END OF SEASON SURVEY: Most Delusional, Disliked, Annoying Fanbases Revealed
Joshua Kerr 
Football might be THE beautiful game, but if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to spark debate and ruffle up feathers among fans, it’s which club winds people up the most.
To get to the bottom of English football’s biggest love-hate stories, Freebets.com surveyed over 500 fans across the UK.
Participants were asked to weigh in on a variety of irritation-inducing factors — from the most annoying fanbases and delusional supporters to the team with the most disliked manager.
The results? Prepare yourself — they’re sure to ruffle some feathers.
Most Annoying Fanbase
It’s official: Arsenal have the most annoying fanbase in the English football pyramid, according to nearly one in five respondents (19.58%). In second place was Liverpool with 17.85%, followed by Manchester United (16.70%), Chelsea (9.02%), and Manchester City (6.33%) rounding out the top five.
The Top 10 is as follows:
| Team with Most Annoying Fanbases | Vote % |
| Arsenal | 19.58% |
| Liverpool | 17.85% |
| Manchester United | 16.70% |
| Chelsea | 9.02% |
| Manchester City | 6.33% |
| Millwall | 4.80% |
| Everton | 3.84% |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2.30% |
| Leeds United | 2.30% |
| West Ham United | 1.15% |
| Nottingham Forest | 1.15% |
| Newcastle United | 1.15% |
| Ipswich Town | 1.15% |
Most Annoying Manager
When it comes to the touchline, Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, takes the crown as the most annoying in English football, with 26.86% of fans finding his touchline antics and press conference quips the most irritating. In second place is Manchester City’s boss, Pep Guardiola with 15.05%, followed by Chelsea's Enzo Maresca (8.19%), Manchester United's Ruben Amorim (8.00%), and Liverpool's Arne Slot (7.24%).
The Top 10 is as follows:
| Team with Most Annoying Manager | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 26.86% |
| Manchester City | 15.05% |
| Chelsea | 8.19% |
| Manchester United | 8.00% |
| Liverpool | 7.24% |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 6.10% |
| Everton | 2.67% |
| Sheffield United | 2.10% |
| Brentford | 1.90% |
| Aston Villa | 1.71% |
| Newcastle United | 1.71% |
| Leicester City | 1.52% |
| Nottingham Forest | 1.33% |
Most Delusional Fanbase
Arsenal fans have also topped the charts as the most delusional in the game — with nearly a quarter of respondents (24.76%) branding them as the supporters most likely to overrate their club’s achievements. Manchester United followed in second at 16.31%, with Tottenham Hotspur (7.49%), Chelsea (6.72%), and Liverpool (6.53%) completing the top five.
The Top 10 is as follows:
| Most Delusional Fanbase | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 24.76% |
| Manchester United | 16.31% |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 7.49% |
| Chelsea | 6.72% |
| Liverpool | 6.53% |
| Everton | 4.99% |
| Manchester City | 4.22% |
| Newcastle United | 2.50% |
| Leeds United | 2.30% |
| Fulham | 2.11% |
Most Disliked Team
While Arsenal irked fans with their fervour, Manchester United took the overall title of most disliked team. With 17.02% of the vote, United just edged out Arsenal (14.15%) and Manchester City (10.52%) for the not-so-coveted honour.
The Red Devils also dominated when it came to fanbase size. 18.32% of respondents said they supported Manchester United, making them the most supported club in the study — perhaps a reminder that popularity and animosity often go hand in hand.
Liverpool fans weren’t spared either, securing second place as both the most annoying fanbase (17.85%)
The Lesser Evils?
At the other end of the spectrum, clubs like Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Newcastle United scored low across all categories — suggesting these teams are largely seen as inoffensive across the wider football fan community or perhaps just flying under the radar.
And for fans of Ipswich Town and Millwall, your clubs might not be in the Premier League headlines every week, but they’ve still managed to stir enough emotion to earn spots in the "most disliked" and "most delusional" rankings too .
What Does It All Mean?
Whether it’s your club’s fans, players, or manager — being annoying is subjective. But with rivalries heating up and social media stoking the flames, this study highlights the tribalism that makes Premier League football so fiercely entertaining.
Do you agree with the rankings? Or think your rivals got off easy?
Let us know who grinds your gears the most — and don’t forget to check out the latest odds and insights on Freebets.com.
