Man Utd 'mock' long-haired fan for not cutting his hair

The story of supporter Frank Ilett, also known as The United Strand, is becoming a hot topic among the Man United community.

Frank Ilett declared he would not cut his hair until Man United achieved five consecutive Premier League wins. The goal seemed within reach as the Red Devils entered the match against West Ham with a streak of four straight victories. However, despite Benjamin Sesko scoring late, Man United could only manage a 1-1 draw. This was the first match without a win under Michael Carrick, forcing the impressive run to restart from scratch.

While the men's team faltered at a critical moment, Man United's women's team soared with six consecutive wins across all competitions. Under coach Marc Skinner, they overcame Burnley, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Leicester before defeating Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League.

Notably, during the celebration after beating Atletico Madrid, Elisabeth Terland and Maya Le Tissier performed a playful gesture pretending to cut their ponytails. This act was seen as a light tease directed at Frank Ilett, who is patiently waiting for Man United to reach five consecutive wins.

Ilett's live reaction when Tomas Soucek scored for West Ham attracted nearly 100,000 viewers on the Kick platform. With his signature afro, he held his head in disappointment but encouraged himself: "There's still time." By the end of the match, the viewership rose to nearly 180,000, showing the significant interest in this unique challenge.

After almost 500 days and gaining over 1.3 million followers on Instagram, Frank Ilett has yet to “free” himself from his long hair. Nevertheless, he insists that the ultimate goal is not personal attention but charity work. All hair cut will be donated to The Little Princess Trust, an organization that provides wigs to children suffering hair loss due to illness.

Ilett’s story is both entertaining and reflects the pressure and expectations Man United faces in the Premier League. Under Michael Carrick, the team shows positive signs but still lacks consistency. In an increasingly fierce competition, every mistake comes at a cost.

For fans like Frank Ilett, faith in Man United seems unwavering. However, his hair will likely grow longer if the Red Devils do not soon regain the winning streak they need.