Between 1929 and 1934, Juve represented his country 45 times, scoring 33 goals, becoming Norway’s record goal-scorer in the process.
It was a record that would stand for 90 years, until Haaland – who had been in the Norwegian legend’s rear-view mirror for the past couple of years – finally surpassed Juve’s tally with a brace against Slovenia on Thursday evening.
It was a moment of enormous pride for Erling and his family – and one of great joy for Juve’s widow, Eva Røine, now 95.
“It’s almost scary. Imagine how fast the years have passed,” said Eva – a former Miss Norway -, speaking to Norwegian newspaper VG.
“I’ve been thinking a bit about what Jørgen would have said today. He would probably find this exciting. He would have liked to be caught up by a player as good as Erling Haaland.
“Now I’m going to watch Haaland and then I’m going to see if he’s as good as they say.”
Juve, nicknamed ‘The Lightning’, would captain Norway to a 1936 Olympic bronze medal and later became a journalist and author.
He sadly passed away in 1983 aged 76 but would have scarcely believed that his record would last a further 41 years given some of the Norwegian strikers such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, John Carew and Jan Age Fjortoft that came and went in-between.
He spent some of his career at Lyn, where Oscar Bobb learned his trade before joining City and his name will continue to be talked of in revered tones for many years to come.
But 10 October 2024 was Erling Haaland’s night.
His two strikes against Slovenia came in a game where he wore the captain’s armband for the first time for his country – and later revealed his partner is expecting their first child, so a seismic evening in the life of our prolific No.9.
Watching it all was TV2 commentator Øyvind Alsaker – think Martin Tyler or Peter Drury and you’ll get close to the standing Alsaker has as Norway’s premier football commentator.
He has seen virtually all of Erling’s goals for the national team – and he is enjoying watching a national superstar create history almost by the week.
“It’s been coming a long time,” smiled Alsaker.
“It was not a matter of ‘if’, only ‘when’ and what age he would be when it eventually happened.
“His presence in this team fills the national stadium every time he plays, and he is a huge player for Norwegian fans.
“He has scored 34 goals in a team that hasn’t done so much in recent times, but the fact that he is now the record scorer for Norway is really important to those fans that idolise him.
“We are getting so used to his numbers that they aren’t a surprise anymore, but I have been commentating on Norway’s games for more than 30 years now and we’ve had a lot of talented strikers in that time and yet none of those players were remotely close to that record – and that’s across their careers.
“So, to break that record in just 36 games - and be the captain on the night - is pretty special.
“Plus, he announced after the game he is to become a father for the first time as well, of course. As huge nights come, I don’t think it gets any better than that.”
Erling’s goals came on 7 and 62 minutes as Norway eased passed the Slovenians in Oslo.
But, as he rewrote the history books, Alsaker believes the additional responsibility of wearing the skipper’s armband made this Haaland’s best performance yet for his country.
“His first came after a long range shot that Jan Oblak couldn’t hold and Erling slipped the ball through his legs,” said Alsaker.
“The second was beautiful goal and everyone in the stadium knew what it meant.
“It involved Antonio Musa who played a genius ball to Alexander Sørloth, and his cut-back was perfection for Erling to hammer the ball home.
“After that, he just had this huge smile on his face!
“I’ve covered the vast majority of his games for the national team, but I don’t think he’s ever been as involved in all the game as he was in this match.
“He was really active, leading the team and this was a very special performance – he had a brutal game, and he was just unstoppable.
“It was a perfect night for him.”
