Heads in the Clouds: English Football's 10 'Most Delusional' Fanbases |

English football, a theatre of dreams, despair, passion and rivalry, is also a hotbed of some wild takes and passionate delusions.

We all love our clubs, we bleed their colours, and we defend them to the last breath. But sometimes, just sometimes, that unwavering loyalty can tip over into something a little… well, delusional.

We’ve all seen them, heard them, maybe even been them. That friend who genuinely believes their struggling team is just “one signing away” from a Champions League spot, or the online warrior declaring their club the biggest in the world despite a trophy cabinet gathering dust.

Or those who believe the entire footballing world conspires against their beloved club. It’s part of the charm, part of the madness, but it also makes for some truly fascinating discussions.

So, let’s pull back the curtain and peek into the minds of those who might just be living in their glorious footballing bubble.

We’re talking about the 10 ‘most delusional’ fanbases in English football. And believe me, some of these might surprise you, while others… well, you probably saw them coming a mile away.

Contents

1. Arsenal — Delusion Rating: 30.26%

1. Arsenal — Delusion Rating: 30.26%

Heads in the Clouds: English Football's 10 'Most Delusional' Fanbases

Arsenal fans are the gold standard of footballing delusion. You knew this was coming.

From proclaiming that their “floor is Liverpool’s ceiling” to insisting they were the best team in Europe last season, despite finishing second and crashing out to PSG in the ongoing UEFA Champions League, Arsenal supporters don’t just drink the Kool-Aid; they bathe in it.

There’s always an excuse, too. Injuries. Referees. A conspiracy by the FA. The narrative is constantly being reshaped to protect the belief that Arsenal should be winning it all.

And maybe they should, their squad is stacked, their manager is passionate, and their fans are… incredibly vocal.

Let’s not paint all with the same brush. Many match-going fans are some of the most grounded in the league. Unfortunately, they’re often drowned out by the Twitter crowd and the meme merchants who seem to live in a parallel universe where every 3-1 win over Bournemouth confirms their title credentials.

Delusional? Absolutely. Entertaining? Always.

2. Manchester United — Delusion Rating: 20.21%

The Red Devils. You can’t mention delusion without them.

United fans have mastered the art of living in the past. And to be fair, what a glorious past it was. But these days? It’s all vibes and vintage clips of Roy Keane flying into tackles while the current squad flounder in a Europa League final, losing to Tottenham courtesy of Luke Shaw’s own goal.

Every preseason is met with blinding optimism. “Amorim will fix everything!” “Our youth will rise again!” “Rasmus Højlund just needs confidence!” They’re screaming for a new signing every season and reposting highlights of the ‘99 treble.

There’s a nostalgia-induced fog hanging over Old Trafford, and it’s hard to shake.

United are still a massive club, no doubt. But until the performances start matching the pride, the fanbase will continue to teeter on the edge of delusion.

3. Tottenham Hotspur — Delusion Rating: 12.19%

Tottenham fans are a curious case. They’ve got one of the best stadiums in the world, some incredible players, and an exciting style of play (when it clicks).

And yet, the trophy cabinet remains… suspiciously dusty.

Spurs supporters still wear their “Big Six” badge with pride, but for how much longer?

But how quickly things can change in football. Just last night, a new chapter was written. Tottenham finally ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1-0 in a dramatic Europa League final in Bilbao.

This victory, a gritty, determined performance against a direct rival, undeniably shifts the narrative. The long-suffering Spurs faithful, who’ve endured countless near-misses and the relentless banter of rival supporters, finally have something tangible to celebrate.

So, does this Europa League triumph erase their “delusion rating”? Not entirely, at least not yet.

Old habits die hard, and the perception of being a “Big Six” club, even without consistent silverware, has been deeply ingrained for many years.

If nothing else, they’re consistent in their hope and their heartbreak.

4. Chelsea — Delusion Rating: 10.72%

If delusion could be funded, Chelsea would be the richest club on earth. Oh, wait… they already are.

Since the arrival of Todd Boehly and his billion-pound shopping spree, Chelsea fans have had every reason to believe they should be title contenders. That’s what a billion gets you, right?

Wrong.

Despite world-class signings and more managers than most clubs see in a decade, the product on the pitch hasn’t exactly matched the ambition. And many fans still carry the swagger of the Mourinho era, a time when winning was expected, not hoped for.

The truth is, Chelsea’s history of success under Roman Abramovich created an identity that’s hard to shake. So when things go south, it’s not just disappointing, it’s offensive.

For many fans, midtable isn’t just unfamiliar, it’s unthinkable.

