493 days without a haircut because of Manchester United (and counting)

BarcelonaThe passion for football has led to countless curious stories. But in England, the birthplace of the sport, a heartwarming mix of fervor for a team's colors and a sense of humor has emerged in recent months, going viral. Manchester United, one of the country's biggest clubs, has long struggled to be among the favorites to win the Premier League (they haven't won it since 2013). red devils They also haven't been regular fixtures in the Champions League knockout rounds lately, a tournament they haven't participated in since 2008. Nevertheless, the stands at Old Trafford continue to fill up every weekend with fans eager to relive past glories. There are also fans around the world longing to taste that glory once more. Among this expatriate following is Frank Ilett, a supporter of the team living in Castellón, Spain, who went viral for vowing not to cut his hair until Manchester United won five consecutive matches.

Due to Manchester United's poor run of form, the saga has dragged on for 493 days and has boosted Ilett's Instagram following to well over a million. The fan has posted a reel Every day since the start of the competition, viewers have been able to watch his curly hair grow to an enormous length. Even Gerard Piqué, former player for the British club, has contacted them to do promotional work for the King's League.

The joke could have come to an end this Tuesday, as Manchester United were poised to finally win their fifth consecutive match. The team, now managed by Michael Carrick, had strung together four straight victories... but drew their fifth at West Ham (1-1). Ilett came within a single goal of having permission to finally cleanse his mane, something that many users have celebrated on the internet because they wanted, to continue the joke, for the hair to never stop growing.