The lowdown on one of football's most intriguing characters

With the eyes of the world watching, Erling Haaland showed he was the real deal after last week's disappointing Community Shield performance, scoring twice on his Premier League debut for Manchester City in the 2-0 win at West Ham.

It is hard to think of a player who has made a bigger impact both on and off the pitch in recent seasons. Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, he has smashed records, embarrassed goalkeepers, and positioned himself alongside Kylian Mbappe as the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Refreshingly, as well as being a 'tremendous Nordic meat shield' when he crosses the white line, Haaland is also blessed with an infectious, quirky personality away from the field.

So, now that we're all going to be talking about him, GOAL thought it was the perfect time to give you all of the facts to share with your mates.

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  Born in Leeds – and could have played for England

  Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few seasons, you'll know that Haaland's father, Alf-Inge, was a pretty handy footballer himself, perhaps most famous for having his career pretty much ended by a vengeful Roy Keane.

  During his own career in the 1990s and early 2000s, the midfielder turned out for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City. It was during his time in West Yorkshire that his son Erling was born.

  Unfortunately for Gareth Southgate, the striker never showed an inkling to represent his birth nation, instead joining Norway's international setup.

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• But he was raised a City fan

  Despite being born in West Yorkshire, it was City – one of his father's other clubs – that Haaland supported as a kid.

  He confirmed as much when he signed for the club this summer, saying: "I was born in England. I have been a City fan my whole life. I know a lot about the club.

  “In the end, [deciding to sign was down to] two things. I feel at home here and I feel I can develop and get the best out of my game at City."

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  He won the genetic lottery

  Haaland was fortunate enough to be blessed with not one, but two sporting parents.

  As well as growing up around football through his father, his mother Gry Marita Braut was a champion heptathlete back in the day. And that, reader, is why he is an absolute specimen.

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• World record holder

  A huge shoutout to André Noruega for discovering this gem. We'd quite like an end of season Premier League standing jump as part of a sports day. Sprints, discus, maybe even a bit of wrestling.

Mike Myers and Daniel Craig are Anfield regulars, while Spike Lee and Idris Elba are Gooner faithfuls – so what other stars are soccer fans?

The Gallagher brothers' love for Manchester City is well-documented, and so is the Stone Roses' support for Manchester United as well as North London native Adele's affiliations with Tottenham Hotspur.

With the beautiful game having grown in popularity across the pond in North America, however, Goal has rounded up some Hollywood stars and their favoured soccer teams – with some surprising match-ups.

LiverpoolDaniel Craig – Liverpool

007 – aka James Bond – is a dedicated Liverpool supporter, having attended numerous games at Anfield over the years.

His open support for the Merseysiders gathered criticism, however, considering his role as Bond. presenter Mike Parry claimed that as the character of Bond 'belongs to the whole of England', he should, therefore, be a neutral football fan. Though Parry iterated that Craig is free to support whoever he pleases, Bond has no affiliation to any particular team. Quite predictably, his comments garnered much criticism on social media.

AdvertisementGettyKeira Knightley – West Ham

Knightley portrayed a footballer in cult hit "Bend It Like Beckham", and her character's soccer-mad personality is true to her nature as an actress. The London native is a passionate West Ham supporter and spoken of her love for the Londoners on "Late Night", as well as her fondness for the signature 'Forever Blowing Bubbles' chant.

"The song that is played before the game is great," she said. "You just have all the crowd blowing bubbles – the song's called 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.' The problem I have with it though is that the song is really sad!

"The song is about not winning and in fact your dreams fading and dying the whole time, so in reality, it's not a surprise we lose all the time!"

GettyDaniel Day-Lewis – Millwall

Day-Lewis grew up in a tough Greenwich neighbourhood as a child and had to deal with tough south London children.

His south London roots have never left him, and he remains an avid supporter of Millwall – dating back to when he spent many a weekend sat on the stands of the Den with a pie and pint!

