Growing up in the 90s, Manchester United’s rivalry with Leeds was common knowledge. This was back when United were dominant, so it was quite a fun rivalry from my point of view because Leeds never won anything, and we won everything.
Then Leeds were relegated in 2004 – which was hilarious – and went into administration in 2007 before being relegated again. With two divisions between the clubs, the rivalry became less pronounced, but for fans of both clubs, it never went away.
However, with Leeds now back in the Premier League for a second time since first fighting their way back in 2020, a whole new generation of football fans may find themselves wondering where this rivalry came from, and why it still exists.
To understand it properly, you need to start about 500 years ago. I’m not even joking. Because Manchester United’s rivalry with Leeds United goes all the way back to the 15th century.
The Wars of the Roses
Ask a typical 15 year old to explain the Wars of the Roses and they will probably have a guess at some sort of turf war between market traders selling drugs on the side.
In actual fact, it was a civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York, which lasted from 1455-1485. It was a war over who was the rightful King of England. That war might have ended over 500 years ago, but it established a rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire that still exists today. It has filtered into everything from politics, industry, and even football.
In the 19th century both cities became industrial powerhouses too, fuelling the rivalry and building a fierce sense of regional pride for both sides. This was when the game of football was first rising to national prominence, so the regional rivalry naturally spilled over when teams from both areas met on the pitch.
So a footballing rivalry was established very early on. It’s prominent in cricket too. But why are things not the same between Manchester City and Leeds, or Manchester United and either of the Sheffield teams? They share the regional history, but not the footballing rivalry.
The 60s and 70s – Busby vs Revie
The broader regional rivalry narrowed to become a specific rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds during the 1960s and 1970s. Both clubs were enjoying their most successful eras, often fighting it out for the First Division trophy, and the rivalry caught fire.
United had recovered from the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, while Leeds won promotion from Division 2 in 1964 and instantly began to challenge for first place in Division 1, finishing 2nd to United in 1965, and 2nd to Liverpool in 1966, above United who finished 4th. Leeds came out of nowhere.
Then of course there was Jack and Bobby Charlton. Famous footballing brothers, both international stars and World Cup winners, and both club legends at either team: Jack at Leeds and Bobby at United.
Clashes between the two teams were fierce, physical, and often controversial. The likes of Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, and Norman Hunter defined Leeds’ aggressive approach, while United had a more finessed style with the likes of George Best, Denis Law, and Bobby Charlton. Leeds famously knocked Manchester United out of the 1965 FA Cup at the semi-final stage, after a goalless draw referred to as a “war of attrition” by The Times resulted in a replay that Leeds won 1-0.
The mutual dislike had never been deeper. It was evident on the pitch and on the terraces, where football hooliganism was also nearing its peak, with the Leeds and United firms often battling it out before, after, and even during the games.
United fans thought Leeds were a bunch of cheating thugs, while Leeds fans saw Manchester United as arrogant and flashy with a far too high opinion of themselves. It was a clash of footballing ideologies built on the back of centuries of rivalry between counties.
Controversial Transfers: Cantona and Ferdinand
Leeds United went into a period of decline during the 1980s, but they won the last First Division in 1991/92 before the inaugural 1992/93 Premier League season kicked off. Who came in 2nd behind them? Manchester United.
One man who had helped them achieve this, was future United legend, Eric Cantona.
So when Cantona was sold t0 Manchester United for £1.2 million in November 1992, Leeds fans were raging. When King Cantona went on to be the catalyst for a new era of dominance for United while Leeds were left scrapping for a top 5 spot, it only made things worse.
It felt like a betrayal, a wound that United fans were happy to rub salt into. Lee Sharpe went in the opposite direction in 1996, but that really didn’t work out, so the Yorkshiremen felt severely short changed. Those 90s games were something else.
Then it happened again a decade later, when Rio Ferdinand left Leeds for Man United in 2002. This time there was at least a decent fee of £30 million – a transfer record at the time – and Leeds were in financial turmoil so they desperately needed the money.
Still, having to sell their prized asset to one of their fiercest rivals stung, especially given what had happened with Cantona. Rio became a club legend too, which only reminded Leeds of the gulf between them and us.
Leeds were relegated the season after, and the club completely fell apart. As a final kick when they were down, we took Alan Smith off them in 2004, a home grown player who came up through the Leeds youth system. We sent Danny Pugh the other way, but he wasn’t there long.
Basically, we took two of their best ever players and turned them into legends, winning everything in our path, and the players they took from us never materialised into anything at all, and their club almost folded.
Ouch.
Recent Meetings
After their relegation, meetings between United and Leeds were few and far between. In fact, they only faced each other twice between 2004 and 2020. This is why the rivalry might feel like it has simmered down. You would still hear anti-Leeds chants on the terraces sometimes though, “We All Hate Leeds Scum” being a particular favourite.
One of those meetings was an FA Cup third round tie in 2010, and it proved just how fierce the rivalry still was. Leeds were in division one at the time, and beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford. The away end went berserk, and understandably so. Finally a bit of revenge. It was one of the biggest cup upsets of Fergie’s reign.
The first time the two clubs met after Leeds got back into the Premier League in 2020 resulted in a 6-2 thriller at Old Trafford, with United taking the points. It might not have been as intense as the rivalry of old, but there was clearly still a lot of hostility between the fans, and playing for pride on the pitch.
In fact, Leeds haven’t won a game against Manchester United since that 2010 FA Cup shock win. However, they are back in the Premier League again for the 2025/26 season, and with United starting fresh after their worst top flight finish ever, they must be chomping at the bit to take some points off us.
The rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds may not be what it was in the 1960s and 70s or even the 1990s, but make no mistake, it still exists. Avoiding each other for 20 years cannot undo 500 years worth of history. If Leeds manage to maintain their place in the league long term, we might even see those thrilling grudge matches of the old days return.