Born in Leeds: How close was Erling Haaland to playing for England?
Norway's star striker was born in England and spent his early years there, but his path to the Norwegian national team was always the natural choice.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Ahead of the World Cup quarter-final clash between Norway and England, the spotlight has fallen on the fact that Erling Haaland was actually born in Leeds. His father, Alfie, was playing for Leeds United at the time, and the family lived in England until Erling was about three or four years old.
Although Haaland was bilingual as a child, his return to Norway at a young age cemented his footballing development within the Norwegian system. His former youth coach at Bryne, Alf Ingve Berntsen, noted that if Erling had stayed in England longer, his cultural connection might have been stronger, but his commitment to Norway was always the reality.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed that Haaland was never on the FA's radar during his formative years, as he was already firmly integrated into Norway's youth setup. Sources within the English FA have confirmed that no serious approach was ever made, as it was clear the striker's allegiance and ambition lay with his homeland.
Despite his choice, Haaland maintains a deep respect for his birthplace. He has previously spoken of a childhood dream to play for Leeds United and remains proud of his English roots. Back in 2018, Leeds even attempted to bring him back to the club, but a move to Red Bull Salzburg proved to be the pivotal step in his career.