"A house full of great books about art and literature was all well and good, but I was fascinated by the streets that were close by – Lewisham, New Cross and Deptford," he said. "I supported Millwall with great gusto and was on the terraces every Saturday with the rest of the lads.”

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ArsenalIdris Elba – Arsenal

The London-born film actor (and possible future James Bond) is an Arsenal superfan, and has professed his love for the Gunners on many occasions.

Elba has even gone on to say how the thought of rival north London club Tottenham winning the league would make him physically sick: "I’d be physically ill, literally throwing up. They haven’t been doing that great for ages, so now they’re doing alright, good luck to them."

The CONCACAF upstarts could barely have played any better, but still left without any points.

It was one of those games that left all involved wondering what just happened.

Canada, playing in their first World Cup since 1986, entered the tournament as a relative mystery. They're a young team far ahead of schedule, so far ahead, in fact, that Nike didn't even think to design new kits for a World Cup. That's how far away this dream was.

In their old kits, Canada showed why they're on their way to being a new contender. They absolutely took it to one of the world's top teams on Wednesday, notching a 21-shot performance that included everything but a goal. Alphonso Davies missed a penalty while two other shouts for a spot-kick were denied.

Belgium still won 1-0. Cruel and hard to believe. But the nature of the World Cup.

A strike from Michy Batshuayi, the penalty save from Thibaut Courtois and poof: Belgium had all three points, and probably had zero idea how they'd actually gotten them.

Still, there's a silver lining: The world now knows that Canada are here to play.

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  The Winners

  Tajon Buchanan

  No, the finishing boots weren't there, but Buchanan was the definition of electric.

  He came out of the gates on fire, driving at Belgium's defense time and time again. His ability to turn with the ball routinely allowed him to carve open Belgium's defense, helping Canada create chance after chance in the first half.

  Does he lose a few points for not taking those chances, including one sliding finish from close range fired into the sky? Yes. But he also deserved a lot of credit for creating them.

  If big clubs are watching, they'll have been impressed by Buchanan, who showed plenty of glimpses into what he can do.

  O Canada:

  Imagine thinking of Canada as only a hockey country…

  The Canadians were far, far louder than the Belgians, as you would have mistaken Al Rayyan for Toronto if you closed your eyes for just a little bit. The eruption when the referee went to VAR shook Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, as did the numerous "Let's go Canada" chants that frequently came from behind the goal.

  It's been a four-decade-long wait for this and the environment was special. Davies' introduction was unforgettable, as was O Canada, the anthem sung loud and proud by the thousands of Canadians in attendance.

  Canada fans are out in full force, and they'll be a presence for the rest of the group stage. The team will be, too, having shown they have the speed and mentality to play with absolutely everyone.

  Kamal Miller:

  From his tearful performance of the national anthem all the way to his emphatic fist pumps after a game-saving tackle, Miller was all emotion and all heart.

  The 25-year-old defender was an absolute force in defense, leading an emotionally charge Canada back-line into an absolute war with one of the world's best teams.

  Miller isn't one of this team's big names, not by a long shot, but he was Canada's biggest player on the day.

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  The Losers

  Alphonso Davies:

  What a moment it could have, and should have, been. Canadian soccer's biggest superstar stepping up to the penalty spot in his national team's biggest moment.

  It was Alphonso Davies' time in the spotlight, but Thibaut Courtois took it from him.

  VAR had given Canada a penalty, much to the delight of what was essentially a hometown crowd, but Courtois made a massive save of a shot that in truth could have been sharper.

  Davies knew what it meant. He sat there, head in hands, for several seconds before team-mates came to console him. He knew that was the turning point.

  Canada did recover, continuing their relentless push, but Davies' penalty was the moment. They could have seized control but, instead, their star handed it right back to Belgium, who found a way to survive.

  Making matters worse was that Jonathan David, a legitimate penalty taker, was right there. Davies had never taken a penalty for Canada and you'll admire his courage to step up as Canada's leader. It just didn't work.

  Janny Sikazwe:

  About 30 minutes into the match, an Egyptian journalist nearby had had enough.

