Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United?

When Manchester United and Leeds United compete, they draw on a rivalry that is both hundreds of years old and a product of the contemporary day. We at Alley Sport are here to cover Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? The rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United is sometimes referred to as the rivalry of the Roses.

Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Image Credits:- Manchester United.
Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Image Credits:- Manchester United.

Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Preview

Football clubs Leeds United and Manchester United compete against one another in this rivalry. The fierce rivalry between the mediaeval counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire is where the rivalry began, and it is widely thought that it dates back to the 15th-century Wars of the Roses.

Despite the fact that Leeds and Manchester are more than 40 miles (64 km) apart, the tradition is kept and there is still a strong bond between the two clubs. Based on the number of teams that view them as rivals, Leeds and Manchester United are two of the top three clubs in English football, according to independent data by the Football Fans Census.

Previous matchups between the two teams at Old Trafford and Elland Road have been the focus of a rivalry that transcended the playing field. When British football hooliganism was at its height in the 1970s, fights between the clubs’ respective hooligan organisations, Manchester United’s Red Army and Leeds United Service Crew, were frequent and rose to the status of some of the most violent clashes in British football.

Hostility grew more intense over time. Despite the fact that many individuals were hurt during these confrontations, there has been a marked decrease in fan-on-fan violence since the 1970s for a variety of reasons, chief among them being the general fall in hooliganism.

The meetings were characterised as “fantastic, feisty occasions” with an “electric” atmosphere by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as late as January 2010, before the two clubs faced off in the FA Cup third round. The rivalry has also been referred to as “English football’s greatest – and inexplicable – rivalry” by The Daily Telegraph.

Since Leeds was demoted to the Second Division in 1982, these meetings have become increasingly rare. When Leeds moved to the top flight in 1990, hooliganism was still common between supporters of English league clubs, but it was less of an issue and has been less of an issue ever since. Since Leeds was demoted from the Premier League in 2004, the hostility and violence have been much reduced.

The clubs only faced off twice between 2004 and 2020, and while polls revealed Leeds supporters still saw Manchester United as their major opponents, Manchester United supporters saw Liverpool as their top adversary, which was followed by Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Despite Leeds United’s promotion after conquering the 2019–20 EFL Championship, the rivalry was reignited in the 2020–21 Premier League season.

The teams’ subsequent first meeting ended 6-2 in favour of Manchester United. Manchester United has won 67 trophies versus Leeds United’s 9, giving them a significant advantage in the trophy department.

Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Image Credits:- iNews.
Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Image Credits:- iNews.

For More stories, like, Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United? Click here

Follow us on Instagram and check out our YouTube channel to stay in touch with the latest happenings in football. According to you, Why Do Manchester United Fans Hate Leeds United?

Also please read:-

Scroll to Top