The Manchester derby is a clash between two of England’s most successful teams: Manchester City and Manchester United.
Since the rivalry began 139 years ago, there have been 192 derbies in total. It is always a lively contest between two clubs who play just a few miles away from each other in a city that is obsessed with football.
While the North London Derby, Merseyside Derby and the Old Firm Derby all have claims to fame, the matches between the two Manchester rivals usually have the most riding on it; especially over the past 10 to 20 years.
Legendary players such as Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero have all played their part in this famous fixture, with both teams having secured famous wins over the years.
In this article, we will take a look at the most memorable games, the biggest victories, the top scorers and the top appearance makers in this fiercely contested derby.
When was the first Manchester derby?
The first fixture between the two clubs was played on 12th November 1881. At the time, both teams went under different names. City were originally founded as St Mark’s (West Gorton) while their opponents United were called Newton Heath LYR.
Newton won the game 3-0 but the rivalry had yet to develop as there were plenty of other clubs that had been founded around Manchester. It was only when it became clear that St Mark’s (soon to be Adrwick) and Newton Health would become the most dominant teams in the area that the potential for a derby emerged.
Even so, even up until World War 2, football fans in Manchester were more than happy to watch either team. It was only in the post-war era where the rivalry truly began to develop.
Have Man City or United won more derbies?
Manchester United have won the most games between the two clubs, having secured victory in 78 of the 192 matches that have been played.
City have bagged all the points on 61 occasions, with the latest victory at the Etihad Stadium coming back in March 2024. The other 52 encounters have ended in a draw.
158 of the fixtures have taken place with both teams in the top flight (Old First Division or the Premier League), while a further 12 were played in the second tier. The other 34 have been in cup competitions.
In terms of the biggest wins for both teams, City beat United 6-1 in 1926; a feat they famously repeated in 2011. United’s largest margin of victory, meanwhile, came in 1994 when they beat their rivals 5-0 at Old Trafford. It should be noted that the Red Devils also beat City 7-1 in a War League match at Maine Road on 14 April 1941 but this is not considered to be an official match, so it doesn’t count as a derby record.
The highest-scoring match between the Manchester side actually happened very recently. It was City’s 6-3 victory at the Etihad back in 2022.
The number of goals scored in the fixture currently totals 545, with United (273) just edging City (272).
Which players have played for both Man City and United?
There are 39 players across the years who have featured in competitive fixtures for both teams in their careers. The first was William Douglas, who played for City between 1890 and 1894 before moving to Newton Heath, where he spent two further seasons.
Billy Meredith was the first player to return to City, after having played for United. After leaving the Sky Blues in 1906, he spent another 15 years with the Red Devils before playing for City again between 1921 and 1924.
Denis Law was another very famous example of a player who had multiple stints at both teams. He played for City during the 1960-61 season prior to his 11-year spell at United. The striker then returned to Maine Road in 1973.
Law famously relegated United by scoring the winner in a derby. It was his last professional game but he bagged a crucial goal against his former team with a backheel in the final ten minutes of a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
United fans forced an abandonment by invading the pitch but the result stood. It later transpired that the Red Devils would not have avoided the drop even if they had drawn or won the controversial match.
The last player to switch allegiance was Owen Hargreaves who spent the 2011/12 season at the Etihad, following a four-year stint with United.
Who are the top goalscorers in the Manchester derby?
Wayne Rooney currently holds the record for the most goals in the derby, having scored 11 times in total; 8 in the league, 2 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup.
In terms of the highest-scoring City player, that record is jointly held by club legends Joe Hayes and Francis Lee, who both scored 10 goals. Sergio Aguero is just one behind on 9.
There is potential for some of the club’s current players to break Rooney’s record in the coming years. Erling Haaland has only featured in five derbies so far but he has already racked up 6 goals. With the two teams facing each other in the FA Cup final later this month, the Norwegian international could potentially add to his total.
Haaland is also only one of eight players who have scored hat-tricks in the history of the fixture. Coincidentally, his teammate Phil Foden is on that list too, with both players having scored three times in the same match during the 6-3 win back in October 2022.
Foden (6), Marcus Rashford (6) and Anthony Martial (5) are the other active first-team players who could also potentially surpass Rooney in the future, as long as they all remain at their respective teams.
Who has made the most appearances in the Manchester derby?
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is way out in front, having played in 37 derbies during his long career before his retirement. Former teammate David De Gea (28) is second on the list.
The most appearances by a City player in the fixture is Joe Corrigan, who featured in 26 derbies between 1967 and 1983. In terms of outfield players, midfielder Alan Oakes holds the record for City, having played in 25 matches between 1959 and 1976.
