Much has been written about the Manchester United fan who is holding off his haircut until his beloved club manages to claim victory in five games in a row (in all competitions). We won’t add too much to that, but instead, we’ll consider whether or not the Red Devils will win five consecutive games ever again.
Day 501 of not cutting my hair until @manutd win 5 games in a row! 🎯
Current Streak – 0/5#hairchallenge #manunited #mufc pic.twitter.com/ZIi3EJ7aTG
— TheUnitedStrand (@TheUnitedStrand) February 18, 2026
OK, we’ve thought about it: they will. Of course they will. One day. Before the world ends (although some might not be so sure about that), or they go out of business, or Sir Jim decides there are too many migrant workers at the club and opts to disband them. But just how long might they have to wait? And how long have they already been attempting to win five in a row? And how does that compare to other teams in the Premier League?
Man United’s Last Five-Game Winning Streak
The Red Devils are currently up in fourth place in the PL and looking good to book a return to the Champions League next season. Given they finished way down in 15th last term, and only eighth in 2023/24, that certainly looks like progress, even if they have jettisoned yet another manager along the way. Indeed, only once since 2021 have they finished higher than their current placing, and so there is certainly some cause for cheer at Old Trafford.
However, following their draw last time out with West Ham, when Frank Ilett was surely dreaming of seeing his wild bush trimmed, we know that the wait will go on for at least five more matches. Ilett began his “challenge” way back on the 5th of October 2024, when he posted a poll to his then-small following on social media about when they thought the club’s next five-match winning streak would be.
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Showing the negative mood among the team’s fanbase, around nine out of 10 fans said it would be in 2026, as opposed to 2024 or 2025. 2027 wasn’t even considered, and while we have plenty of time in 2026 left, we certainly wouldn’t rule out Ilett having to hold off at the barber’s until then!
But while his stunt began in October 2024, we have to go back further for the last time his club managed to put together a sequence of five straight wins. We are now closing in on two whole years since the most successful club in Premier League history managed that. On the 18th of February 2024, United beat Luton 2-1, back when Erik ten Hag was the boss. Their streak began on the 28th of January with a 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport County. United also beat Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa.
When will they Win Five?
Obviously, nobody knows for sure, but the absolute earliest it could come is the 20th of March. That would require them beating Everton away, Crystal Palace at home, Newcastle away, Aston Villa at home, and then Bournemouth away. We doubt Ilett will be scheduling in his haircut just yet, with at least four of those fixtures tough enough on paper.
For most clubs aside from the likes of Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool, stringing together five wins in a row is far from easy. Being involved in the cups can help, with the potential for easier fixtures against lower-league outfits or weak European opposition. However, if the Red Devils are to manage five consecutive wins this term, they will have to come in the league.
Following the five fixtures detailed above, they host Leeds United. Among their final games of 2025/26, they have a trip to Chelsea, a home game with Liverpool, an away fixture against Sunderland, and their final clash away at Brighton, which could all cause problems. In short, we can’t see them winning five in a row (excluding friendlies) until September 2026 at the very earliest!
What about Other Clubs and United’s Longest Previous “Record”?
It has been over 700 days since Manchester United last won five straight wins, but the current crop of players has some way to go before they set a new, albeit unwanted, club record. Back in 1998/99, the Red Devils, then managed, of course, by Sir Alex Ferguson, won five games in a row in January 1999, for the first time in 902 days. If they do not end the streak this term, they will go past that.
That last streak included two wins in the FA Cup, over Middlesbrough and Liverpool, plus three victories in the league. Their PL fixtures were kind, and they beat West Ham, Leicester and Charlton. They actually won eight in a row in the end in what turned out to be the most amazing season in the club’s history. They went on to win the treble of the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League. So, that gives them something to aim for next term, then!
However, while Ilett and his Man United-supporting chums will be hoping they can bag five straight wins well before they reach 900 games, such a streak is nothing compared to some other teams currently in the top flight. Six clubs, including Fulham, Bournemouth, Sunderland, West Ham and Everton, have all gone over 1,000 days since they last nailed five in a row.
Indeed, one has a record stretching back more than 2,000 days. And that is Brentford, who last won five matches in succession way back in July 2020! Surely Man United can manage it before they hit the 2,000-day mark? Ilett will certainly hope so – unless, of course, he would prefer the fame and money he is currently enjoying more!
Editor