New data shows that 7% of Manchester United season ticket holders live outside the UK, with some fans based as far away as Bahrain and Bermuda.
There is always a demand for tickets at Manchester United, even at times when the team is struggling to win football matches consistently.
That has a lot to do with United’s loyal fanbase, renowned for rallying behind a series of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, even when results fell short of expectations.
Has English football failed Man United by allowing leveraged buyouts for so long?
The club is DROWNING in debt
Chart showing Manchester United's gross debt position since the Glazer family's leveraged buyout
Manchester United gross debt 2024-25 Credit: Adam Williams/United in Focus/GRV Media
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
It was no different with Ruben Amorim after a challenging 14-month reign at Old Trafford. Many fans travelled far and wide to follow the team during that spell, including an unhappy trip to Bilbao last May for the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham.
Those same United fans will now rally behind Michael Carrick, with whom they already have a fond relationship from his time as a player, dictating the tempo in one of Ferguson’s greatest teams in 2008.
Glazers Out banner at Old Trafford
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Top countries outside UK for Man Utd season ticket holders
When it comes to season ticket holders and United’s infamous waiting list, figures are often vague, which can mean transparency is lacking.
New data obtained by Mancunian Matters journalist Carly Lyes shows the astonishing number of fans who travel from different countries to follow the Red Devils.
More United News
Some of the details that emerged from the data won’t come as a surprise, given that the top two countries outside of the UK being the Republic of Ireland and Norway.
Out of a total of 46,800 United season ticket holders, 1,616 of them are based in the Republic of Ireland, representing 3.5% of total season tickets held.
There has always been a strong support for United in Ireland due to centuries of immigration, as well as several iconic Irish players representing the club, such as Liam Whelan, Paul McGrath and Roy Keane.
The country ranked at the bottom of the list is Italy, with at least one United season ticket holder, placing joint 39th alongside India, Russia, and Croatia.
Top 10 Manchester United season ticket holder locations, including the number of season ticket holders:
Republic of Ireland: 1,616
Norway: 837
Malta: 185
Denmark: 95
Switzerland: 73
United States of America: 66
Sweden: 62
Israel: 42
Iceland: 23
Netherlands: 22
Countries lower on the list include Belgium, France, Thailand, Germany and Spain.
Should Manchester United sell the naming rights to their new stadium?
Manchester United could earn as much as £17.5m per year if they sell the naming rights of their 100,000-seater stadium…
Eric Cantona comments on Manchester United renaming their new stadium.
Credit: Getty Images.
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Man Utd fans plan protest ahead of Fulham clash
United fan group The 1958 is planning a protest against the ownership ahead of the game on Sunday.
The 1958 were responsible for the protests at the way United was being run last season, but now there is more discontent against co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
“After lurching from one disaster to another, Ratcliffe comes across as an incompetent clown turning the club into a circus,” said the 1958 group in a statement.
“Instead of best in class, we’re a laughing stock.
“It has been an extraordinary and deeply troubling few days at Manchester United. On the pitch, we are watching mediocre performances from an average team drifting without identity, direction, or ambition. Off it, the chaos is even worse.”
This means Ratcliffe will be getting flak as well as the Glazers.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox