers, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, countless footballing superstars from George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton to Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo, and a philosophy of promoting homegrown players, back to the Busby Babes who were tragically killed in the 1958 Munich air disaster.

Astana were formed 10 years ago but can point to five Kazakhstan league titles since United won their last one in 2013. Their best European performance came in reaching the last 32 of the Europa League in 2018 when they were eliminated by Sporting Lisbon.

United, founded back in 1878, boast a record 20 English championships to their name

Astana can point to five Kazakhstan league titles since the Red Devils won their last one

SIZE

Manchester United's Old Trafford has a capacity of 76,000 – the largest in the Premier League. The Astana Arena holds just 30,000.

And whereas United – who are valued as a business at £2billion - broke the world transfer record when they signed Paul Pogba for £89million in 2016, still the club's most expensive buy, Astana's operate in the £1million market, the cost of Romanian midfielder Dorin Rotariu signed from Bruges earlier this year.

At least Astana are ahead of United in appointing a sporting director. They unveiled Englishman Paul Ashworth, brother of former FA guru Dan, in January. His past cv has seen him work for Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough in various coaching capacities, as well as take up sporting director roles in Russia, Latvia and Nigeria.

With a population of 700,000, Astana is slightly larger than Manchester. The Kazakh capital was renamed Nur-Sultan earlier this year.

United's Old Trafford holds a capacity of 76,000 - the largest in the Premier League

The Astana Arena, where the Kazakhstan side play their football, holds just 30,000 supporters

Astana unveiled Englishman Paul Ashworth (left), brother of former FA guru Dan, in January

PLAYING SQUAD

United have a World Cup winner Paul Pogba and recently made David de Gea the world's highest-paid goalkeeper. Overall, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can count on internationals from England, Scotland, Wales, Brazil, France, Spain, Sweden, Ivory Coast and Serbia.

Astana's best player Marin Tomasov won a solitary cap for Croatia six years ago. The vast majority of their squad are Kazakhs though they do have experienced Serbian defender Antonio Rukavina, who played for his country at the last World Cup, and Zarko Tomasevic of Montenegro. Rotariu has scored one goal in 10 appearances for Romania.

There will be one interesting reunion at Old Trafford. Astana's Runar Sigurjonsson was on the bench the night Iceland beat England at Euro 2016 in one of football's most seismic shocks. Appearing for England that evening was Marcus Rashford.

Paul Pogba remains United's most expensive ever player at a staggering price of £89million

Astana's best player Marin Tomasov won a solitary cap for Croatia six years ago

IMAGE

The modern United were built by Busby who wanted to give the club's fanbase, those who worked at the massive Trafford Park industrial estate next to the stadium, entertainment after a gruelling week's work.

It's an image that has endured, the club gaining a new generation of supporters following the tragedy and revival after Munich, though United's reputation has waned in recent times due to the controversial ownership from The Glazers and Ferguson's departure leading to on-pitch stability.

FC Astana has a more pragmatic reason for its existence, set up and backed by the Kazakh state and leading companies to project a more positive image of their country to counteract the 'Borat' stereotype fed to cinema-goers.

The country's most important figure, Nursultan Narzabayev who served as President for nearly 20 years before stepping down earlier this year, gave his full backing to FC Astana to promote the national interest. 'Kazakhstan has to become a world-class sports power,' he said.

FC Astana is now an umbrella organisation for different sports but football being the world game is hugely important. The kudos of playing United at Old Trafford will be viewed as hugely significant.

United have huge support from all around the world after their major success down the years