Ex-BVB striker Haaland surprises with name change | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund will face former striker Erling Haaland in the Champions League on November 5. The Norwegian will now wear a name on his jersey.

Erling Haaland, the former striker of Borussia Dortmund, will now play with his full surname on the jersey of the Norwegian national team. Instead of just "Haaland," "Braut Haaland" will now be displayed on the back of the Manchester City star.

The decision was confirmed by the Norwegian Football Association. The 25-year-old will wear the new lettering for the first time in the friendly match against Finland on September 4. It is still unclear whether he will adopt the change at Manchester City as well.

Norway's national coach Ståle Solbakken expressed his surprise about the change to the Spanish newspaper Marca: "I didn't know anything about it until now."

The new jersey name reflects Haaland's family background. "Braut" is the last name of his mother, Gry Marita Braut, a former Norwegian heptathlete. His father Alf-Inge Haaland, who also played for Manchester City, provides the second part of the name. The combination of both surnames on the jersey is common in Norway and underscores Haaland's connection to his family.

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The striker himself commented on the pronunciation of his name during his time at BVB: "The double A in Haaland is pronounced like an O in Norway. But we are not in Norway. Honestly, I prefer the pronunciation with a double A."

His career speaks for itself: Haaland has scored 42 goals in 43 international matches. Whether at BVB, in the Premier League, or in the national team – his goal rate is impressive. In the ongoing World Cup qualification, he has scored in all previous games. The name change on the jersey is unlikely to diminish his popularity among fans and could further boost jersey sales.

A special highlight for football fans is also set for November 5: Haaland's current club Manchester City will face Borussia Dortmund away in the league phase of the Champions League – a reunion with his former club.

The decision to carry the full family name in the future is attracting attention, surprising not only fans but also experts: "That's his name, so it's not more difficult," commented Solbakken on the measure.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.