2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: MANCHESTER UNITED

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As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-08T09:46:10.835Z

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: MANCHESTER UNITED

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-08T09:46:10.835Z

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

Today we take a look at Manchester United...

What's their history?

Founded as ‘Newton Heath LYR Football Club’ in 1878, the Red Devils competed in their first recorded match two years later as they lost 6-0 to Bolton Wanderers’ reserve team.

By 1888, ‘Newton Heath’ had become founding members of The Combination, a regional league and after that dissolved just a season later they joined the Football Alliance which would eventually merge with The Football League.

Starting the 1892/93 season in the top flight, the club had dropped the ‘LYR’ from its name having become independent to the railway company which it was formed from.

A season later, the Red Devils were relegated to the Second Division and spent several seasons there amidst financial issues which were resolved by four local businessmen on the grounds that they could change the club’s name. Out of that came ‘Manchester United'.

Promoted back to the First Divison in 1906, United then won a top flight title for the first time in 1908 and in the following season United began with victory in the first-ever Charity Shield and ended it with the club’s first FA Cup title.

Various relegations and promotions followed for the Red Devils, who then appointed Matt Busby as manager in October 1945 at the resumption of football post-WWII.

Busby led the team to 2nd-place finishes in three consecutive seasons and an FA Cup triumph before winning the First Division in 1952 to bring a first league title to Old Trafford in 41 years.

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With an average age of 22 the squad were nicknamed ‘The Busby Babes’ by the media and in 1957 they became the first English team to compete in the European Cup reaching the semi-finals.

The following season however, on their way home from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade, United’s plane crashed while attempting to take off in Munich. 23 lives were lost in the disaster.

Busby had to re-build his team through youth players including George Best and did so by winning the FA Cup in 1963 and going on to win the European Cup for the first time in 1968 with a victory over Benfica in the final becoming the first English club to win the competition. Busby then retired as manager in 1969.

Uninspiring years followed and with them even a season spent in the Second Division following relegation in 1974, before Sir Alex Ferguson arrived in 1986.

Scotsman Ferguson would spend 27 years at the helm of United, a stint not matched by any coach in this country to date.

The most decorated manager ever, he earned 38 pieces of silverware during his tenure including 13 Premier League titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Though the Red Devils haven’t hit the same heights since his departure a decade ago, there has still been success to discuss at Old Trafford, after winning the Carabao Cup in 2023, the Reds then lifted the FA Cup in 2024.

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Stadium

The world-famous home of the Red Devils is situated just outside of Manchester city centre. Old Trafford, affectionately known as the “Theatre of Dreams,” has been Manchester United’s home stadium since its opening in 1910.

Though the stadium sustained major damages during World War II, it was successfully restored in a series of extensive renovations. Other improvements have been made over the decades as well, resulting in a current capacity of over 74,000 fans.

This makes the iconic stadium one of the largest and more historic stadiums in English football.

Old Trafford has also been the home of many concerts, rugby matches, and various other international sporting events.

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Last Season

United endured a difficult campaign last season, after finishing 15th in the Premier League on 42 points, which turned out to be the lowest finish in over 50 years.

The Red Devils finished the campaign under the guidance of Ruben Amorim, who joined in November, following the dismissal of Erik Ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim period in charge.

Despite the challenging form in the league, Amorim did guide his side to the UEFA Europa League final, but unfortunately the Reds did go on to lose to Tottenham in Bilbao.

The top performers for United included Bruno Fernandes, who bagged 19 goals in all competitions, alongside Amad Diallo, who found the net 11 times across the 2024/25 campaign.

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Who’s the Boss?

Ruben Amorim was appointed as United boss in November of the 2024/25 season, replacing the previous manager Erik ten Hag, who departed after two-and-a-half season in charge.

Despite the challenging season, it was a transitional campaign for Amorim and his men, with the Portuguese coach implementing a new formation, style-of-play and tactics.

Although the Reds recorded a 15th place finish in the Premier League, Amorim was just 90 minutes away from securing silverware in his first season at Old Trafford, but fell short at the final hurdle with defeat to Spurs in the UEFA Europa League final.

Amorim himself had his own career in football, representing clubs such as Belenenses, Benfica, and Sporting CP. He then went on to manage Sporting CP, leading them to a Primeira Liga title in 2021 and 2023, after previous coaching spells with Braga and Casa Pia.

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Memorable meeting

22/01/2020 - Burnley 2 – 0 Manchester United (Old Trafford)

Goals from Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez proved to be the difference at Old Trafford in a memorable win for the Clarets, as Sean Dyche's side secured all three points in style.

Wood handed Burnley the lead in the 36th minute, after reacting quickest and turning home the opener, before wheeling away in celebration in front of the Burnley faithful.

With the visitors ahead at the break, the Clarets then doubled their lead just before the hour mark, as Rodriguez rifled home an effort into the top corner, that David De Gea couldn't get near. That goal capped off a fine performance in Manchester and ensured the points return to Turf Moor.

Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor, Cork, Westwood, Hendrick, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood

Unused substitutes: Hart, Long, Pieters, Brady, Goodridge, Lennon, Vydra

West Ham United: De Gea, Maguire, Williams (Shaw 69), Jones, Matic, Pereira (Greenwood HT), Fred, Mata, James (Lingard 69), Martial

Unused substitutes: Romero, Bailly, Dalot, Gomes

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