Question
Short answer: According to Wikidata, Manchester United was founded in 1878. Wikidata records only the year, and no second source in the register confirms the exact date. The club started life as Newton Heath LYR Football Club and has used its current name since 1902.
At a glance: Manchester United
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Club | Manchester United |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Source for the date | Wikidata (P571), single source |
| Founder | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway |
| Original name | Newton Heath LYR Football Club |
| Current name since | 1902 |
| Wikidata item | Q18656 |
What the record says about the date
The Atlas takes Manchester United’s founding year of 1878 from Wikidata’s P571 statement. The statement has year precision only, so no day or month is recorded. Because nothing else in the register backs it up, the date carries medium confidence.
Wikidata names Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway as the founder.
Manchester United timeline
- 1878: The club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club.
- 1892: The club’s name became Newton Heath Football Club.
- 1902: The club took the name Manchester United Football Club.
- 1907-08: The club won its first English league title.
- 19 February 1910: Old Trafford stadium opened.
- 29 May 1968: The club won its first European Cup, beating Benfica 4-1.
Facts and figures
- Nickname: The Red Devils
- The club is based in Manchester and plays its home matches at Old Trafford.
Frequently asked questions
When was Manchester United founded?
In 1878, according to Wikidata.
What was Manchester United’s original name?
Newton Heath LYR Football Club.
Who founded Manchester United?
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, according to Wikidata.
Related pages
- Club page: Manchester United
- How many times has Manchester United won the league? (English page in preparation)
- Manchester United’s stadium
- How many times has Manchester United won the Champions League?
- How many times has Manchester United won the English league? (as of 2025-26) (English page in preparation)
- When was Liverpool founded? Foundation date and early history
- Turkish edition of this page: Manchester United ne zaman kuruldu?
- Football Atlas in English: all pages
This page belongs to the Football Atlas, Skormetri’s free library of sourced football facts. The same record is published in Turkish at skormetri.com/futbol-atlasi/manchester-united-ne-zaman-kuruldu/; the Turkish Atlas hub holds the full library.
Sources
- Data: Wikidata (CC0) — wikidata.org/wiki/Q18656 (accessed 4 November 2026)
- Data: Wikidata (CC0) — wikidata.org/wiki/Q18656#P571 (accessed 4 November 2026)
- Data: Wikidata (CC0) — wikidata.org/wiki/Q18656#P1448 (accessed 4 November 2026)
- Data: Wikidata (CC0) — wikidata.org/wiki/Q18656#P112 (accessed 4 November 2026)
Last updated: 4 November 2026 · Data as of: 4 November 2026 · Verified with: Wikidata
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