The kickoff of a new Premier League season has sparked fresh hope among fans, ushering in expectations of greater fortunes. One such dedicated fan is Frank Ilett, a staunch supporter of Manchester United.
The first weekend served as a reminder that some things remain unchanged.
Over the past 22 months, Ilett has become an internet sensation, vowing not to cut his hair until Manchester United secures five consecutive victories. The team ended last season on a high note with two wins in a row, and a victory against newly promoted Hull City in their Premier League opener on Saturday could have brought him closer to fulfilling his promise… or so it seemed.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Ilett greeted his followers on Day 686, stating, “Football is back, Manchester United are back. Away to Hull to kick things off, let’s get it.”
Unfortunately for United, they faltered. Manager Michael Carrick’s squad struggled in the first half, with Hull scoring twice — first from defender Semi Ajayi and then from defender Nobel Mendy.
While the introduction of Marcus Rashford at halftime gave fans a glimmer of hope—his last appearance for the team was 618 days ago, just as Ilett’s challenge commenced—it still didn’t yield results. Hull’s goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis remained largely untroubled throughout the match.
Ilett embarked on his hair-growing challenge eight months after United last achieved a five-game winning streak, which took place between January and February 2024.
Now, Ilett must continue his challenge as United’s count resets. The earliest he can resume his hopes is on September 20, requiring victories against Ipswich Town (H), Everton (A), Manchester City (H), Fulham (A), and securing a win in their first Champions League group match. Should they fail to win any of these matches, Ilett would have to wait until after the international break, meaning his challenge would extend to nearly two years.
Ilett expressed his thoughts post-match on social media, saying, “This was supposed to be one of the easier games of the season. Not only because it was against a newly promoted team, but particularly one that finished at the bottom of the Championship among the promoted clubs.
“Many are discussing the poor individual performances today, but I don’t believe there’s an outfield player who can honestly say they had a good game. Hull simply appeared to want it more. They were quicker to every loose ball; their effort was evident.
The lack of squad depth is concerning this season. Something must change swiftly.”
Ultimately, the weekend serves as a stark reminder: After nearly two years, Manchester United still hasn’t secured five straight wins, and Ilett finds himself back at square one.