Alf-Inge Haaland enjoyed an admirable career in English football, playing for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City, but he never reached the heights of his superstar son.
It wasn’t his football ability that made his name but rather his bad blood with Manchester United legend Roy Keane.
The 53-year-old stood united with City fans at Anfield only a few weeks ago, in their first game after they were found guilty of the vast majority of financial charges against them. He watched on as City won 3-0 with his son scoring the third goal, in a massive win for the whole football club.
Erling was born in 2000, just a few months after one of the most brutal tackles in Premier League history.
Haaland Sr and Keane’s conflict ignited in 1997 when the former was furious with the way Keane went down under his challenge as his Leeds team overcame bitter rivals United.
Keane injured his ACL and four years later the feud caught fire as the ex-United midfielder exacted his revenge with an aggressive and dangerous high-kick tackle on Haaland, who was playing for City at the time.
Alf-Inge Haaland, 53 with son Erling with the former a key part to the latter’s success. Source: Alfie Haaland/Instagram
Haaland Snr, then at Leeds United, pictured with Erling shortly after he was born in July 2000
Haaland Sr retired from the game just two years later as the project to turn his son into one of the best footballers in the world began. And for a younger generation of football fans, Alf-Inge is only known for being the father of the prolific striker.
The family moved back to Norway in 2003, where Erling turned his hand to all sports. His mother, Gry Marita Braut, was a national heptathlon champion. With parents boasting exceptional athletic prowess, it was only natural for attention to turn to Erling’s prospects of success.
While Erling dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps, Alf-Inge had different plans for his young son.
‘My dad’s biggest dream was for me to become a golfer… but eventually I told my parents, “I want to play football”,’ he revealed on his YouTube channel.
Pushy parents are rife throughout elite sport but, despite his parents’ enviable sporting background, Erling only felt pressure from himself to reach elite level.
And it quickly became apparent that Erling was going to follow in his father’s footsteps as a professional footballer.
Using his in-depth knowledge and connections in the game, Alf-Inge was able to encourage Erling to make strong career decisions, all designed with the ultimate goal of becoming one of the most dominant players in the game.
Alf-Inge applied this savvy approach to Erling’s transfer moves – prioritising clubs where his son would be exposed to as much playing time as possible.
Alf-Inge is known for his feud with Manchester United legend Roy Keane from their playing days. Keane took revenge for a tackle with a dangerous high-kick in 2001
Alf-Inge, a young Erling and his older brother Astor (right) watch Manchester City as fans. Source: Gabrielle Haaland/Instagram
From a teenager, when transferring clubs, Erling has always been in a position where he has been able to play. In only one season at RB Salzburg, Haaland registered 44 goals, in 40 appearances, and this was followed by two incredible years at Borussia Dortmund where he scored 70 goals in 71 games. The natural progression and careful selection of teams was heavily influenced by his dad.
Out and out strikers have been heavily sought after in recent years and Alf-Inge assessed specific criteria to ensure his son received the best opportunity. This became clear when Erling was linked with both Manchester City and Real Madrid.
In Manchester there was family legacy, playing in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola, with a young team. However, in Madrid there was arguably the biggest club in the world, with a massive history of winning trophies.
The difference was, one of those clubs needed a No 9.
‘We had established a first criterion which was: “Who needs a number nine?” Manchester City had 10/10 at this level, it was the perfect option. Real, we gave him more of a 5 or a 6 out of 10 because of how Karim Benzema was playing’, Alf-Inge said in the documentary Haaland: The Choice.
The move to Manchester City wasn’t just because of Alf-Inge’s time there, it was because he knew that it would be the best place for his talented son to be as successful as possible.
The decision made by the Haaland family is proving to be incredibly successful, with Erling winning two Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, a League Cup, one Champions League and one UEFA Super Cup.
The switch to the blue side of Manchester has allowed Alf-Inge to continue to support his son while also supporting his former club, but his presence has sparked criticism from none other than old rival Keane.
The father and son duo celebrate after the latter’s Premier League title win in the 2022-23 term
Alf-Inge watches on from the stands in Istanbul as Erling goes on to win the Champions League
After Norway were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup, at the hands of England, Alf-Inge wrote on X: ‘Well done Bellingham and referee’.
‘Is that sour grapes from Alf-Inge Haaland, saying well done to Bellingham and the referee? I think that was just a bit of a low blow from him’, Ian Wright said on the Stick to Football podcast.
In the same podcast, old foe Keane added: ‘Will he remember the game? Because he always seems to be drinking alcohol at the matches, the dad.’
The rivalry between Alf-Inge and Keane rumbles on while the former enjoys his son’s success in England.
