Editing Manchester United F.C. (section)

==Support==
{{right|Anthem of Manchester United FC}}
[[File:Manchester United F.C Anthem.ogg|right]]
[[File:Oldtraffordaverageattendances.png|thumb|Average [[Old Trafford]] Manchester United attendance, 1949–2009]]
Manchester United is one of the most popular football clubs in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in Europe.<ref>{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Rice |title=Manchester United top of the 25 best supported clubs in Europe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/manchester-united-top-of-the-25-best-supported-clubs-in-europe-1816245.html |work=The Independent |location=London |date=6 November 2009 |access-date=6 November 2009 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809094425/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/manchester-united-top-of-the-25-best-supported-clubs-in-europe-1816245.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Manchester United Supporters Club (MUSC), in at least 24 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Supporters Clubs |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Fanzone/Local-Supporters-Clubs.aspx |work=Manchester United |access-date=3 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807033724/http://www.manutd.com/en/Fanzone/Local-Supporters-Clubs.aspx |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants [[Deloitte]] estimate that Manchester United has 75&nbsp;million fans worldwide.<ref name="hamil_126"/> The club has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and Real Madrid), with over [[List of most-followed Facebook pages|82&nbsp;million Facebook followers]] as of July 2023.<ref name="Marca">[http://www.marca.com/en/2014/11/13/en/football/barcelona/1415913827.html "Barça, the most loved club in the world"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114222009/http://www.marca.com/en/2014/11/13/en/football/barcelona/1415913827.html |date=14 November 2014 }}. Marca. Retrieved 15 December 2014</ref><ref>[http://fanpagelist.com/category/top_users/view/list/sort/fans/page1 "Top 100 Facebook fan pages"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209081114/http://fanpagelist.com/category/top_users/view/list/sort/fans/page1 |date=9 February 2015 }}. FanPageList.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015</ref> A 2014 study showed that Manchester United had the loudest fans in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United fans the Premier League's loudest, says study |url=http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2162036/manchester-united-the-premier-leagues-loudest-fanssays-study |work=ESPN FC |date=24 November 2014 |access-date=20 February 2015 |archive-date=21 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221025829/http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2162036/manchester-united-the-premier-leagues-loudest-fanssays-study |url-status=live }}</ref>

Supporters are represented by two independent bodies; the [[Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association]] (IMUSA), which maintains close links to the club through the MUFC Fans Forum,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fans' Forum |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Club/Fans-Forum.aspx |work=Manchester United |access-date=3 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814003417/http://www.manutd.com/en/Club/Fans-Forum.aspx |archive-date=14 August 2011 }}</ref> and the [[Manchester United Supporters' Trust]] (MUST). After the Glazer family's takeover in 2005, a group of fans formed a splinter club, [[F.C. United of Manchester]]. The West Stand of Old Trafford – the "[[Stretford End]]" – is the home end and the traditional source of the club's most vocal support.<ref name="barnes_52">Barnes et al. (2001), p. 52.</ref>

===Rivalries===
Manchester United has high-profile rivalries with [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and local neighbours [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. The club has also had rivalries throughout its history with the likes of [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Martin |date=15 April 2008 |title=Bitter rivals do battle |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2297404/Wolves-v-West-Brom-Bitter-rivals-do-battle.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2297404/Wolves-v-West-Brom-Bitter-rivals-do-battle.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=24 June 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Simon |date=16 September 2005 |title=Giggs: Liverpool our biggest test |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/174/174381_giggs_liverpool_our_biggest_test.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814034532/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/174/174381_giggs_liverpool_our_biggest_test.html |archive-date=14 August 2011 |access-date=31 March 2010 |work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

[[File:2009-3-14 ManUtd vs LFC Red Card Vidic.JPG|thumb|[[Liverpool F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry|Liverpool v Manchester United]] at Old Trafford on 14 March 2009]]
The matches against Manchester City are known as the [[Manchester derby]], as they are the two most important teams in the city of Manchester. It is considered one of the biggest local derbies in British football,<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2024 |title=The top 15 biggest derbies in British football ranked |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-top-15-biggest-derbies-in-british-football-ranked-38447050 |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=OneFootball }}</ref> particularly after City's rise to prominence in the 2010s and the two clubs fighting for trophies, such as the league title in [[2011–12 Premier League|2012]] and [[2012–13 Premier League|2013]], as well as two consecutive [[FA Cup Final|FA Cup finals]] in [[2023 FA Cup final|2023]] and [[2024 FA Cup final|2024]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manchester City, Manchester United to face off in FA Cup final |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/manchester-city-manchester-united-to-face-off-in-fa-cup-final/3229658 |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=aa.com.tr}}</ref>

