Erling Haaland will fancy his chances of plundering more Manchester City goals against Leeds this weekend but the Premier League strugglers will always be in the Norwegian’s heart
Erling Haaland won’t be short of support when Manchester City host Leeds United at the Etihad on Saturday. From all corners of the ground, in fact.
Few footballers have the privilege of being popular with rivals fans. But when it comes to those who follow Leeds, Haaland remains a firm favourite, despite the fact he has never pulled on that famous white shirt. This might change, should Haaland do what he does best and start banging in goals against Daniel Farke’s men. But there remains a lifelong bond between Haaland and the Yorkshire club, one that will never be broken.
It stems from the fact Haaland was born in Leeds. The date was July 21, 2000 and Alfie Haaland had just completed a £2.5m move to Manchester City from Leeds, when his wife Gry Marita Braut, went into labour.
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No-one knew it at the time, but the world had just welcomed a future footballing superstar into it.
Haaland Sr might have left Elland Road, but he continued to live in Leeds, where he had gained cult status with supporters for his role in a clash with Manchester United at Elland Road in 1997, which resulted in Roy Keane injuring his cruciate ligaments.
Keane would gain revenge, but Haaland’s place in Leeds folklore was secured. While his son became an instant fan of the club, and spent his first three years idolising Leeds’ Norwegian midfielder Erik Bakke. Haaland had a replica shirt with Bakke’s name on the back, and posters of the team on his bedroom wall.
Haaland would go to live in Norway in 2003, when his dad signed for Bryne. Haaland had qualified to represent England on the grounds he was a British citizen, but by the time he had turned 21 had represented Norway almost 20 times.
“You never know how it would be had my father played longer in England,” Haaland said, “maybe I would be English, I don’t know. But I’m Norwegian and proud of it.”
Haaland has never forgotten his roots, however. He has returned to Elland Road often, both as a player and fan.
After the fixtures for the 2022/23 season came out, Haaland texted then Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, telling him how excited he was about City’s game against them over the Christmas period.
Haaland went on to score twice in a 3-1 win, but refused to celebrate his goals out of respect for Leeds.
Further evidence of his love affair with Leeds came when Haaland asked Elland Road favourite Stuart Dallas to swap shirts with him following a game between Norway and Northern Ireland.
Dallas recalls: “He walked behind me and asked about swapping shirts. I thought he meant inside, but he shouted at me and asked to do it now. We did it and then he leaned into me and said, ‘Marching on together!’”
While back in 2019, during his time with RB Salzburg, Haaland would make no secret of his enduring passion for Leeds. “I want to be the best possible. The dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds,” he declared.
Sadly for Leeds fans, this notion remains just that – a dream.
But they will never stop hoping that one day, they will again get to see someone playing for Leeds with the name ‘Haaland’ written on on his back.
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