Erling Haaland family tree: Meet soccer-playing dad, mom, sister and more about England-Norway roots
Erling Haaland family tree: Meet soccer-playing dad, mom, sister and more about England-Norway roots originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Erling Haaland took the World Cup by storm by leading Norway past Brazil and into the quarterfinals, despite the country missing each of the previous six tournaments.
Haaland is a contender for the Golden Boot alongside the game’s greats, and his goal-scoring ability continues to be otherworldly regardless of the magnitude of the game he’s playing.
Without help and support from his soccer-playing father, Haaland might not be the force he is today.
Here’s a closer look at Haaland’s family, including his parents and sister.
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Erling Haaland dad: Alfie Haaland
Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge “Alfie” Haaland, enjoyed a successful professional soccer career as a right back and midfielder, playing both at the club level and for Norway on the international stage.
While playing for Leeds United, Alfie was on board in 1998 when the team’s plane aborted its takeoff about 150 feet in the air due to an engine fire and overshot the runway upon coming back down to the ground. Only a team staff member was injured, and the season continued as scheduled.
Alfie finished his club career playing closer to home in Norway after battling knee issues.
On the personal side, Alfie divorced Erling’s mom, Gry, and married his second wife, Anita Stromsvol, with whom he had two more children. Alfie has five total children.
Despite being a soccer lifer, Alfie actually wanted Erling to take up a different sport. “You know, it’s actually funny because his biggest dream was me becoming a professional golfer. That was his biggest dream,” Erling told “The Rest is Football” podcast.
Alfie Haaland soccer career
Alfie spent a seven-year period on the Norwegian national team and played at the club level in parts of four different decades from 1989-2013.
Alfie was on Norway’s 1994 World Cup roster along with two other fathers of current players on the Norwegian national team. Norway reached the Round of 16 in 1998, but injury forced Alfie off the roster; knee issues later forced Alfie to prematurely end his club career at the highest levels.
At the height of his club career, Alfie played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City, scoring three goals in 35 appearances with Manchester City. Alfie made 34 total appearances for Norway, though he never scored.
The bulk of Alfie’s club career came before Erling was born, but his proximity to soccer allowed Erling to grow up around professionals and learn the game like it was second nature.
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Erling Haaland mom: Gry Marita Braut
Haaland’s mother, Gry Marita Braut, is also Norwegian and participated at high levels in heptathlon.
Braut won a heptathlon championship in Norway and was considered one of the nation’s top heptathletes in the 1990s.
Norwegian tradition calls for individuals to take the surname of both the father and the mother, which is why Haaland’s full name is Erling Braut Haaland, as reflected on the back of his jersey. After having three kids with husband Alfie Haaland, the two divorced.
Erling Haaland sister: Gabrielle Haaland
Haaland has two siblings and two half-siblings. Perhaps the highest-profile of his siblings is his older sister, Gabrielle, who is a passionate supporter of her brother and has gone viral on social media partly because of how similar she and her brother look.
With 285,000 followers on Instagram, Gabrielle frequently posts pictures of herself alongside her two siblings:
Gabrielle lists herself on LinkedIn as a healthcare assistant in Norway.
MORE:Why Erling Haaland plays for Norway despite British background
Erling Haaland brother: Astor Haaland
Haaland also has an older brother, Astor, who generally keeps a low profile but has been a frequent supporter at Manchester City and Norwegian national team games.
Astor comes from an athletic family but reportedly pursued other interests and was at one point a finance student at BI Norwegian Business School.
Where is Erling Haaland from?
Haaland was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England while his father played for Leeds United, but both of his parents are Norwegian, and he spent nearly all of his childhood in Norway after his father was forced to step away from high-level club soccer due to knee injuries.
Haaland played youth soccer in Norway growing up and now competes internationally for the country, to great success.
