Erling Haaland’s English Roots: The Near Miss with Playing for the Three Lions

Erling Haaland, the prolific striker for Manchester City and Norway, was born in Leeds, England, sparking questions about his potential international allegiance. While he has always proudly represented Norway, the early years of his life spent in England raise the intriguing possibility of him donning the Three Lions jersey.

The Norwegian talisman was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on July 21, 2000. His father, Alfie Haaland, was a professional footballer who had recently transferred from Leeds United to Manchester City. Erling spent the first three to four years of his life in England, where English was spoken during the day, while Norwegian was used in the evenings.

This bilingual start to his life, combined with his birth on English soil, has led to speculation about whether England ever seriously considered him. However, the narrative suggests that his path was always destined for Norway.

A Childhood in Norway

Alfie Haaland retired from professional football in July 2003 due to injury, and the family eventually returned to their homeland. They settled in Bryne, a town in southwestern Norway, where Erling grew up and began his footballing journey.

One of Haaland’s youth coaches at the local club Bryne, Alf Ingve Berntsen, told The Athletic that the striker’s return to Norway at such a young age was pivotal. “When you are three or four years old and you are used to speaking English in the daytime, but Norwegian in the evenings, then you go back home to Norway, it’s all about the Norwegian language,” Berntsen explained. “You are in kindergarten, and then in school. It would be different if he had come back to Norway when he was seven or eight. He would be more English.”

Haaland himself addressed the Norway vs. England question in 2023, stating, “I lived here (in the UK) for three and a half to four years, and I lived in Norway for such a long time, so then it was natural to choose Norway. You never know how it would be if maybe my father played longer in England or whatever. Maybe I would be English, I don’t know, but I’m Norwegian and I’m proud of it.”

England’s Perspective

Gareth Southgate, England’s head coach, was asked about Haaland in 2020 when the striker was making waves at Borussia Dortmund. Southgate noted that Haaland was already integrated into the Norwegian youth system by the time he broke into first-team football. “We recruit early, but we wouldn’t have been into him when he was still in Yorkshire, that’s for sure,” Southgate said. “We’re always trying to monitor those cases, but he was tied up pretty early by Norway, and with players like him, they’re quite clear where they want to play as well. He feels that allegiance to the country he’s playing for now and you’re always very respectful of that.”

A former England youth coach, speaking anonymously, confirmed to The Athletic that no serious approach was ever made by England. “We were never getting him. That wasn’t going to happen,” the coach stated. “They were who his dad had played for, and that was what his ambition was.” Another FA source involved in talent identification acknowledged that Haaland didn’t seriously enter their radar until he was around 17.

Leeds Connections

Despite his international commitment to Norway, Haaland has always held a fondness for his English roots, particularly Leeds. His youth coach, Berntsen, mentioned that Haaland was proud of his father’s former clubs, including Leeds United. Michael Vigrestad, a junior-level teammate and friend of Haaland’s, recalled him wearing Leeds or Manchester City shirts during weekend games.

In 2017, when Haaland was 16, he expressed a desire to win the Premier League with Leeds. More recently, former Leeds player Stuart Dallas recounted Haaland whispering the club’s anthem, “Marching on together,” to him after an international match. Haaland also made a gesture after scoring against Galatasaray for Manchester City in the Champions League that was interpreted as a salute cherished by Leeds fans.

A brief dalliance with a return to Leeds also occurred in 2018 when the club attempted to sign him from Molde. Haaland even toured their Elland Road stadium and training ground, but the offer from Red Bull Salzburg proved more substantial.

Key facts

Haaland’s story highlights the complex factors that shape a footballer’s international career. While his birth in England and early years there offered a theoretical possibility of representing the Three Lions, his upbringing and strong ties to Norway ultimately led him to proudly captain his national team.

Source: The Athletic Football – World Cup star Erling Haaland was born in Leeds, how close was he to playing for England? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7433667/2026/07/11/world-cup-erling-haaland-england-norway/