Golfing superstar Rory McIlroy has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his support for Manchester United, admitting he has not watched a single match live this season. The Northern Irishman, a lifelong fan, last attended a game in person for the club's painful Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
The Last Straw in Bilbao
Speaking on the popular podcast Stick to Football, hosted by Gary Neville, McIlroy recounted his disillusionment. The last live match he attended was the 2025 Europa League final, a experience that left him questioning his commitment. "I was sitting there going: 'What did you expect? It's the 16th and 17th team in the Premier League, of course it was going to be like this,'" McIlroy revealed to Neville, who labelled him a "big fan".
He expanded on this in comments to The Sun, stating: "I was like, 'why did I fly all this way to watch this?'" That defeat appears to have been a tipping point, leading the four-time major winner to follow his team's fortunes from afar rather than in the stadium or via live broadcast.
A Glimmer of Optimism Under Amorim
Despite his boycott of live viewing, McIlroy does see reasons for cautious optimism at Old Trafford under manager Ruben Amorim. He acknowledged the team's progress, particularly in attack, but highlighted persistent defensive frailties exemplified by conceding four goals at home in a recent 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
"They look good going forward, but they're still fragile at the back," McIlroy analysed. "I'm much more optimistic than I would have been 12 months ago, but I still think there's a lot of work to be done."
An Open Invitation to Old Trafford
The relationship between club and famous fan may be on the mend. Following McIlroy's long-awaited Masters victory in April 2025, which completed his career Grand Slam, manager Ruben Amorim extended a personal invitation. In a video message from the club's Carrington training ground, Amorim said: "Congratulations for The Masters, and I want to invite you to Old Trafford to show your trophy."
Amorim added, "You achieved something that a lot of people thought would be impossible, and we want that feeling in our stadium." McIlroy had previously hinted he might parade the Green Jacket at the Theatre of Dreams if it inspired better performances.
However, the golfer's last trophy parade at Old Trafford was over a decade ago, when he showcased the Claret Jug after his 2014 Open Championship win during Louis van Gaal's first match in charge. McIlroy's recent quip about returning with his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award—"Yeah, maybe, as long as they stop conceding four goals at home"—suggests his return is contingent on seeing a more resilient United on the pitch.
