Manchester derby: Rich history, record entries and controversial moments. What has the history of the duel between the two rivals had to offer?

On Saturday 14th January we will have the much anticipated Manchester derby. Both teams are on a very good run of form right now, but the last match will go down in the history of these old rivals. What are our predictions for the upcoming duel and what could be the deciding aspect?

The next round of the Premier League will bring a truly extraordinary showpiece. After all, matches between two of Manchester’s most famous teams are among the greatest classics of English football in general. Saturday’s match between Manchester United and Manchester City will be number 189.

A glimpse into history

The first ever Manchester derby was played in November 1881, between the then St. Mark’s (Manchester City’s predecessor) and Newton Heath (Manchester United’s predecessor). The opening match between these age-old rivals was dominated by the latter 3-0.

However, it should be noted that at the time both clubs were just two of many emerging clubs in the Manchester area and the match was of no particular significance. This, of course, would not be the case until later years.

The rivalry between the two sides was established in the late 19th century and early 20th. The first mutual encounter between the two clubs at the highest level of English football occurred in December 1906, when City won 3-0. The proceeds of the match then amounted to around £1,000, a very large sum indeed for the time.

Manchester City, it should be noted, was already suffering from the effects of a financial scandal at the time. The club had been found guilty of making off-balance sheet payments to players. In short, it is a case of City not allocating these payments to the income and expenditure or accounting of the club on the basis of the information available.

As a result, seventeen of their players were suspended and banned from further involvement with the Manchester club. This included the core of the team that won the FA Cup for the Citizens in 1904.

Rivalry and controversy in the 1970s

The 1970s was one of the most heated periods between the two teams, with fans witnessing several controversial moments. For example, in a December 1970 derby, George Best broke Glyn Pardoe’s leg, with the Manchester City defender’s injury being so serious that he almost lost his leg.

The other famous moment belongs to the first derby of the 1973-1974 season, when Mike Doyle and Lou Macari were both red-carded after a goalless draw. The reason? Both players refused to leave the field, leading the referee to take both teams to the locker room until both players accepted their suspensions.

80. years until the arrival of Alex Ferguson

If in the seventies there was talk of United being a worse team as a result of relegation than its rival, in the eighties it was exactly the opposite. Although the Citizens still reached the FA Cup final in the early 1980s.

In the 1982/83 season, however, it was the Red Devils who dominated the FA Cup and finished third in the league, while Manchester City were relegated to League Two. And it wasn’t the only relegation, it happened again to the Citizens at the end of the 1987 season. And since the arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, the situation has completely turned around for both Manchester clubs.

The Red Devils, during the Ferguson era, collected many trophies across all European competitions, clearly outshining their rivals. Manchester United, in short, has become a feared giant.

However, the 1980s ended successfully for City when they won promotion back to the Premier League in 1989 and on 23 September 1989, just weeks before the start of the 1989-90 season, they faced United in a derby at Maine Road. City beat United 5-1, but that was their last win over United for 13 years.

However, in the short Manchester derby podcast attached above, we also look at modern history and discuss not only the record of that derby, but also the current era.

In recent years, it is Manchester City who have been the team that has dominated not only these games, but footballingly the city as a whole. And arguably, the Premier League as a whole.

Manchester derby records

There have been 188 matches between these irreconcilable rivals in history, with 53 of them being draws. Fifty-eight times the Citizens have been victorious, and seventy-seven times the United players have claimed full points.

In terms of individuals, Wayne Rooney is historically the top scorer in the Manchester derby, with eleven goals. The player with the highest number of appearances is Ryan Giggs. He started 36 times against City.

The Red Devils also have the longest winning streak, winning eight games in a row between 1993 and 2000. Manchester United also hold the longest unbeaten streak as well. Specifically, it is fourteen matches between 1991 and 2001.

The very last one where the most goals were scored has also gone down in the history of this derby. Manchester City outshot their opponents 6-3. Then in 1926 and 2011, the Citizens recorded their biggest results in this derby, winning twice 6:1.

Manchester United dates its biggest win back to 1941. Back then, they beat the other Manchester side 7-1 at Maine Road during the Second World War.

On Saturday, 14 January, English football fans can look forward to the 189th derby, the result of which is very difficult to predict. What will be the key aspects of this match or which players can influence it the most? This is also what we have covered in our short chat, so make sure you don’t hesitate to attend.

Sources: Premier League, Manchester United, Manchester City