Kaizer Chiefs are facing an identity crisis, much like Manchester United, and both clubs are enduring long droughts without a league title.
Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United: Two Iconic Clubs Struggling to Find Their Way
In cities across the globe, you’ll spot Manchester United jerseys—10% of the world’s population supports the Red Devils. Similarly, South Africa’s streets are full of Kaizer Chiefs fans proudly wearing their black and gold gear. Both clubs boast massive followings, making their lack of recent success even more glaring. Names like David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson, Doctor Khumalo, and Lucas Radebe are household legends, but those golden years seem far behind.
Trophy Droughts: An Unacceptable Reality
Manchester United’s last Premier League title was in the 2012-2013 season, and Chiefs’ most recent league title and silverware came in 2014-2015. These are two clubs with rich histories of success, yet both are now struggling to reclaim former glory. Manchester City continues to dominate English football, while Mamelodi Sundowns make league titles seem effortless, leaving Kaizer Chiefs without the fierce rivalry they once thrived on.
The Disappointment After the Hype
Both sets of fans have endured waves of optimism over the years, but disappointment has taken over. Despite the struggle, you’ll still spot a Man United or Kaizer Chiefs jersey wherever you go. Fans of both clubs are incredibly loyal, but they also vent their frustrations online when their team pulls off a rare win against a big side, only to be brought back down to earth by a loss to a team they should easily beat. It begs the question—do they have a strange attachment to the pain?
Business First, Football Second
There’s no denying the commercial power of both Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United, but the problem lies in how they’ve become more focused on their business empires than the football itself. Can they refocus and turn things around, or is this a long-term issue with no solution in sight?
The Search for a Trusted Manager
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, Manchester United has gone through nine different managers. None have managed to bring back league glory, with the latest challenge falling to Ruben Amorim, who now faces the monumental task of getting United back to the top. At present, they’re 28 points behind Liverpool and just 20 points above last-place Southampton, making a title in this decade seem like an impossible dream.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Managerial Instability
Similarly, Kaizer Chiefs have struggled to find the right manager. Since Stuart Baxter’s 2015 success, the club has gone through 11 managerial changes, including names like Steve Komphela, Giovanni Solinas, and Gavin Hunt. Despite the turnover, none have been able to deliver a league title for the long-suffering fans at Naturena.
The Growing Gap
Chiefs’ last real challenge for the league title came in the 2020 season, and since then, the points gap between them and the eventual champions has only widened. It’s clear that both clubs are in the midst of significant rebuilding phases, but whether they can restore their former glory is still a mystery.