5. Liverpool — Delusion Rating: 7.43%

Now, this one’s controversial.

Liverpool just won the 2024/25 league. They’re one of the most successful clubs in English history. And their fanbase? Passionate to the point of poetry.

So where’s the delusion? It’s in the expectations.

Every single draw feels like a death knell. Every loss is a catastrophe. And God forbid Mo Salah has a bad game — the footballing world seems to implode. There’s a romanticism around the club that makes it easy to tip over into self-mythology.

They’ve got one of the greatest managers in modern football, a squad full of elite talent, and a legacy that’s the envy of most.

But the delusion creeps in when some fans start acting like they should win every competition, every year, just because they’re Liverpool.

Sometimes, passion looks a lot like denial.

6. Everton — Delusion Rating: 4.59%

Everton fans are some of the most loyal and long-suffering in football, and maybe that’s where the delusion comes from. Loyalty can easily turn into expectation, even when the results don’t justify it.

Despite multiple relegation scraps and a revolving door of managers, there’s still a sense among many Evertonians that they belong in the conversation with the big boys.

“We’re a massive club,” they’ll tell you. “We’ve got history.”

And they’re not wrong. But football isn’t about what you were, it’s about what you are. And right now, Everton is in the middle of a long, messy rebuild.

That said, the passion at Goodison is undeniable, and with a new stadium and ownership on the horizon, maybe that delusion isn’t so deluded after all.

7. Manchester City — Delusion Rating: 4.22%

Wait — City? The team winning everything? How can their fans be delusional?

Well, it’s not about what they believe, it’s about how they believe it.

Success has become so routine for City fans that many have lost all sense of perspective. Trophies aren’t celebrated, they’re expected.

A domestic double? Meeeh. Only a treble gets their juices flowing these days.

And when critics point out the financial doping or the empty seats at Wembley, City fans get defensive fast. There’s an increasing arrogance that feels out of step with their “small club” roots.

Call it entitlement. Call it hubris. Whatever it is, it’s the kind of quiet delusion that comes from having too much of a good thing.

8. Newcastle United — Delusion Rating: 2.80%

Newcastle fans have waited decades for this moment: new ownership, European football, and finally, some silverware.

After a few good seasons, the Geordie faithful have gone from hopeful to absolutely convinced that they’re destined for greatness.

You’ll see claims online like “We’ll win the league in two years” or “Bruno Guimarães is the best midfielder in the league.”

Ambition is great, but there’s still a bit of a reality check needed. Newcastle haven’t consistently challenged for top honours in generations, and yet the fanbase sometimes acts like they’ve already arrived.

Still, they’re some of the best fans in the country. If you’re going to be delusional, at least do it with passion.

9. Leeds United — Delusion Rating: 2.30%

Leeds fans might have one of the smallest trophy collections on this list, but you’d never know it from the way they talk.

“We’re massive!” they’ll shout — even while flirting with relegation or languishing in the Championship. Leeds supporters have a chip on their shoulder the size of Elland Road, and they wear it with pride.

The club’s return to the Premier League was met with wild optimism, and even after falling back down, there’s still a sense of superiority over many long-standing top-flight teams.

Why? No one knows, it’s just a Leeds thing.

It’s passionate, it’s bold, and yes, it’s a little delusional. But that’s what makes them so entertaining.

10. Fulham — Delusion Rating: 2.07%

Now this is a surprise entry.

Fulham fans, usually seen as mild-mannered and polite, have somehow snuck into the top 10. However, don’t let the calm exterior fool you; there’s a growing sense of frustration and ambition brewing at Craven Cottage.

After years of surviving in the Premier League’s mid-table no-man’s land, some fans are starting to believe they should be pushing for Europe.

They point to their Europa League run over a decade ago and ask, “Why not again?”

It’s admirable. It’s bold. And maybe it’s just a touch unrealistic. But who says dreaming is a bad thing?

The Nuance of Delusion

It’s important to remember that ‘delusion’ in this context isn’t necessarily a negative trait. In football, a healthy dose of optimism, even when seemingly unfounded, is often what keeps the passion alive.

It’s the belief that ‘next year’ will be better, that the impossible is always possible. What this highlights, however, is where that optimism might cross the line into an alternate reality.

Be it the towering expectations of Arsenal and Manchester United, the stubborn clinging to ‘Big Six’ status by Tottenham, or the subtle craving for more from Fulham, each fan base carries its own unique brand of belief.

And in the colourful, chaotic world of English football, a little bit of delusion, it seems, is just part of the beautiful game.