  "This referee, the one from Zambia," he whispered, "everyone knows he's the worst referee in all of Africa."

  It's hard to say if he is, in fact the worst, but his performance in this one definitely left open the possibility.

  Wildly inconsistent throughout, Sikazwe's foul calls were all over the place. Canada got one penalty in the first half, but probably could have had two or three.

  You can call things a certain way and that's fine, as long as you keep calling them that way. There was no consistency in the referee's calls, and that took a bit out of what was otherwise a marvelous game.

  The run of play:

  My goodness, the soccer gods can be cruel. So, so cruel.

  There was no metric where Belgium were better than Canada. There was no conceivable way to say that, on this day, they were the better team. The only statistic they really led Canada in, funnily enough, was goals, the only one that matters.

  This should have been Canada's day. They were proactive, confident and determined. Belgium, meanwhile, were timid and sloppy, seemingly stunned by the pure speed at which Canada played.

  On most days, that would have been enough for a multi-goal win. On Wednesday, though, it was enough for a whole lot of nothing, except some frustration and bunch of heartbreak.

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  Canada ratings: Defence

  Milan Borjan (6/10):

  Maybe could have done better on Batshuayi's goal, but didn't have much else to do.

  Kamal Miller (8/10):

  All heart. What a performance.

  Steven Vitoria (6/10):

  Was caught a bit flat-footed on the goal, but was good enough otherwise.

  Alistair Johnston (7/10):

  Several big, memorable tackles throughout.

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  Midfield

  Alphonso Davies (5/10):

  Missed the penalty, but his speed was on display. Gassed out by the end, though, as he didn't look fully fit.

  Stephen Eustaquio (7/10):

  He nutmegged Kevin De Bruyne. Should give him 100,000/10 just for that.

  Atiba Hutchinson (7/10):

  He's 39-years-old and had the legs to keep up with Belgium's midfield. Bless him.

  Richie Laryea (7/10):

  Another one with several crunching tackles. No fault in his game.

The Reds expect to make significant signings ahead of next season, but who could be on their way out of Anfield?

Change will be in the air at Anfield this summer, and rightly so. This, unquestionably, is the end of an era at Liverpool, with on-field struggles this season matched by off-field uncertainty.

The club is up for sale, the sporting director is leaving, a new stand is opening and a new team needs to be built, with contracts expiring, key players ageing and Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options, in particular, in need of serious reinforcement. 

Klopp has already hinted that an overhaul is likely to take place. Jude Bellingham is the Reds’ No.1 transfer target, with the likes of Matheus Nunes and Teun Koopmeiners also linked. A summer of spending is anticipated, regardless of whether Liverpool qualify for next season’s Champions League.

It is likely to be busy in terms of outgoings, too, with several players expected to leave the club.

Here, GOAL looks at those who could be heading for the Anfield exit door…

GettyAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s six-year stay on Merseyside is set to end this summer when his contract expires. 

The former England international has failed to hold down a regular starting spot in recent years, but has offered a useful squad option for Klopp, playing on the wing or in midfield. 

But at 29 – he will turn 30 in August – Oxlade-Chamberlain’s time at Anfield is up. He will not be offered a new deal, and has already been linked with a move to various Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Southampton. 

Likelihood of leaving? 10/10

AdvertisementGettyNaby Keita

Another player out of contract at the end of this season, Keita has found himself back in favour of late, starting each of the Reds’ last three matches and helping improve a midfield that had struggled badly beforehand.

The Guinea international’s injury record, though, means any optimism surrounding his form must be tempered, and the fact there has been no breakthrough in talks over a new deal does not bode well. A number of German clubs have expressed interest in signing the 27-year-old.

Likelihood of leaving? 8/10

Getty ImagesRoberto Firmino

If Klopp gets his way, Firmino will be staying around. The Brazilian will be a free agent in June, but his manager is eager for him to extend his contract for at least another year, believing he still has an important role to play.

