Haaland’s Quest for Hat-Trick History
This Saturday, as Manchester City faces Brentford, Erling Haaland will aim to achieve a remarkable feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1946. The prolific striker has netted hat-tricks in his last two Premier League matches, and should he manage another at the Etihad Stadium, he will join a very select group of players who have achieved this rare milestone.
Only four players in history have scored hat-tricks in three consecutive English top-flight matches, and remarkably, three of them did so before 1930. Here, The Athletic sheds light on the stories of these four footballing legends, whom the 24-year-old Norwegian is keen to emulate.
Frank Osborne, for Tottenham Hotspur in 1925
Opponents: Liverpool, Leicester City, West Ham United
- Osborne, a center-forward for Tottenham, had a rather unremarkable start to his career, failing to score in 26 appearances during the 1924-25 season.
- The offside law was reformed that summer, reducing the number of defenders needed to be onside from three to two, greatly enhancing scoring opportunities.
- With this change, the goals-per-game rate soared to 3.69 in the 1925-26 season, up from 2.58 the previous year.
- Osborne’s scoring renaissance began with two goals against Sheffield United in the opening game of the 1925-26 season.
- He achieved his first hat-trick on October 24 against Liverpool in a 3-1 victory at White Hart Lane, followed by another hat-trick against Leicester a week later, although Tottenham lost that match 5-3.
- On November 7, he made history by becoming the first player to score hat-tricks in three consecutive matches as Tottenham triumphed 4-2 over West Ham.
- Despite this success, Osborne would score just one more hat-trick in his career and finished that season with 25 goals in league appearances.
Tom Jennings, for Leeds United in 1926
Opponents: Arsenal, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers
- Scottish forward Jennings made an immediate impact after joining Leeds United from Raith Rovers in 1925, scoring 26 goals in his first full season.
- He began the 1926-27 season moderately but exploded into form with a hat-trick against Arsenal on September 25, leading Leeds to a 4-1 victory.
- Just a week later, Jennings scored four goals against Liverpool, contributing to a 4-2 win.
- He followed this up with another four-goal display against Blackburn Rovers, solidifying his reputation as a prolific striker.
- Unfortunately, he couldn’t secure a fourth consecutive hat-trick, as Leeds was narrowly defeated 3-2 by Leicester in the next match.
- Jennings concluded the season with an impressive tally of 37 goals in all competitions, yet Leeds faced relegation shortly after his explosive run of form.
Dixie Dean, for Everton in 1928
Opponents: Burnley, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers
- Dixie Dean is often regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers in English football history, netting an astounding 60 goals for Everton during the 1927-28 season.
- He achieved this remarkable total by scoring hat-tricks in key matches, including four goals against Burnley and three against Arsenal during the season’s final stretch.
- On the opening day of the following season, Dean completed a hat-trick of hat-tricks against Bolton, further cementing his legendary status.
- Dean’s prolific scoring helped Everton secure the league title, and he remains the only player to have scored more than 50 goals in a single top-flight campaign.
- Overall, Dean amassed an incredible 30 hat-tricks in his top-flight career, a record that Haaland aspires to surpass, currently standing at eight.
Jack Balmer, for Liverpool in 1946
Opponents: Portsmouth, Derby County, Arsenal
- The 1946-47 season marked the return of the English League after World War II, with Liverpool emerging victorious under the prolific striking partnership of Balmer and Albert Stubbins.
- Balmer’s exceptional form included scoring hat-tricks against Portsmouth and Arsenal, and a staggering four goals against Derby County, all within a month.
- These three hat-tricks represent the only such instances Balmer achieved in his career, showcasing his ability to perform in crucial moments.
- Despite a dip in form later in the season, Balmer helped lead Liverpool to its first title in 24 years, leaving a lasting legacy in the club’s history.
Haaland has been in this position before. Early in the 2022-23 Premier League season, he celebrated back-to-back hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, but could only manage one goal in the following match against Aston Villa.
However, with Manchester City set to host Brentford, and Haaland boasting an impressive tally of 17 goals in 13 league appearances at the Etihad during Saturday afternoon kickoffs, the opportunity for him to join the ranks of Osborne, Jennings, Dean, and Balmer is tangible.
Should he succeed, it would not only be a remarkable achievement but also a feat that may not be replicated for many years to come. The footballing world eagerly awaits to see if Erling can make history once more.
(Top photo: Haaland celebrating his hat-trick against West Ham; Catherine Ivill/AMA via Getty Images)
