Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett has gone viral for refusing to cut his hair until the club win five consecutive matches.
‘The United Strand’ made the pledge in October 2024, and his hair has grown to extreme lengths while he waits for the streak to happen. The challenge has dragged on through a turbulent period for United.
Under interim manager Michael Carrick, the team recently came close with four straight wins, but the run ended after a draw with West Ham United, forcing Ilett to keep the clippers away.
The viral fan has now appeared in a comedic advert for Paddy Power where he jokes about what he will do when United eventually achieve the five-game streak and his online identity disappears.
In the sketch, Ilett attends a mock seminar on ‘how to diversify viral momentum’ alongside other internet personalities such as the Wealdstone Raider and Guy Goma.
“When Man United get those five wins in a row, that’s curtains for me. I need to stay relevant and diversify my brand, and to do that, I’m going to need help.
“The class isn’t really what I was expecting, to be honest. But I need to grow as an artist. My hair won’t be here forever. Man United will win five games in a row, won’t they?”
The advert takes a bizarre turn when he tries to reveal his “real self” beyond the famous hair.
“Yeah, there’s so many people don’t know about me. I really do have hidden talents,” he says.
A presenter then pushes him further: “Frank, if you want to take your journey to the next level, you need to show us the real you, what’s inside. Come on, champ.”
“Yeah, I’m the guy with the big head of hair, but there’s so much more to me than that.”
He then unzips his shirt to reveal a thick layer of chest hair, prompting the other viral guests to walk out in disgust.
Carrick has even acknowledged the stunt after hearing about it from his family.
“I can say I’m aware of it, yes. My kids have made me aware of it, but it’s certainly not going to be a talking point for the team at a professional level. I can understand what happened, and it does make me smile, but ultimately it’s not going to have an impact.”
With nine games left in the season, United are still chasing a strong finish in the Premier League.
They currently sit just ahead of Aston Villa F.C. on goal difference and only three points clear of Chelsea F.C. and Liverpool F.C. in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot.