As yet, though, there has been no resolution. Firmino is understood to be open to the idea of remaining on Merseyside, but is expected to receive lucrative offers from elsewhere, and the January arrival of Cody Gakpo hardly bodes well for his future prospects.

Likelihood of leaving? 5/10

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Getty ImagesJames Milner

The last of Liverpool’s out-of-contract quartet, Milner had been expected to leave the club last summer, only to sign a one-year extension in June. 

A repeat this time around cannot be ruled out – Klopp hinted as much recently – but at 37, the vice-captain certainly does not represent the long-term, and with the Reds set to bring in at least two senior midfielders, and probably more, the time might be right for Milner to move on. 

If he does, he has more than played his part in a wonderful era on Merseyside.

Likelihood of leaving? 7/10

John Henry has dropped a bombshell by revealing Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has no plans to sell Liverpool, so what does that mean for the Reds?

Liverpool owner John Henry had been thought to be willing to sell the Reds but has now announced that it's investment he's after, rather than a sale.

FSG claimed in November 2022 it would "consider new shareholders", which had prompted speculation there could be a takeover at Anfield.

Yet a sale is now very much off the table, so what does it mean for the club, manager Jurgen Klopp, potential transfer targets and the future? GOAL takes a look…

(C)Getty ImagesWill FSG be willing to fund Bellingham deal?

Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham is expected to have his pick of top sides this summer after becoming a vital player for club and country at the grand old age of 19.

Liverpool are set to battle the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid for Bellingham's signature and have already made the midfielder their top summer target.

Yet the Reds will be well aware that Bellingham will not come cheap. Liverpool will likely have to break their transfer record and make the midfielder their highest-paid player if they are to bring him to Anfield.

The money will obviously be an issue, particularly if investment is not forthcoming, and the big questions fans will be asking is whether FSG are willing to fund a big-money move for Bellingham in the summer.

Liverpool are also in the midst of a difficult campaign both at home and abroad. Failure to qualify for next season's Champions League will impact the club financially and on a sporting level.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesFans frustration to continue

The news that FSG are not selling up will be met with frustration by some sections of the Liverpool support.

Fans have been angered during FSG's reign by hikes in ticket prices, a failed attempt to trademark the name 'Liverpool' and the decision to furlough non-playing staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. That decision came just six weeks after Liverpool announced pre-tax profits of £42 million and was very swiftly reversed.

There was also the European Super League fiasco which brought another U-turn from Liverpool after players and supporters made it clear they were completely against the idea.

There's no doubting that FSG have done a lot for the Merseysiders, but the team is struggling on the pitch which will leave many fans wanting serious investment in the summer to strengthen the squad.

Liverpool FCFSG to complete Anfield redevelopment

FSG have long wanted to redevelop Anfiled and are not far off seeing their plans realised.

Work on the new Anfield Road End Stand began in 2021 and remains on track to be completed in time for the new 2023-24 season.

FSG's redevelopment plan will see the famous old ground's capacity rise by 7,000 to 61,000 spectators, making it the fifth-biggest stadium in England and the third largest in the Premier League.

Liverpool's owners have made mistakes during their tenure but their work to redevelop the ground certainly shows plenty of ambition.

It will also have attracted jealous glances from neighbours Manchester United who are eager to see their dilapidated Old Trafford redeveloped.

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Getty ImagesBig-name departures?

Given FSG are still rooting around for fresh investment in the club, it won't fill people associated with Liverpool with confidence that their will be funds available to keep everyone happy.

If the Reds don't show ambition in the summer, or simply aren't able to because their hands are tied by financial constraints, that could provoke an exodus – especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Although he signed a new contract last summer, Mohamed Salah's future is still fairly uncertain, while other such as Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate could be tempted away by big-money offers from elsewhere.

The Gunners secured a 2-1 semi-final win in dramatic fashion at the Emirates Stadium as their 16-year-old midfielder stood up once more

Myles Lewis-Skelly scored a dramatic winner in the final seconds of extra-time to book Arsenal a spot in the FA Youth Cup final following a 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

It was an incredible end to an absorbing clash in north London, one that seemed certain to be heading to penalties until Lewis-Skelly bravely got his head to Bradley Ibrahim's excellent pass to break City hearts.

