Erling Haaland’s father Alfie Haaland spent three seasons at Leeds before moving to Manchester City, having previously also played for Nottingham Forest.
Following Leeds United’s promotion, each of them will also feature in the 2025/26 Premier League. Haaland has been following Leeds this season and the Man City striker reacted to Leeds’ promotion recently as well.
Haaland could end his career at Leeds, which is where he was born and raised in his early life. However, the Man City striker has become one of the deadliest strikers in world football in recent years.
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been excited by bumping into former Leeds figures recently, having reacted to a recent meeting with Neil Warnock ahead of the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Erling Haaland’s view on Neil Warnock meeting
Haaland has not hidden away from his Leeds colours in the past and he was asked about Warnock’s recent visit to the Man City training ground to watch Pep Guardiola and co. hard at work.
Speaking via BBC Sport, Haaland said: “He’s a really funny guy. I’ve been watching a lot of football everywhere my whole life, especially English football.
“He’s a legend in the game. I didn’t know he was there (at training). I was quite surprised. I was like, ‘oh!’
“I had a good chat with him and he’s a funny guy — the old school way a little bit. I agree with a lot of things, actually, that he said.
“I’m also a little bit old school because of my father, so we had some good discussions. He’s funny and a good guy.
“Sometimes you have to kick and run a little bit, which was a lot of his tactics in the former days.
“And I totally agree with that, just kick and run. We, of course, spoke a lot about a lot of different things. Of course, football, because we both love football.”
Neil Warnock’s disappointing stint at Leeds United
Warnock’s stint as Leeds United manager from February 2012 to April 2013 was widely regarded as a disappointment, especially when contrasted with his successful record in the Championship.
That hasn’t stopped Warnock from loving one Leeds star this season but he didn’t live up to the high expectations that his reputation dictates. Warnock, renowned for guiding clubs like Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff City to promotion, arrived at Elland Road with the idea of promotion.
However, his time at Leeds was marked by inconsistency, underwhelming signings, and a lack of progress toward promotion. Despite his experience, Warnock failed to build a cohesive squad capable of challenging for the play-offs.
He often blamed off-field instability and a lack of transfer backing, but fans grew frustrated with the team’s poor performances and direct style of play. Leeds finished 14th in the 2012/13 season, which was far from the promotion push supporters had hoped for.
He left by mutual consent before the season ended but Warnock has enjoyed watching Leeds this season and it seems as though he has plenty of affection for the West Yorkshire outfit despite being from Sheffield.
