As England prepare to face Norway in Saturday's blockbuster World Cup quarter-final, one name is dominating the build-up: Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker has scored seven goals in five games in a blistering debut World Cup campaign. Stopping Haaland will be priority No. 1 for the Three Lions.
But it's not only the Norwegian's on-pitch exploits attracting attention. Off it, his long-running feud with Manchester United icon Roy Keane—who is covering the tournament for ITV—has once again come under the spotlight. The rivalry stretches back nearly two decades, beginning with Keane's infamous revenge tackle on Erling's father, Alf-Inge Haaland, during a Manchester derby in 2001.
Keane Labels Haaland a 'Spoilt Brat'
The war of words reignited towards the end of the 2023/24 Premier League season following a Man City victory over Wolves. Haaland had just scored four goals but reacted angrily when Pep Guardiola substituted him. His visible frustration did not sit well with Keane.
Speaking live on Sky Sports, Keane fiercely criticised Haaland's behaviour, branding him a "spoilt brat." He argued that such petulance sets a terrible example. "We saw Erling Haaland yesterday being brought off, not too happy, behaving like a spoilt brat," Keane said. "But because Man City win the game and he scores goals, it's almost forgotten about."
The 'League Two Player' Jab
The 'spoilt brat' remark came just weeks after Keane delivered an even more scathing review of Haaland's abilities. Following a goalless draw between Man City and Arsenal in March, Keane shocked viewers by declaring that Haaland's general play was severely lacking.
"The level of his general play is so poor," Keane said on Sky Sports. "He's almost like a League Two player, that's how I look at him. His general play has to improve." The critique forced several figures to leap to Haaland's defence, with Guardiola publicly disagreeing and stating that Haaland is the best striker in the world.
Haaland: 'I Don't Care'
For weeks after the "League Two player" dig, Haaland maintained his silence. However, after his four-goal masterclass against Wolves, he finally addressed Keane's comment. Speaking to ViaPlay, Haaland bluntly said: "I don't really care about that man, so that's all right." By dismissing the pundit, Haaland demonstrated his focus on his own career, refusing to be rattled by external noise.
The Horrifying Tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland
The modern-day friction is deeply rooted in a brutal historical conflict involving Erling's father, Alf-Inge. In 1997, Alf-Inge stood over a grounded Keane and accused him of feigning an injury. Unbeknownst to the Norwegian, Keane had just suffered a career-threatening cruciate ligament rupture. Four years later, during a Manchester derby, Keane enacted his revenge with a horrifying, knee-high challenge that earned him a straight red card.
The tackle remains one of the most infamous fouls in Premier League history. Keane later admitted in his autobiography that the challenge was a premeditated act of vengeance, confessing he had waited years to punish Haaland for the previous accusation.