For City, who had played with 10 men for almost the entirety of the contest, it was tough to take. But for Arsenal it was yet another dramatic ending in a cup run that has been littered with them this season.

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Things couldn't have started any better for the home side, with City being reduced to 10 men inside eight minutes when Lakyle Samuel saw red for bringing down Omari Benjamin. Michal Rosiak then bent the resulting free-kick wonderfully into the top corner to put Jack Wilshere's side firmly in command.

City coped well for the remainder of the first half, despite being a man down, but Arsenal started to dominate after the interval and should have put the tie to bed. They wasted a number of opportunities, however, with Benjamin missing one glorious chance after being played through by Amario Cozier-Dubbery.

That proved to be a costly miss as, just a couple of minutes later, Justin Oboavwodou finished off an excellent City move to level things up and seemingly take the game to penalties.

But then, just as spot kicks seemed inevitable, Lewis-Skelly stepped up to send Arsenal through to the final where they will meet either West Ham or Southampton

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Noah Cooper (6/10):

  Hadn't had a save to make before the equaliser. Could do nothing about the goal.

  Michael Rosiak (8/10):

  Brilliant free-kick to give Arsenal the lead. City struggled to deal with his movement, especially in the first half.

  Josh Robinson (6/10):

  Very good on the ball, drove forward well a couple of times.

  Reuell Walters (6/10):

  Caught out a couple of times by runners getting in behind, but relatively untroubled.

  Lino Sousa (7/10):

  Very direct. Got forward as much as he could.

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  Midfield

  Bradley Ibrahim (9/10):

  Sat just in front of the back four and controlled the tempo well. Fine display. Brilliant pass to set up the winner.

  Myles Lewis-Skelly (9/10):

  Had some high quality moments. His ability to get out of tight situations was very impressive. Showed real bravery to score the winner in the last seconds. Great run from deep when everyone else was shattered.

  Jimi Gower (7/10):

  Worked hard, got into some good positions in the final third.

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  Attack

  Amario Cozier-Duberry (8/10):

  Real live wire, was always a threat. Linked up well with Rosiak down the right.

  Ethan Nwaneri (7/10):

  Had some flashes of real quality. His quick feet in the penalty area caused City real problems at times.

  Omari Benjamin (7/10):

  Went close early on. Had a great chance saved in the second half.

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  Subs & Manager

  Ismail Oulad M'hand (6/10):

  Caused some problems with his pace.

  Osman Kamara (6/10):

  Sent one volley over the bar.

  Sebastian Ferdinand (6/10):

  Injected some energy in extra-time.

  Jack Wilshere (7/10):

  His team played well, but should have taken their chances to finish City off.

It has been revealed that Jose Mourinho once aimed a brutal weight jibe at Luke Shaw during his time as Manchester United manager, with the England international full-back being billed as “James Corden”. The Red Devils’ enigmatic former boss also stated that he “would do everything” in his power to ensure that French forward Anthony Martial left Old Trafford.

Lifting the lid on Mourinho's reign at Man Utd

Portuguese tactician Mourinho was appointed by United in the summer of 2016 as they sought to recapture the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson. Reins were handed to a proven winner that had previously savoured domestic and continental success with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid.

Mourinho did oversee Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League triumphs at Old Trafford, but was unceremoniously sacked in December 2018. He had ruffled plenty of feathers by that point, with the lifting the lid on his eventful tenure in their ‘UNTOLD UNITED’ dossier.

AdvertisementGettyWhy Mourinho's spell as Man Utd manager imploded

An Old Trafford source has said that there “was a compromise about hiring Jose”. They added: “He tightens the group and breeds paranoia. Some players get broken and kicked out. But the idea with Jose was we would swallow the pill, put up with the chaos and at the same time get this monkey off our back and win the league. But it didn’t work. Again.”

