Premier League Legend's Son Shines In UEFA Youth League Debut As Haaland Swaps Jersey At Half-Time
Premier League legend's son shines in UEFA Youth League debut as Haaland swaps jersey at half-time. In Tuesday's UEFA Youth League clash against Young Boys, the 15-year-old son of a former Premier League star made an impressive debut for Manchester City's U19s.
Gabriel Martinez
Nov 08, 2023
Premier League legend's son shines in UEFA Youth League debut as Haaland swaps jersey at half-time. In Tuesday's UEFA Youth League clash against Young Boys, the 15-year-old son of a former Premier League star made an impressive debut for Manchester City's U19s. Displaying traits reminiscent of his forward father, the young talent confidently slotted home a penalty in the ninth minute, setting the stage for a 3-0 victory.
Mahamadou Susoho Sissoho and Matthew Henderson-Hall added first-half goals, securing a convincing win for City over their Swiss opponents. The teenager's composed and accurate spot-kick showcased his promising skillson the pitch.
The young striker's father enjoyed a distinguished playing career with stints at renowned clubs like Leicester, Liverpool, and Aston Villa, amassing over 50 appearances while representing England. Following in the family's footsteps, the 15-year-old talent showcased his attacking prowess in a debut alongside his 17-year-old brother. The older sibling, boasting a dozen youth-level caps for Manchester City, added another layer of family flair to the dynamic duo's on-field partnership.
Meet Manchester City's rising young sensation, Reigan Heskey, a 15-year-old dynamo destined for greatness. The son of former England striker Emile Heskey, who notched over 100 Premier League goals in his illustrious career, Reigan is making waves in the City ranks.
Meanwhile, his older brother Jaden, two years senior, assumes the role of a steadfast leader as the regular captain of the academy's U18 side. The Heskey brothers are weaving a compelling narrative of talent and legacy at the heart of Manchester City's youth setup.
Manchester City has a knack for nurturing emerging talents, evident in the rise of England international Phil Foden and the promising Chelsea standout Cole Palmer. The club's commitment to developing young playerscontinues with Reigan Heskey, following in the footsteps of his father, Emile Heskey.
At 45, Heskey Senior kickstarted his career in Leicester's youth ranks, ultimately amassing over 150 appearances for the club. His contributions were pivotal in securing two League Cup triumphs for Leicester in 1997 and 2000, leaving an indelible mark at the King Power Stadium.
Leaving Leicester in the summer of 2000, the forward embarked on a successful stint with Liverpool, clinching two more League Cups (2001 and 2003), an FA Cup (2001), and the UEFA Cup in 2001. Forming a formidable attacking partnership with Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen, he contributed significantly to Liverpool's trophy cabinet.
Post-Anfield, his journey continued with stellar performances for Birmingham, Wigan, and Aston Villa, followed by a venture Down Under with the Newcastle Jets in 2012. Wrapping up his illustrious playing career in 2016 at Bolton Wanderers, where he made 45 appearances, the forward seamlessly transitioned into coaching.
As of August 2023, Heskey Senior has taken on the role of a youth coach for England's U18 side, imparting his wealth of experience to the next generation of talents.
Erling Haaland Half-Time Shirt Swap Raises Eyebrow
As if Young Boys' 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday wasn't humbling already, manager Raphael Wicky expressed his need to have a conversation with Mohamed Ali. Wicky discovered that his captain had approached City striker Erling Haalandfor his coveted shirt - not after the game, but rather at half-time.
“„I didn't see that, that's news to me and I'm a little bit surprised by that right now. On the other hand, I don't think it had anything to do with the game or the performancebut I'll probably have a word with him and see what he thought. Maybe Erling asked him to swap, I don't know!- Raphaël Wicky
The Young Boys player caught the eye as he approached Haaland, who had already netted one of his two goals by then, and the two engaged in a shirt swap on their way to the tunnel. While it's a common sight for players to exchange shirts at full-time, as witnessed between many City and Young Boys players at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, half-time swaps are a rarity. Such half-time exchanges often draw the ire of fans who believe it's out of place in the midst of the competitive heat.
Expressing his perspective on the matter, former City player Keith Curle informed Sky Sports that, as a manager, he would "be raging." On the contrary, City manager Pep Guardiola stated that the shirt swap didn't bother him.
"I don't know about it," he said. "We win 3-0. It happened, I don't know the reason why."
Haaland's initial goal stemmed from a penalty, and Guardiola, in awe, described his second - a left-footed rocket unleashed from 20 meters - as "amazing."
“„Normally Erling scores goals, six-yard box, 18-yard box he has this talent, not the first time he has done it. Yeah, that was a fantastic goal.- Pep Guardiola
Guardiola expressed a sense of accomplishment in securing a spot in the knockout stage with two games to spare. However, he emphasized the team's goal to top the group, ensuring that the second game in the last 16 is at home.
"The job isn't done, we have to finish first," Guardiola said. "We have a job to do, the first step to qualify is done. Really impressed, two fantastic goals."