Haaland fever – get set for an amazing football trip to Manchester

Erling Haaland came in like a shooting star from the side lines and put every team and defender in the Premier League in their place in his first season in the world's biggest league.

The Norwegian accounted for a whopping 36 goals in his first season, becoming not only the youngest but also the fastest player ever to do so. In addition, he won the Premier League title, the FA Cup final, and the Champions League – City's first CL title. If the Norwegian star is not a good enough reason to go on a football trip for you, then in bear in mind that Manchester is a football city like no other, no matter who you are rooting for.

Tickets – don't be fooled

Football is part of Manchester's DNA, whether you're a fan of Manchester United, Manchester City, FC United or one of the five other professional sides in the city. More supporters attend matches here than in any other city in the world. The stadiums welcome tens of thousands of football supporters every weekend, with Old Trafford being the largest with 75,000 seats. However, it is often difficult to get tickets to the matches, especially for big teams like City and United. Unfortunately, many people sell counterfeit tickets at sky-high prices. Manchester City writes on its website that tickets should only be purchased directly from Manchester City or from an official, authorised seller.

Read more about where to buy tickets for City matches here

Here's where Haaland dines – so can you

Manchester, like the rest of the UK, is a multicultural place that offers endless dining experiences. If you want to eat where the football stars eat, you should head to one place in particular with which the City stars have fallen in love. Italian restaurant Vero Moderno prides itself on authentic Italian cuisine. Haaland is rumoured to dine there at least once a week. The restaurant is known for its rustic Italian menu with a modern twist. Other famous footballers who have been seen there include Jack Grealish, Rúben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, and Rodri.

If you're tired of Italian, you can always find something good to eat in Chinatown. In Manchester, you will find Britain's second largest Chinese district second only to London. Chinatown is not only home to Chinese food, but also many eateries serving tasty Southeast Asian cuisine. 

Stadium tours and football museum

To get the most out of your football weekend, you can also experience the inside of your favourite stadium, whether it's Old Trafford or the Etihad, an experience that you otherwise wouldn't get without being a star. On the tour, you can walk in the footsteps of the players through the players' tunnel and locker room. If you're lucky, you'll meet past or current stars. Manchester also houses its own football museum, which is one of the biggest int he world –  the National Football Museum, which brings together the nation's football history in one place. There are also a number of activities at the museum for children.  

Thirsty? In the football city you can enjoy a drink while learning about the art of brewing and distilling

Beer and football often go hand in hand, and in Manchester you get the highest level of both. If you love craft breweries, you can join one of the beer tours in the city. Here, you will visit a number of smaller craft breweries and become even better acquainted with the subject, while getting a chance to taste new and exciting beers, of course. Craft Beer Tour Manchester offers a 3.5-hour tour, where you can sample at least ten different beers.  

If you're more interested in gin, whisky, rum or vodka, head to The Spirit of Manchester. Here, you can learn more about distillation and production. The distillery has its own cocktail bar where you can taste a wide range of spirits along with good food in the form of light meals.