Leeds-born Erling Haaland and his Norway side face England in a huge World Cup quarter-final tonight.
Erling Haaland’s love for the English game and Leeds United has been made abundantly clear as his Norway side await England in tonight’s World Cup quarter-final in Miami.
Haaland’s men face Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions in a 10pm kick-off for a place in the competition’s semi-finals, Haaland readily admitting that Norway’s progression to the last eight has come as a surprise.
Haaland, though, would have been eligible to pull on an England jersey having been born in Leeds back in July 2000 following dad Alf-Inge’s spell for the Whites which has left Erling’s passion for the club very clear.
The Manchester City superstar has tended to keep things subtle in recent years as a Premier League player but during his time with Austrian club RB Salzburg the forward said his ultimate dream was to be a league champion with Leeds.
Haaland said: “I want to be the best possible. The dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds. In addition, the goal is to become a better player than dad was. I hope to be able to get more international matches than he did.”
With 54 caps to his name and a staggering 62 goals, Haaland has already achieved that objective and indeed the striker sits third in the World Cup Golden Boot race having netted seven times, just one less that Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
In his club career, the City star has netted three times against Leeds but it was after his brace in City’s 3-1 win at Elland Road back in 2022 that his love for the Whites was again made clear.
Haaland told VG: “It was planned. I didn't feel like cheering. I have respect for Leeds, where I was born.
“Of course I cheer together with Jack (Grealish) and said "good job", as there were two fantastic assists. Father and mother were in the stands, the whole family in the stands. It is special.
“When I was little I had a Leeds kit with Eirik Bakke on the back”
“When I was little I had a Leeds kit with Eirik Bakke on the back and a City kit with my father on it. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would play at Elland Road for City against Leeds.
“You can't even dream about it, because it's so surreal, with a father who has played for both clubs. I am proud today!”
Former Whites boss Jesse Marsch and ex-Leeds stars James Milner and Stuart Dallas have also previously opened up on Haaland’s feelings for the club and the striker appeared to produce a Leeds salute after scoring in January’s Champions League clash against Galatasaray.
Haaland fired his team into the lead with a lovely chipped finish and the City star’s celebration to the crowd appeared to feature a Leeds salute - nearly 26 years on from the tragic events of United’s UEFA Cup clash against the Turkish side of April 2000.
“He is. He is a massive Leeds fan as well”
The clip of Haaland’s goal and apparent Leeds salute was shared on social media by TNT Sports, with many fans hailing the Norwegian for his perceived Leeds United act.
Upon collecting his winners’ medal after May’s FA Cup final win, the Leeds-born striker also responded to a fan chanting Leeds, Leeds, Leeds by pointing at him with a smile and saying “til we die”.
Despite starring for City, there can be no doubt that class act Haaland is a Leeds fan - and a very big one too according to ex-Whites star Kalvin Phillips.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live back in 2022, Phillips said: “Erling Haaland is a Leeds fan, yeah. He is. He is a massive Leeds fan as well.”
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