CK Updates
Leeds v Man Utd: Why does the rivalry matter?
In his best-selling ‘Managing My Life’ autobiography, Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on his feelings about a trip to Elland Road.
“The crowd invariably give us the impression that a lynching would be too good for us,” he said.
After a typically fraught League Cup victory there in 2011, Ferguson offered this observation too.
“I have always said Liverpool–Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects,” he added.
“But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.”
Leeds have already hosted a couple of historic rivals in December, beating Chelsea 3-1 at home and producing an epic fightback to snatch a point in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool.
But a visit from Manchester United is something else.
“I have a decorating firm and for 40 years we have had the motto that we will not use red paint,” said lifelong Leeds fan Gary Edwards.
“We will paint over red free of charge. It’s still going to this day. It’s on all the business cards and letterheads.”
The actual origins of the rivalry are difficult to pinpoint.
Many feel it dates to the War of the Roses in the 15th century, although that is probably too simplistic given the Duchy and Dukedom of the Houses of York and Lancaster had little to do with the cities themselves and the Duchy of Lancaster had land and offices in Yorkshire.
Others think the rivalry has its origins in the industrial revolution which does, at least in part, correspond to the emergence of football as an organised sport – even if neither club, either originally as Leeds City and Newton Heath, or their current names, came to real prominence until after the Second World War.
Possibly, the reverence from the 1950s and beyond for the Busby Babes compared to the negativity around Don Revie’s team in the 1960s and 70s, is a factor.
The knowledge that key players – Johnny Giles, Gordon Strachan, Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen, Denis Irwin and Eric Cantona among them – left one club to become an integral part of the success of the other is another. Also, the proximity of the best supported teams from the two biggest cities in two neighbouring counties, separated geographically, by the Pennines.
Whatever it is, the rivalry is real and despite the early 12:30 GMT kick-off, Elland Road is guaranteed to be a cauldron as Leeds look for their first home victory over Manchester United in the Premier League since 2002, when Harry Kewell scored the winner.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was in goal for Leeds that day and told BBC Sport: “One hundred percent it feels different.
“You get to the stadium two hours before kick-off and certain areas are sectioned off. There are police here, you can’t drive there. This road is closed, that road is closed.
“It is as intense as any derby that you want to name in this country – and it is not friendly.
“I grew up as a kid in the Leeds academy and was a ball boy at some games. The away section used to be in the cheese wedge in the corner of Elland Road. For most of the season, nobody wanted to be a ball boy in that corner. But when Manchester United came to town, everybody wanted to be over in that corner, for whatever reason.
“It was just a different game and a different experience.”
Neither manager has been part of a Leeds–Manchester United game before.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke knows it is a game that means a lot for his club’s fans and is talking about making “dreams come true”.
Manchester United‘s Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim has been at the centre of the Dérbi de Lisboa, as a player for Benfica and a coach at Lisbon rivals Sporting.
He is not sure the comparison is particularly helpful.
“I heard it is a big rivalry and a big derby,” said Amorim.
“It is hard to compare different cultures, different derbies and different histories. It’s a game in a hostile environment and that is going to be hard for any player. But when you play for Manchester United, you need to be ready for everything.”
Leeds‘ last title-winning campaign in 1992 was made more satisfying because they won it at the expense of Manchester United, who were in control of their own destiny until a run of three successive defeats in the space of seven days right at the end of the season let Howard Wilkinson’s side in.
Sadly for Leeds, the post-script came the following November, when chief executive Bill Fotherby rang Manchester United counterpart Martin Edwards to ask about the chances of bringing full-back Irwin back to the club.
Ferguson was in the room and said no to Irwin leaving, but told Edwards to mention the availability of French forward Cantona. It was a call that changed the course of English footballing history.
“I’ve never forgiven Bill for that,” says Gary Edwards.
Maybe one of the reasons why Leeds‘ rivalry with Manchester United doesn’t spring to mind in the same way as others in England is the relative infrequency of it happening.
Apart from the 14-year spell that began with Leeds‘ top-flight promotion in 1990 and relegation in 2004, the two clubs met only eight times in the other 30 years from 1982. Leeds won once in 2010, as a League One side at Old Trafford in the FA Cup, and lost on five occasions.
The two clubs’ fans don’t forget though.
“Even when Leeds were in League One and the Championship, Manchester United still sang a song about teams they didn’t like and tagged ‘and Leeds‘ on to it,” said Robinson, who had six years at Leeds before joining Tottenham in 2004.
“Week in, week out, no matter what league they are in or who they are playing against, Leeds fans take great pride week in describing their dislike of Manchester United.”
Leeds go into the game in better form, having added a goalless New Year’s Day draw draw at Anfield to their home comeback against Arne Slot’s men to take their current unbeaten record to six games and seven points clear of relegation in 16th place. It is their best top-flight form since April 2021, when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge.
By contrast, sixth-placed Manchester United have just three wins since the end of October and on 30 December failed to beat a Wolves side that has picked up just three points all season.
Regardless, Robinson believes there are some Leeds fans for whom a successful season this time around would be to finish 17th and beat Manchester United.
“That does exist,” said Gary Edwards. “I’m not quite like that, but 100% there are fans who think that way.
“I just feel it is as good a time to play them as any because we have turned a corner.
