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Why are Man Utd and Leeds football rivals and why is it considered a derby?

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MANCHESTER UNITED versus Leeds is a footballing derby which stretches back over a century.

But given they are not even from the same city, the rivalry is not an obvious one – yet there are multiple reasons why there is so much ferocity in this match-up.

England legends Bobby and Jack Charlton spent the vast majority of their playing lives Man Utd and LeedsCredit: PA
Roy Keane ending Alfe Inge Haaland’s career giving the Norwegian a long term knee injuryCredit: Empics

You could trace the rivalry all the way back to the War of the Roses, a war that resulted in the House of Lancaster – with its red rose – taking the throne and the Tudor dynasty became etched into English history.

A sort of dynasty then existed between Old Trafford and Elland Road in the 1960s as Bobby and Jack Charlton grew as titans of their respective clubs.

The Red Devils had Sir Bobby at their disposal alongside George Best and Denis Law, while Leeds were blessed with his brother defender-brother Jack alongside Billy Bremner, known as “King Billy”.

One of the moments which epitomised the rivalry came in 1997 when Manchester United legend Roy Keane lunged in on superstar striker Erling Haaland’s father Alfe Inge Haaland, and up breaking his own ACL in the process.

And then four years later, Keane would execute his revenge by ending Haaland’s career by stamping on the Norwegian’s knee after he had moved to Manchester City.

In total, the clubs have met each other 110 times with the Red Devils holding the current bragging rights, having almost double the amount of wins, but when the Whites were relegated from the Premier League in 2004, it put their rivalry on pause.

Now for the first time in 19 years, the nation will get to witness Manchester United travel to Elland Road WITH fans.

The last time the two sides played the Manchester United team featured names like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Darren Fletcher and Tim Howard, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, who is back at the club.

Meanwhile, Daniel James will be a familiar face in the Leeds team against the club he started the season at.

Daniel James was sold by Manchester United to Leeds over the summerCredit: Reuters
Alan Smith played for both Leeds United and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty

What is the head to head record?

  • Leeds United have competitively taken on Manchester United a total of 110 times.
  • Leeds United wins – 36
  • Manchester United wins – 48
  • Draws – 36

Number of cards in this fixture

  • For such a fierce rivalry this game surprisingly hasn’t seen a lot of yellow or red cards.
  • Statistics show that there has only been two red cards in the last 27 matches.
  • It also produces the lowest yellow cards per game amongst any derby (3.26) with the North London derby having the highest (4.15)

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What is the distance between the two clubs?

  • Leeds United and Manchester United are both situated in the North of England.
  • Elland Road is in Yorkshire, while Old Trafford is in Lancashire to the west of Manchester city centre.
  • Despite the strong tradition between the clubs, they lie about 48 miles apart.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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