Hair-Raising Challenge for Manchester United Fan Amidst Team Struggles
Roberto Rojas | Oct 5, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
The past year has been a challenging one for supporters of Manchester United, especially for Frank Illet. He embarked on a unique journey last October, vowing not to cut his hair until his favorite team secured five consecutive wins.
“I thought this would only last a few months and provide some light-hearted fun for United fans during a tough stretch,” Illet explained. “Interestingly, it didn’t seem far-fetched at the time because they had achieved a five-game winning streak the previous season.”
During that phase, United was still under the management of Erik Ten Hag and had just clinched the FA Cup against their Manchester rivals. Illet believed it was an opportune moment to take on the challenge, despite the team’s ups and downs in recent years.
The 29-year-old lifelong United supporter, now residing in Spain, initiated his challenge following a goalless draw against Aston Villa. He expected a swift five-win series to materialize, but after 77 matches across all competitions and a managerial change, the coveted streak has yet to occur. The closest he has seen was three straight victories under Ruben Amorim when United triumphed over Rangers, Fulham, and FCSB at the end of January.
For comparison, Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions and United’s archrivals, managed five victories in a span of just 33 days this season.
What commenced with a freshly shaven Illet has transformed into a remarkable spectacle, with his hair growing progressively longer and larger with each disappointing match for United. His daily updates on social media platforms, where he has amassed over 700,000 followers, chronicle the days since his last haircut, regardless of United’s performance that day. This has turned him into a cult figure and a living symbol of the club’s hardships.
“It’s been a rollercoaster,” he remarked. “The maintenance—washing, brushing, drying—takes far longer than I’m accustomed to.”
Illet’s emotional state has mirrored that of the club. He was present at Old Trafford when United edged Chelsea 2-1, only to witness them fall 3-1 to Brentford a week later. Adding to the ordeal was a shocking exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two’s Grimsby Town, which tested even his optimism.
“I’ve tried to remain positive, but at that instance, I struggled to find a silver lining,” he admitted.
The public response has been mixed. An incident occurred during the Chelsea match where a fan aggressively grabbed Illet’s hair and directed insults at him. Reflecting on the event, he stated, “It was all a bit strange. I prefer to focus on the positives and hope it was just an isolated incident.”
Despite the team’s ongoing challenges, Illet isn’t advocating for the dismissal of Amorim. While speculation surrounds the future of the Portuguese coach, he feels that the performances, although not yielding results, haven’t been as dismal as they appear.
“I don’t believe that changing the manager is the solution,” he asserted. “I understand the pressure for results, but there are positives to note. We rank highest in expected goals and shots in the league. A few more goals converted could lead to different conversations. Right now, we need good results immediately.”
With more than 30 matches left in the Premier League season and the FA Cup on the horizon, Illet remains hopeful for his hair and the team’s future.
“We’ll see how much longer this can go on,” he remarked with a laugh.
As of now, Manchester United hasn’t achieved that five-game winning streak but recently began a new campaign following a solid 2-0 victory over Sunderland. However, Illet’s hair remains the one consistent element for supporters amid the trials facing the club this year.
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