Ranking Manchester United Rivals: The 10 Fiercest Football Rivalries

Manchester United is one of the biggest names in the world football. Owing to a vast history and era of dominance, it is one of the most well-recognized sports teams in the world today. During the club’s golden age, United became the team to beat. As a result, there are a whole host of Manchester United rivals that have tried time and again, to knock them off their perch. 

That said, this has since resulted in some big rivalries that fans and players look forward to, even to this day. Despite the changing times and Man United’s status as a title-winning team becoming a thing of the past, their rivalries have not faded and remain a highlight of the season, regardless of what is at stake. 

Manchester United rivals from their yesteryear have had differing journeys of their own. Whilst some have had their time in the sun as the best teams around, others have since slipped to lower levels of English football. Regardless of stature or league standing, these rivalries that emerged decades ago remain as fierce as ever. 

Manchester United Rivals – Ranked

For the most part, there are some teams that immediately jump out as prominent Manchester United rivals and some that the fans will be quick to point out. That said, there are other names on the list that will surprise many, however, owing to their history find themselves on this list. That said, let’s take a look at the criteria that we have set for ranking these Manchester United rivals. 

Ranking factors

1. Number of matches against each other
2. Longevity of rivalry
3. Importance given by fans 
4. Players’ behavior on the pitch 

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#10. Blackburn Rovers

Back in the 1990s, Manchester United rivals Blackburn Rovers were responsible for some of the most heated fixtures in the league that to date live on in the hearts and minds of fans who were fortunate enough to witness them. Mostly prevalent during the same time as United’s rivalry with Newcastle, this was one from the very sort lived glory days of the Lancashire side. 

Currently, the Rovers find themselves middling in League One far from the famed side that once gave Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United a tough run for their money. Despite the club being on opposing ends of the English football spectrum, Blackburn fans would hope to see their side possibly return to their former glory once more in their lifetimes.

#9. Bolton Wanderers

Another rivalry which unfortunately did not last the test of time, Bolton Wanderers were big Manchester United rivals back in the 1970s. Notably, it was an ordeal that got the blood pumping on both sides when the Wanderers made it into the Premier League in 1995. That said, the rivalry was largely one with geographical ties as the chasm between them has since been quite evident. 

Whilst Bolton find themselves in the third level of the English football league system, it is hard to imagine that their squabbles will ever see the light of day again. As for Manchester United, most of their newer fans will likely be indifferent to their noisy little neighbors. 

#8. Barcelona

Another rivalry that has since withered with time, the late 2000s saw Manchester United and FC Barcelona as two clear frontrunners for the best team in the world. Having met on two occasions in Champions League finals, the clubs have since had to level down to the Europa League to settle their differences. Whilst the Catalan club has been gradually building itself back, Manchester United is expected to soon follow suit and hopefully return to top European competition. 

In the meantime, fans will still reminisce when the two best players in the world Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with a supporting cast of world beaters went head to head in the most pivotal matches of their clubs’ respective histories. 

#7. Tottenham Hotspur

Whilst Tottenham Hotspur has mostly been a poaching ground of talent for Manchester United historically, the recent years are what have truly brought out the rivalry between the two teams who are effectively vying for a spot as mid-table team in the Premier League. Reignited with the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Spurs, both clubs share the same struggle of trying to break into the top 4. 

That said, owing to both sides having massive fanbases, it has resulted in a bragging rights contest of sorts. Labeled as the ‘mud-siblings’ by better-to-do teams in the league, Man United and Tottenam’s fierce squabbles make for an entertaining yet overall inconsequential affair. 

#6. Leeds United 

Another rivalry that is not as significant as it once was, Leeds United was once a direct threat to Manchester United and their dominance over the league. Leeds had a massive influence on English football during the 1960s and 1970s, it was their resurgence in the early 1990s that saw them butt heads with Manchester United. After clinching the 1991-1992 League title from the Red Devils’ grasp, they ended up hand-delivering one of their future legends in Eric Cantona the very next season. 

Although Leeds United has mostly been on the outside in recent times, an out-of-the-blue return to the Premier League will likely not do much for their rivalry either. In terms of longevity, it is quite possibly one of the more shorter-lived ones out there. 

#5. Newcastle United 

The 1995-1996 season was the start and the high point of Manchester United rivals Newcastle United and their tiff with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. Having made headlines with some big-money signings of their own, Newcastle quickly shot to the top of the league. Whilst the gap between them at one point was that of 12 points, United quickly caught up, getting in pole position to win the league in March. In the final days of the season, then Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan made headlines when he said, “I would love it if we beat them, love it!”.

Unfortunately for the Magpies, Manchester United went on to win the double that season, thrashing Newcastle in the Charity Shield thereafter. An added side story to the entire rivalry and saga was the fact that the Reds had poached Newcastle’s prolific striker Andy Cole, just the season before. Although the fixture has since lost its flame, it is still a big game for both parties. 

#4. Chelsea

Whilst many will tell you that Chelsea is not a club with history, the early 1990s saw the West Londoners start to make a name for themselves. Following their acquisition by Roman Abramovich in the early 2000s, the side became a force to be reckoned with owing to the sheer star power that they had managed to recruit. Whilst they had already started to stifle Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the Premier League, their rivalry would yet see one of the most important occasions in either side’s history. 

Whilst the two sides had a competitive run-in domestically, the boiling point of their hatred led to the 2008 Champions League final, which marked a major moment for both sides. Whilst the Manchester side prevailed on that occasion, thanks to Edwin Van der Sar’s heroics, the bad blood between Red and Blue has hardly died down.

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#3. Arsenal

The early 2000s saw Manchester United and Arsenal as the poster boys of the Premier League. While Sir Alex Ferguson’s United had dominated the early 1990s, Arsenal were one of the resilient few to answer with League success of their own. That said, the early 2000s brought us some of the most heated and frantic encounters between the two, led by Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira on either side. Whilst the rest of the league bowed to United’s dominance, the Gunner’s resilience saw them triumph unbeaten during the 2003-2004 season. 

That said, it was Manchester United that ended up snapping Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run, and quite controversially so. Further showdowns in important cup and league matches showed exactly why the rivalry was fierce and like no other. Whilst Arsenal are currently a level above United, there are signs of their fierce rivalry reigniting, possibly in a bid for the top spot in the League, in the coming few years. 

#2. Manchester City 

Naturally, United most fiercest rivalry according to many would be against their local rivals, Manchester City. Dating back to 1881, the Red and Blue sides of Manchester have been butting heads for over a century now. The rivalry lost some of its prominence as while United was in its Golden era, the Cityzens were in relative obscurity. Meaning that geographical dispute aside, there was never really much to their quarrels. 

That said, the turn of the century saw Manchester City become a force to be reckoned with and in recent seasons, an undeterred force of nature. Despite this, their derbies remain highly contested and have often turned out to be a fixture for the big occasion. 

#1. Liverpool

A fierce rivalry that began what seems like eons ago, Liverpool were at the peak of their powers right up alongside Manchester United following the Second World War. Notably, when Sir Alex Ferguson became Manchester United manager in 1986, he vowed to knock Liverpool off their perch and re-establish United as the top dogs of the division. 

Moreover, the rivalry delivered some of its best during the late 2000’s when Liverpool had Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in their ranks whilst Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney led the line for the Red Devils. Since then, Liverpool has naturally fared better and in recent times, delivered some brutal drubbings, showing exactly why they are one of the fiercest Manchester United rivals.

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