On the reasons for Mourinho’s reign ultimately imploding, the Mail claim that “inadequate recruitment, problems with individual players and a rotten dressing-room culture” made it “impossible to reset” and led to “chaos”.

Former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward “thought he knew what he was getting” with Mourinho , but “he was wrong”. An established member of United’s in-house media team is said to have described every interview with the ‘Special One’ as “like talking to someone in a hostage cell”.

It is claimed that watching Mourinho in Manchester was akin to seeing “a once great coach railing against the dying of the managerial light. Jose was at war with everything, including the club”.

Mourinho clashes: Pogba & Shaw became targets

He often “took matters into his own hands” and had no issue with rattling a few cages. During a tour of the United States in 2018 he told a press conference that there was no guarantee that France international Martial would be allowed to leave. He is then said to have left the room and “secretly summoned three reporters to tell us that he would do everything he could to sell the Frenchman”.

Mourinho also endured a “toxic relationship” with Paul Pogba – a player he made the most expensive player in world football when sanctioning an £89 million ($119m) transfer from Juventus. Insiders have compared a butting of heads there to “Fergie’s fallout with David Beckham. Their disputes were extraordinary and public”.

Mourinho “instigated” his infamous training ground clash with Pogba “once he knew the Sky cameras were rolling”. Pogba was subsequently dropped as his manager referred to replacement Scott McTominay as having “a normal haircut, no tattoos, no big cars, no big watches, humble kid”.

Shaw was also targeted by his outspoken manager, with it reported that while heading back to base on golf buggies during a session in Los Angeles, Mourinho pointed in the direction of his left-back and quipped: “I will have to go with James Corden.”

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GettyLost support: Even Ferguson turned on Mourinho by the end

Sources at Carrington add that Mourinho would “would smile at you one minute and blank you the next”. United executives were left “horrified” when their head coach chose to “wear a hoodie underneath his club blazer rather than a shirt and tie at a public ceremony, attended by Munich survivors Sir Bobby Charlton and Harry Gregg, to mark the 60th anniversary of the disaster”.

Mourinho ended up leaving under a cloud, with United’s wait for a Premier League extended, and “great ally” Ferguson – who was fully supportive of the Portuguese’s initial appointment – “could hardly speak his name” by the time a parting of ways was agreed.

He started by documenting his cricketing journey on social media, and now he has a chance of finding a spot in IPL 2026

Shashank Kishore15-Dec-20252:48

Izaz Sawariya: ‘Excited to go from social media to IPL auction’

Ever since England legspinner Adil Rashid dropped a comment on a few of his reels earlier this year, Izaz Sawariya, 20, has made it a habit to wake up and check his Instagram notifications unfailingly.Initially, his reels attracted a few hundred views. Now, they rack up tens of thousands of impressions “easily.” The audience has grown to include the likes of Sunil Joshi, until recently the Punjab Kings bowling coach, as well as scouts from Chennai Super Kings. His follower count at the time of writing had grown by 600 in a matter of 30 minutes and stands at 20.6k.On Tuesday, Sawariya could find himself coming up for bidding at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. His name is slotted at No. 265 in the fourth and final set of uncapped spinners. Even merely coming up for bidding would make for a remarkable story, of a player making the cut purely on the back of social-media traction, without having played representative cricket at any level.Related

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Sawariya grew up in Bidar, a small town in North Karnataka. “I come from an Air Force family. My father is posted in Gorakhpur with the 27th Squadron (Jaguar),” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “Because of his postings, I grew up in Bidar, Karnataka. I joined Vijay Cricket Club in 2017. Initially, I was a fast bowler, but the coaches there asked me to focus on legspin.”After three years of playing and being unable to break into the Under-15s, Sawariya decided to shift to Rajasthan, where his roots are, to further his cricket. “I felt it would be very tough to break through there,” he says. “So after Covid, in 2022, I moved to Jaipur.”Sawariya stayed in a paying-guest accommodation and enrolled at the Sanskar Cricket Academy under Surendra Singh Rathore, who has previously coached India Under-19 World Cup winner Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

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