Rooney Fires at Hair-Challenge Fan as United Chase Five Wins and the Spotlight Gets Lively
11 February 2026
Overview
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United legend, publicly targets the club’s famous fan Frank Elite, who has pledged not to cut his hair until United win five consecutive matches, arguing he has become a distraction and harms the team’s mood.
Origin of the Hair Challenge
Frank Elite began this curious vow last October, promising not to trim his hair until the Red Devils could secure five straight wins, a milestone that has eluded them since the dare began.
United’s Journey to the Five-Win Target
During that stretch United were under Dutch coach Erik ten Hag, then Ruben Amorim, and now Michael Carrick, but five consecutive wins remain out of reach.
Current Status
Most recently, United drew 1-1 with West Ham on Tuesday night, pushing the target back to square one.
Rooney’s Take on the Spectacle
Rooney, speaking on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, says the challenge does not serve Manchester United’s interests and only piles on unnecessary pressure.
He adds that even if United were to win five in a row, Elite would not be satisfied, because he would have to shave his head and could lose the spotlight and media attention.
I’d have him banished immediately; he really gets on my nerves. We’re talking about Carrick and United aiming for a fifth straight win, but everyone is obsessed with whether this man will cut his hair or not.
He concludes that Elite would be disappointed by a fifth win because he would suddenly lose his relevance.
Punchline 1: If hair were the prize, this debate would win the transfer window for drama every single season.
Punchline 2: Five straight wins or not, the barber is turning out to be United’s quietest, most persuasive talking point this year.
