A story where you might expect grand gestures, but things turned out differently. Erling Haaland, together with his father, purchased a rare 1594 edition of royal sagas for 1.3 million Norwegian kroner and donated it to a library in his home region.
It’s a book considered the most expensive in Norway. The original text is associated with Snorri Sturluson – a 13th-century skald and historian whose works form the foundation of Scandinavian sagas. A museum-level artifact that could have easily ended up in a private collection.
But Haaland chose a different path. Not a collection – access.
The footballer set one simple condition: the book must remain accessible to everyone. No “for selected visitors only” displays or closed archives.
He explained it quite directly: he himself is not a big fan of reading, but he understands the role books can play for others. Stories about people from his region – Bryne and Jæren – should be open to those seeking inspiration.
A rare case where the gesture feels less like PR and more like a personal stance.
And that’s not all
At the same time, Haaland is stepping into a completely different field – chess. According to FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, the Manchester City forward has seriously taken up the game, started training, and wants to improve.
Moreover, he has already invested in the Total Chess World Championship and helped attract additional partners. For chess, it means more attention; for Haaland, it’s a new challenge outside the football field.
Football, books, chess
A combination that sounds unexpected, but in his case feels logical. Haaland has long been more than just a striker, and stories like this only reinforce that image.
The question is where he will end up next – among the top scorers or perhaps at a serious level behind a chessboard.