The rivalry with Liverpool is rooted in competition between the cities during the [[Industrial Revolution]], when Manchester was famous for its textile industry while [[Liverpool]] was a major port.<ref>{{cite news |first=Finlo |last=Rohrer |title=Scouse v Manc |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6956608.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2007 |access-date=24 June 2010 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112222904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6956608.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The two clubs are the most successful in the history of English football; between them they have won [[List of English football champions|40 league titles]], 9 European Cups, 21 FA Cups, 16 League Cups, 4 [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup/Europa Leagues]], 2 [[FIFA Club World Cup]]s, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 37 [[FA Community Shield]]s and 5 UEFA Super Cups.<ref name="skysports.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/10676765/leeds-united-englands-13th-biggest-club-according-to-sky-sports-study |title=Leeds United England's 12th biggest club, according to Sky Sports study |work=Sky Sports |first=Adam |last=Smith |date=30 November 2016 |access-date=21 May 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228210113/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/10676765/leeds-united-englands-13th-biggest-club-according-to-sky-sports-study |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Liverpool v Manchester United: The bitter rivalry|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19653230|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=21 September 2012|access-date=23 February 2019|archive-date=19 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719014036/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19653230|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Which club has won the most trophies in Europe|url=http://talksport.com/football/which-club-has-won-most-trophies-europe-most-successful-clubs-best-leagues-revealed|access-date=26 September 2015|date=13 August 2015|archive-date=26 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926210603/http://talksport.com/football/which-club-has-won-most-trophies-europe-most-successful-clubs-best-leagues-revealed|url-status=live}}</ref> Ranked the two biggest clubs in England by ''[[France Football]]'' magazine based on metrics such as fanbase and historical importance,<ref>{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Bray|title=Manchester United ranked as the biggest football club in England ahead of Liverpool FC|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-liverpool-chelsea-arsenal-15816734|date=12 February 2019|access-date=11 November 2022|work=Manchester Evening News|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704143128/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-liverpool-chelsea-arsenal-15816734|url-status=live}}</ref> matches between Manchester United and Liverpool are considered to be the most famous fixture in English football and one of the biggest rivalries in the football world.<ref name=TelLivMan>{{cite news |title=The 20 biggest rivalries in world football ranked – Liverpool vs Manchester Utd |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/11484651/The-20-biggest-rivalries-in-world-football-ranked.html?frame=3239123 |work=The Telegraph |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=7 November 2015 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926014156/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/11484651/The-20-biggest-rivalries-in-world-football-ranked.html?frame=3239123 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=GuardianFanCensus>{{cite news |first=Tanya |last=Aldred |title=Rivals uncovered |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jan/22/newsstory.sport11 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 January 2004 |access-date=7 November 2015 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144520/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jan/22/newsstory.sport11 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-remain-manchester-uniteds-biggest-rival-says-ryan-giggs-8390079.html |title=Liverpool remain Manchester United's 'biggest rival' says Ryan Giggs |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=7 November 2015 |archive-date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123145802/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-remain-manchester-uniteds-biggest-rival-says-ryan-giggs-8390079.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Bleacher>{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1867347-the-7-greatest-rivalries-in-club-football-from-boca-to-the-bernabeu/page/4 |title=The 7 Greatest Rivalries in Club Football: From Boca to the Bernabeu |website=The Bleacher Report |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=7 November 2015 |archive-date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123144913/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1867347-the-7-greatest-rivalries-in-club-football-from-boca-to-the-bernabeu/page/4 |url-status=live }}</ref> No player has been transferred between the clubs since 1964.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/10/newsstory.sport8 |first1=Sean |last1=Ingle |first2=Scott |last2=Murray |title=Knowledge Unlimited |work=The Guardian |date=10 May 2000 |access-date=11 November 2022 |archive-date=28 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028012550/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2000/may/10/newsstory.sport8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said in 2002, "My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch".<ref>{{cite news|title=The greatest challenge of Sir Alex Ferguson's career is almost over|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/09/sir-alex-ferguson-manchester-united-liverpool|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=9 January 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=10 July 2020|archive-date=5 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605092341/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/jan/09/sir-alex-ferguson-manchester-united-liverpool|url-status=live}}</ref>

The "Roses Rivalry" with Leeds stems from the [[Wars of the Roses]], fought between the [[House of Lancaster]] and the [[House of York]], with Manchester United representing Lancashire and Leeds representing Yorkshire.<ref>Dunning (1999), p. 151.</ref>

The rivalry with Arsenal arose from the numerous times the two teams battled for the Premier League title, especially under managers Alex Ferguson and [[Arsène Wenger]], who also had a heated personal rivalry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/jan/31/sir-alex-ferguson-arsene-wenger-rivalry|title=Rivalry between Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson unmatched in sport|newspaper=The Guardian|date=31 January 2010|access-date=24 April 2013|last1=Hayward|first1=Paul|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907213037/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2010/jan/31/sir-alex-ferguson-arsene-wenger-rivalry|url-status=live}}</ref> With 33 titles between them (20 for Manchester United, 13 for Arsenal), the fixture has been described as a "blockbuster" and the "greatest" rivalry in the history of the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shamoon |last=Hafez |title=Man Utd v Arsenal: Has the Premier League match become a 'lost rivalry'? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49844922 |website=BBC Sport |date=30 September 2019 |access-date=16 August 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Arsenal's rivalry with United was the greatest in Premier League' |url=https://www.besoccer.com/new/arsenal-s-rivalry-with-united-was-the-greatest-in-premier-league-415177 |website=BeSoccer.com |access-date=16 August 2024 }}</ref>