Manchester United fans are privileged to support the biggest club in world football, rich with history, who play at one of England’s most iconic stadiums. From match-going support to die-hard Reds thousands of miles across the globe, there is a lot to know about Manchester United’s supporters.
Famous Manchester United fans
With Manchester United being one of the biggest football clubs in the world, it is natural that the Red Devils certainly have famous fans around the world.
Stormzy and Conor McGregor are just two examples of famous celebrities who support Manchester United.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Timberlake and Megan Fox are among the other celebrities who are supporters of the Red Devils, who have 13 Premier League titles to their name.
As well as this, there are famous Olympians who also support United including Noah Lyles and Usain Bolt.
Some other famous names who support the Red Devils include Luke Littler, Tyson Fury and Greg Rutherford.
How many Manchester United fans are there worldwide?
Trying to get an exact number of Manchester United supporters is quite a hard task considering the size and the scale of the club.
Research company Kantar tried to find out just how many United fans there and they came up with a rather staggering number of 659 million people, which is nearly 1 in 10 across the planet.
Of the 659 million figure, Kantar says roughly half (325 million) live in the Asia Pacific region, 173 million in the Middle East and Africa, 90 million in Europe and 71 million in the Americas.
How many Manchester United fans attend Old Trafford?
Manchester United are not only known for having one of the biggest fanbases in the world but the Red Devils have the biggest club stadium in England, Old Trafford.
As of 2024, Old Trafford currently houses 74,310 people and is the second biggest stadium in the country behind Wembley Stadium which hosts 90,000 fans for the England national team.
However, Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suggested that a new stadium for United may well be the best decision moving forward with Old Trafford perhaps falling slightly behind some of the other arenas in the Premier League.
Gary Neville is part of the task force looking to decide what will happen with the stadium as it has become clear that a renovation or rebuild will be necessary.
Manchester United membership
To be able to be one of the lucky fans to get tickets to watch Manchester United play at Old Trafford, not only will you need a ticket but also a membership.
There are several different membership options according to the Manchester United website with four different choices. There is Premium, Full, Lite and Junior options for United fans hoping to purchase tickets.
The Premium option allows you full access to United home games, as well as discounted United Women’s tickets and 50% off items from the club shop.
Full gives you the same benefits but with just 40% off items from the club shop. Lite membership allows you to access home tickets and some discounts for the club shop and United women’s games. The Junior version is for those under the age of 18.
Man United season ticket waiting list
According to the Daily Mail, the waiting list for United tickets is 120,000 people. With 120,000 people, which is nearly double the capacity of Old Trafford, on the waiting list, it is perhaps no surprise that the club are considering a renovation.
Fan groups
The 1958 – A fan group formed in 2021, The 1958 are firmly against the Glazer family ownership and it is believed that the fan group were behind the infamous protests prior to United’s game against Liverpool at Old Trafford back in 2021. The fan group simply wants a change of ownership.
MUST (Manchester United Supporters Trust) – MUST were created in 1998 due to Ruper Murdoch’s proposed takeover of the club prior to the turn of the century. MUST claim to represent the opinion of match-going United fans.
The Red Army – Another fan group is The Red Army, who were key in improving the atmosphere at Old Trafford. “The whole ethos of The Red Army is to stand with your mates and create the right conditions for a brilliant atmosphere,” says United fan Josh, as per The Athletic.
Manchester United fan forum
As well as fan groups, United also have a fan forum that is held once a year and up until 2021, not one single member of the Glazer family had attended the forum.
However, in the wake of the European Super League fallout, Joel Glazer did attend a meeting, as per the BBC, and was keen to put across the point of view that the American family were doing all they could to improve communication between owners and fans.
Glazer out protests
Despite an attempt from the American family to improve communication, United fans have consistently protested against the Glazer family.
Fans’ protests ahead of the 2021 clash against Liverpool got the match called off and they continue to protest the family but these have died down after Ineos’ minority purchase of the Red Devils.
There had been previous protests against the Glazer family with a protest in 2005, followed by one in 2010 which included the iconic image of David Beckham waving the Newton Heath flag, which is associated with the Glazer Out protests.
Since Ineos’ acquisition of United back in December of 2023, the protests have eased off with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team taking over the sporting decisions at the club.
Supporters clubs
With Manchester United potentially having around 700 million people supporting the club, there are bound to be a hefty number of fan groups.
United recently added new supporters clubs to their umbrella:
- Ahmedabad
- Bedfordshire East and Cambridge
- Brunei Daussalam
- Buffalo
- Charm City
- Cincinnati Red Devils United
- Columbus Reds Devils
- Czechia
- Devils Collectors
- Local
- Muslim
- New Zealand
- Newport Town
- Orange County Red Army
- Portlaoise
- Shetland
- Tallahassee United
- Tampa
- Uganda
- United Hampton Roads
To understand the scope of just how big Manchester United are, the club have 306 supporter groups, with the location of these groups wide-ranging. The club have fan groups in Botswana, Bermuda, China and Mauritius, just to name a few.
Manchester United away fans
As well as having one of the best stadiums and atmospheres in the country, United’s away following is also just as impressive.
After United’s 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace back in May 2024, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the away following that United garnered.
The away fans have a history of backing the team after things had gone bad. After United’s 4-0 defeat to Everton under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the 2018/2019 campaign, the fans were firmly behind the team.
During European games, United’s away following shines with thousands of fans following the team whether it’s Spain, Kazakhstan, or Belgium, the away support has always been loyal.
Most popular Manchester United chants
With such a loyal following, Manchester United certainly have some well-known chants that are sung throughout United’s games, home or away.
Glory Glory Man United – Originating from the American Civil War song “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” this chant has been a staple for generations of United fans. The simplicity, as well as the passion, makes it a classic.
Take Me Home, United Road – This chant is a love letter to Old Trafford and is only sung at home games. The chant is taken from the song “Country Roads”, which was written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver.
We’ll Never Die – This chant is a special one as it looks to remember the tragic Munich air disaster from 1958. The chant is a vow to be there, unwavering and unyielding, in the face of adversity and is certainly a meaningful one.
What are Manchester United fans called?
Unlike Arsenal fans, who are labelled as Gooners, the United fans don’t really have a distinct nickname like fans of the North London club.
United fans have been nicknamed Red Devils in the past but that is not a name that has stuck. Back in 1920, United’s own fans gave them the nickname ‘The Rags’ in the 1920s.
It came about as the club was in such a dire financial situation at the time that they could not even afford to buy new kit and would often turn out wearing kits that were years old, tatty and looked like rags.