“We’ve kept the same formation and the same players who looked dire at the start of the season are now assured and confident.
“It will make the game interesting. Very, very interesting.”
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: Scotland claim eight medals in five chaotic hours as Games hit halfway
After a relatively quiet day, the first medal was claimed by the men’s 3×3 basketball team just before 17:00 BST.
A couple of hours later, three more followed in the space of five minutes.
The women’s wheelchair 3×3 basketball team took silver; Evans added her second gold – and third medal – of the Games in the 200m breaststroke; then Woods claimed gold in the women’s T54 1500m.
Shaw then joined in with bronze in the women’s S9 100m freestyle before MacInnes was edged into second place in the women’s 200m butterfly to take her second individual silver of the meet.
Around the same time, MacKenzie was leaping to long jump bronze, before the haul was completed in the pool when Evans and MacInnes teamed up with Katie Shanahan and Evie Davis to take silver in the women’s 4x100m medley.
Three more further medals are guaranteed in boxing – with fighters in semi-final action on Friday – while further prospects remain in athletics, bowls, cycling, judo and weightlifting.
The ultimate achievement would be to now emulate her old Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew, who won the Women’s Open here at Lytham in 2009, just 11 weeks after giving birth to daughter Sophie.
The Scot plays down this remarkable achievement, saying it was easier than it would have been after the arrival of a first child.
“I spoke to her and I said, ‘I really don’t know how you did it,’” said Hall.
“You couldn’t dream of doing that. I couldn’t. She said, ‘Oh, it’s a lot easier with the second.’”
Hall asked for advice from Matthew, who told the Dorset star to manage expectations.
“Just as in expecting a little bit less, but not in a bad way,” Hall told BBC Sport.
“If you hit a bad shot, you’ve been out of it for a year. You’ve given birth to a human.
“So it will take some time, basically be patient. And that’s what I’m going to have in my mind this week.”
Hall will marry Conor’s father Paul Dunne, who led the 2015 Open as an amateur and beat Rory McIlroy to the 2017 British Masters title. The baby boy could hardly have more impeccable golfing genes.
And the new mum has already made sure of a family photo on the 18th green this week. Hall said: “It’ll be my new screensaver.”
Eight years ago the photos were of her clutching one of golf’s most prestigious trophies, but that is not her abiding memory.
“I think just holing so many putts,” she said.
“That’s why you play golf. It wasn’t even like holding the trophy at the end. It was the feeling you get from an accomplishment of holing great putts when it mattered.
“Just so many of them, I remember, and when I was playing practice rounds the last few days, I would remember, oh yeah, I hit it there and that pin position was there. So it is nice to relive.”
It is probably asking too much this week for Hall to reprise that 2018 victory when she finished 17-under-par to win by two shots. This year the remodelled links is baked out, providing a fast, firm and fearsome challenge.
“Definitely it’s one of the hardest,” said Hall. “This golf course is so hard and they made changes that make it harder. So I’m expecting scoring to be a bit tricky.
“But I’m improving every month and that’s just my only goal. I believe that my game’s in decent shape and if I can get in the right mentality and hole some decent putts, I think I’ll be OK.”
Having led Europe to a comfortable win at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023, captain Donald stayed in post to guide them to a stunning victory on US soil at Bethpage Black, in New York, in 2025.
At Adare Manor, he could become the first captain to win three in a row and will be only the fourth captain to lead at three straight Ryder Cups after Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Bernard Gallacher.
He says Harrington will form a key part of his backroom staff in his quest to make history.
“I’ve been around Padraig in many Ryder Cup team rooms, as a player, as a vice captain to his captaincy, and he’s been a vice captain before as well,” Donald said. “So he brings a wealth of experience.
“I do love the fact that there’s a connection. He understands the Irish crowds and all that goes with having a Ryder Cup in Ireland. I think it’s going to be very special for him.
“He’s loved in Ireland with what he’s achieved in the game, and that will only bring more energy to our team.”
It will be the first time the competition has been held in Ireland since 2006, when Harrington was in the European team that won 18½-9½ at the K Club, County Kildare.
“You wouldn’t want to miss out with it being in Ireland, so I’m very pleased,” Harrington added. “I think it will be a spectacular occasion and one of the great sporting events to be played in the country. The whole of Ireland will be behind it, watching it, enjoying it and living it.
“The fans are going to be fantastic, and I think the atmosphere will be second to none.”
In total, Harrington played in 25 matches across six Ryder Cups, winning 10½ points for Team Europe, while he also boasts 44 tournament victories across a glittering career.
He still plays on the DP World Tour and in major championships, most recently at The Open.
Since turning 50 in 2021, he has starred on the Champions Tour, including winning a record-equalling three US Senior Open titles.
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Commonwealth Games 2026: Soppy socks & a slathering of deep heat – rain causes chaos in Glasgow
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Women’s Open: Georgia Hall returns to venue of 2018 win five months after giving birth
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CK Updates18 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Soppy socks & a slathering of deep heat – rain causes chaos in Glasgow
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CK Updates12 hours agoRyder Cup: Padraig Harrington named as Team Europe vice-captain
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CK Updates6 hours agoWomen’s Open: Georgia Hall returns to venue of 2018 win five months after giving birth