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Most Hated Football Clubs in England: 2023 Edition

What are the most hated football clubs in England? The English are known to have the most passionate football fans in the world so it’s no surprise the level of hate that exists between supporters.

Most Hated Football Clubs in England

Clubs are hated because of their links with hooliganism firms, their success on the pitch or because of major immoralities. Let’s take a look at the most hated clubs in English football.

6. Millwall

Millwall are considered to have the most violent fans in the UK and they’re also known as being one of the biggest hooligan club, with the Millwall Bushwackers being one of the most notorious football firms in the world. The club also has ferocious rivalries with West Ham, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic.

The intimidation and brutality of Millwall fans during the 1985 Luton riot at Kenilworth Road is one the biggest reasons Millwall is one of the most hated football clubs in England. The riots almost destroyed football with Millwall fans trashing shops, vehicles and starting numerous street brawls. It’s not a one off either.

Millwall has an extensive rap sheet including major riots in 1906 and 2009 against West Ham, against QPR in 1966, Ipswich in 1978 and Birmingham in 2002. In typical Millwall fashion, fans booed players taking a knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. Their football chant “No one likes us, we don’t care” sums it all up. 

5. Leeds United

Leeds United is not just one of the most hated football clubs in English football, but one of the most hated in the world. The club is historically rebellious, created as the rebirth of Leeds City after they were expelled from the Football League in 1919 for making illegal player payments.

It was the Don Revie era of the 60’s and 70’s where Leeds United built a reputation as one of the most hated football clubs in England. Leeds United’s physical approach, poor discipline and dirty tactics earned them the nickname “Dirty Leeds” after a vicious First Division game in 1964 against Everton.

FourFourTwo ranked the 1973/74 Leeds United squad as the most hated in British football history. The club has the most negative chants sung about them by other clubs with 117, and a separate poll also revealed 74% of fans hate Leeds United.

4. MK Dons

MK Dons was created in the most controversial circumstances. Wimbledon FC owners were looking to relocate because of the limitations of being able to expand their stadium Plough Lane. They also feared the club would otherwise go out of business if they didn’t relocate.

In 2002 the Football Association approved the relocation of Wimbledon FC and the unprecedented move of the club to Milton Keynes took place a year later. AFC Wimbledon was formed shortly after by disgruntled fans as a result.

The relocation of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes led to MK Dons becoming one of the most hated football clubs in England. MK Dons became known as “Franchise FC” to many after directly replacing Wimbledon FC in League One in 2004.

Initially, MK Dons also took all of Wimbledon FC’s trophies and their history including their famous 1988 FA Cup Final trophy. They’d eventually return it all to the London Borough of Merton in 2007.

3. Liverpool

Liverpool may have the best football fans in England, and is the most popular club in England with 46% of fans either liking or loving the club. They’re also one of the most hated football clubs. A major reason is their fans are seen as glory hunters because only 29% of Liverpool fans live in the local area.

Dividing Liverpool from the rest of England is a difference in political opinion. Many Liverpool FC fans identify themselves as “Scouse not English” because of their negative views of the British monarchy, and a distrust of the government.

Liverpool’s detachment and isolation to the rest of the country boiled power at the 2012 FA Cup final against Chelsea. Liverpool fans loudly booed the national anthem at Wembley, another reason why Liverpool is one of the most hated football clubs in England.

Three of the most hated Premier League players of all time – Luis Suarez, El Hadji Diouf and Craig Bellamy – featured for Liverpool, and the club also made a disgusting attempt to join the proposed breakaway European Super League.

2. Chelsea

Chelsea is one of the most popular clubs in the world. Chelsea fans are regularly called “plastics” because of the overwhelming increase in support for the club since Roman Abramovich injected billions of dollars for transfer fees beginning from 2003 to create one of the best teams in the world.

Abramovich’s 19-year reign transformed Chelsea into one of the best clubs in the world with £2 billion spent on transfer fees. It’s the reason why the club is often referred to as “Chelski”, how they could afford some of the best defenders in Premier League history, and the main reason Chelsea are one of the most hated football clubs in England.

Another reason Chelsea is so hated is because of their loan policy. During the 2020-21 season 37 players were sent out on loan by Chelsea. The policy makes the club money by buying players for low, loaning them out to other clubs, and then selling them at a higher price.

Most of these players don’t even stand a chance of featuring in Chelsea’s first team and the talent hoarding frustrates other clubs and fans who see the policy as misuse and exploitation of the loan system.

The loan policy makes the club money by buying players for low, loaning them out to other clubs and then selling them at a higher price. Many players never stand a chance to even feature in the first team from their arrival so it’s seen as talent hoarding much to the frustration of other clubs who see the policy as a misuse and exploitation of the loan system. 

1. Manchester United

Manchester United is the most hated football club in England because of their dominance during the Alex Ferguson era. United won 13 English Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues during Ferguson’s 26 years at the club.

Rival fans have also had to put up with obvious referee favouritism every time Ferguson’s United played at Old Trafford, something that former Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg confirmed existed.

Another reason Manchester United is the most hated club in English football is because their fans are considered “glory hunters”. The reason this is, is because they have the lowest concentration of support in their local area.

Only 29% of Manchester United fans in the country live in Manchester. Bitter rivals Manchester City have 52% of their supporters in the local area.

The Glazer family takeover of the club and the levels of debt they’ve taken on is exactly what is wrong with modern football. Even United’s own fans hate the club so much, some broke away and created the member-owned FC United of Manchester in 2005.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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2 responses to “Most Hated Football Clubs in England: 2023 Edition”

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