Manchester United fan Frank Ilett, wey many people sabi as The United Strand, don reach two years without haircut as e wait for im team to win five games in a row. Di challenge don officially hit di two-year mark, and im last haircut na on Oct. 5, 2024. As e stand, im hair don grow almost 14 inches for im longest point.
For most clubs, failure or success dey show for points, trophies and medals. Manchester United no different, but dem fit also measure am for days. For Ilett case, e fit summarize for 712 days. Na so long e don go without barber as e wait for five straight wins.
Last season, United finish with wins over Nottingham Forest and Brighton. Michael Carrick side for fit complete di job with wins over newly promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town before finishing with win away at Everton. But na so e no happen. An embarrassing 2-0 away defeat to Hull mean say dem go back to square one. A 5-2 win over Ipswich promote hope say season opener na just unwanted blip, but draw to Everton and controversial defeat to 10-man Manchester City pour cold water. How e fit worsen? A 2-0 lead inside first 10 minutes against Brighton for Carabao Cup end in surprise 3-2 defeat. Ilett just dey watch, im hair dey grow.
In di meantime, Ilett dey continue to raise money for di Little Princess Trust, which dey create wigs for children with cancer. Di only thing wey fit happen now before e soar past two years na for United to win away to Fulham in dia last game before international break.
Erling Haaland also wade into di saga. Di Manchester City striker fire message at Frank Ilett after fan theory about im haircut begin trend online. Ilett build sizable following on social media after e make bold promise on 5 October 2024: e no go visit barber until Manchester United put together five consecutive wins. Di pledge quickly become running joke among football fans, with many dey keep tabs on United results just to check Ilett hair situation.
Since then, e don come close once when United win four games in a row, but di fifth game end in 1-1 draw against West Ham. Di new campaign bring little relief. United currently sit 12th for Premier League table, with just one win from dia opening five matches. Manchester City meanwhile dey blistering form, winning all five of dia opening Premier League games against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Coventry, Manchester United and Sunderland.
Dat run catch attention of fans wey notice Haaland also recently cut im hair, prompting SPORTbible to pose question to im audience: was di timing coincidence, or di Norwegian forward dey make subtle point at United expense? Haaland get other ideas. Spotting di comment, di City striker respond with reply wey short, sharp and impossible to ignore. Whether na genuine dig or just Haaland being Haaland, di comment no settle di debate. Fans left to make up dia own minds, while Ilett hair remain intact, at least until United fit string together five straight wins.
Haaland debut fresh haircut on Aug. 23, same day City kick off Premier League season. Di Blues win dia first five matches of season, including 1-0 victory over United on Sept. 13. Manchester City currently sit atop Premier League table as di lone undefeated club remaining after five weeks. United dey 12th for standings with 1-2-2 record coming off draw against Fulham on Sunday. For Ilett, im hair still dey grow. Haaland reply simple: “Cut your hair man.”
