Five defining moments that changed the Manchester derby forever

Across England’s 92 professional clubs, few rivalries burn as fiercely — or have undergone such a dramatic transformation — as the Manchester derby.

Just 6km of Manchester separate the homes of the only two English clubs (Manchester United and Manchester City) to have completed the European treble of winning the English Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in one season.

United achieved the feat in 1998/99 and City followed 24 years later in 2022/23.

There’s a reason for the big gap: for years, the balance of power in Manchester was unmistakably red. Born as Newton Heath before becoming Manchester United in 1902, the Red Devils established themselves as the dominant force in the 1990s.

They went unbeaten in every Manchester derby throughout the decade, a period in which Sir Alex Ferguson’s side owned local bragging rights. The rivalry then enjoyed a remarkable transformation between 2007 and 2013.

In 2007/08, City beat United home and away — a league double that had not been achieved since 1969/70.

It was a sign of things to come. In 2008, the Abu Dhabi United Group completed their takeover of the club known as Ardwick until 1894, with Sheikh Mansour’s investment changing City’s trajectory forever. They were no longer merely United’s ambitious neighbours; they were serious competitors.

City’s first Premier League title arrived in 2011/12, and from that breakthrough season through 2025/26, they’ve won eight of a possible 15 Premier League titles. United have won just one — in 2012/13, the final season in which the red half of Manchester finished above the blue half. And so, the narrative has changed.

As United prepare to welcome City to Old Trafford on Sunday at 5.30pm, they are looking to flip the script on their neighbours. But they’ll need a big moment or two to win the match and gain some much-needed confidence as the new season starts to heat up.

The Manchester derby has a long history of producing memorable moments, and here we take a look at five of them.

1 Denis Law's backheel | 1974

Denis Law won the Ballon d’Or while playing for Manchester United and is immortalised in not one, but two statues at Old Trafford — the only man to have two. Yet, the Scotsman’s most famous Manchester derby moment came in the colours of United’s fiercest rivals, City.

In 1974, United were fighting for survival in the First Division when City arrived at Old Trafford. With the match still goalless and just nine minutes remaining, Francis Lee’s ball found Denis Law inside the penalty area.

The former United striker expertly backheeled the ball into the back of the Red Devils' net.

Law did not celebrate. Instead, he appeared devastated by the thought that his goal had relegated the club he had represented for 11 years. Fans invaded the pitch and the match was abandoned, although the result was allowed to stand.

It turned out that Law’s goal did not send United down. Their relegation had already been confirmed because of results elsewhere.

Roy Keane v Alf-Inge Haaland | 2001

Before there was Erling Haaland, there was Alf-Inge ‘Alfie’ Haaland, his father. Legend has it that iconic Manchester United hardman Roy Keane ended Alfie’s career with THAT tackle in the 2001 Manchester derby.

The truth, however, is more complicated. Haaland finished the match despite Keane's challenge and continued playing before retiring in 2003, his career ultimately curtailed by persistent knee problems. But the moment was frozen in time, replayed on TV screens across the world ever since.

It remains a scene that captures the brutal nature of the Manchester derby.

The feud between Haaland and Keane began when the Norwegian played for Leeds United against the Red Devils in 1997. Keane lunged at Haaland, suffered a knee injury, and was forced out of action for months. Believing Keane was trying to win a penalty, Haaland stood over him and accused him of faking the injury. Keane never forgot that moment.

Four years later, when they met again — Haaland now wearing City blue — the old grudge resurfaced. In the closing minutes, Keane closed down Haaland like a man possessed and hell-bent on settling an old score. He launched a notorious studs-up challenge that earned him a red card. Keane later admitted in his autobiography: “I’d waited long enough. I hit him hard.”

When Peter Schmeichel swapped red for blue | 2002

Peter Schmeichel is the Denis Law of Manchester United goalkeepers — an absolute legend. He won the treble with the club in 1998/99 and stood between the posts for their iconic 1990s side.

He left United in 1999 for Sporting Lisbon, before returning to the Premier League with Aston Villa in 2001. But when he joined Manchester City in 2002, one of his former '90s teammates, Gary Neville, did not take kindly to his trusted goalkeeper crossing the divide.

So, when the two sides lined up for the Manchester derby at Maine Road in November 2002, Schmeichel tapped United captain Neville on the shoulder, signalling that they needed to swap sides in the tunnel. He then offered his hand, but Neville stared ahead, refusing to acknowledge his former teammate.

Years later, Neville explained the snub on the Quickly Kevin, Will He Score? podcast, saying: “You can’t play for Manchester City.

"I’m a United fan and I can’t play for Manchester City, I can’t play for Leeds and I can’t play for Liverpool. That’s just written in stone.”

Fergie's 'noisy neighbours' remark | 2009

Following Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Abu Dhabi United Group’s big-money takeover of City in 2008, the blue half of Manchester started bringing in some big-name players.

And after United edged City 4-3 at Old Trafford, Michael Owen’s stoppage-time winner settling a seven-goal thriller in September 2009, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was asked about the growing threat from his neighbours.

“Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour,” Ferguson said.

“You cannot do anything about that; they will always be noisy. You just have to get on with your life, put your TV on and turn it up a bit louder.”

It was intended as a dismissive jibe. Instead, it became fuel.

The ‘noisy neighbours’ would soon have their answer, throwing Ferguson’s words back at United and into the headlines whenever City tasted success.

And they had plenty of it. City would go on to dominate the Premier League from the moment they claimed their first title in 2011/12, winning eight of the next 15 titles.

City’s 6-1 masterclass at Old Trafford | 2011

The noisy neighbours finally registered on the Richter scale at Old Trafford in 2011, unleashing an earthquake that shook Manchester and handed legendary United manager Ferguson the heaviest home defeat of his career.

City’s 6-1 demolition of United on 23 October 2011 was a five-goal winning margin, equalling the biggest victory in the history of the Manchester derby.

City had previously beaten United 6–1 in 1926, while they also recorded 5–0 victories in 1955 and 1926; United matched that margin with a 5–0 triumph in 1994. But the afternoon is perhaps best remembered for Mario Balotelli.

The Italian 'bad boy' opened the scoring before celebrating by lifting his shirt to reveal a message that would become instantly iconic: “Why always me?”

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