Erling Haaland’s journey from childhood tragedy to becoming the most outstanding striker in the Premier League is nothing short of remarkable. Gunnar Halle, a close family friend and professional coach, recalls, “No one could have predicted that Erling Haaland would go this far.”
The Norwegian forward has now become a global football phenomenon. Even in the digital age, where statistics are highly regarded, very few young strikers have shattered records like Erling Haaland has.
The Nightmare of a Father
Erling Braut Haaland was born in Leeds in the summer of 2000. His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was a professional footballer playing in England at that time. Alf-Inge was a key player for Leeds United, the fiery football club of late 20th-century England.
Just a month before Erling’s birth, his father made a £2.5 million move to Manchester City, which seemed like a peaceful haven for the Norwegian midfielder in the final stages of his English career, as he continued to play in the Premier League for a mid-table club.
However, hope quickly turned into a nightmare for the Haaland family. In April 2001, during a Manchester derby, midfielder Roy Keane made a tackle described as “the most dangerous of all time” on Alf-Inge Haaland.
The Manchester United star was subsequently fined £5,000 and banned for three matches. In his autobiography, Keane stated that what he did to Alf-Inge was a retaliation for the criticism the Norwegian player had directed at him three years earlier.
The Football Association (FA) then intervened. Roy Keane received an additional five-match ban and was fined £150,000, a record amount at the time. However, the FA’s punishment couldn’t dispel the dark cloud that loomed over the Haaland family.
That summer, Alf-Inge underwent surgery with hopes of continuing his professional football career. But after two years of struggling to recover, it all came to an end. The promise of a three-year contract with Manchester City quickly evaporated, as the club had the option to terminate the contract prematurely if the player’s health was not guaranteed.
Relatives recount that the Haaland family “truly fell apart after that incident.” It was like a tragedy for Erling, who was born with a football and had a childhood immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the football world.
The Haaland family returned to their hometown of Bryne, a small town in Norway with a population of just over 12,000. While Alf-Inge began working in real estate to make a living, young Erling was encouraged to pursue a career in football.
Erling joined the youth academy of Bryne FK, a club playing in Norway’s third tier. Youth team coach Berntsen was quickly impressed by the talent of this young prodigy. “The first time I saw Erling was when he was 5 years old, training with older kids,” Berntsen recalls. “He only needed two touches to score a goal. Right from the start, he made an impression, and we had to let him play with older teammates.”
Years later, the coaches at Bryne understood that they were nurturing a young boy with the potential to become a world-class football star. “When Erling was 11 or 12 years old, he consistently scored goals from an early age. We knew this club would be the starting point for a future superstar,” Berntsen said.
The Journey to Success and the Rejection from a Former Coach
Two goals against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 recently made Erling the first teenager to reach 10 goals in the Champions League. He achieved this feat in just seven appearances in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
The New York Times even called Dortmund’s forward the new legend. Starting his professional career at the age of 15, after four years, the Norwegian striker amassed an impressive record of 60 goals and 8 hat-tricks in 100 club appearances (Squawka). However, in the eyes of many demanding coaches, Erling was not considered an extraordinary talent.
“No one thought he could go this far,” Gunnar Halle, the former teammate of Erling’s father and now a coach, said. “The first time I saw him play professionally was when he was 15. He was good at scoring goals, but there were no signs of him being truly exceptional.”
However, what impressed Gunnar about Erling was his professional attitude towards the game. Despite being a teenage boy, Erling showed seriousness, a desire to learn every day, and above all, confidence. “He respects his opponents but doesn’t care about what others think of him. He’s very self-assured,” Gunnar said.
Those qualities helped Erling join Molde, a top Norwegian club led by coach Ole Solskjaer. For Norwegian football experts, this was the right step for a local player to make a name for himself on the world stage. Erling’s career was unfolding just as he and his family had anticipated.
During the winter transfer window in 2020, Red Bull Salzburg wanted to sell Erling to Manchester United instead of Dortmund, as negotiating with the “Red Devils” was easier. However, the player and his representative opposed that proposal.
Erling played for Molde in 2017 and 2018, coinciding with the peak of Solskjaer’s career there. He scored 14 goals in 39 appearances, becoming an important figure for the Norwegian club. Super-agent Mino Raiola revealed that Solskjaer had been talking to Erling and his family for over a year before the player turned down Manchester United to join Dortmund.
The 2000-born forward believes it is not the right time for him to face the pressure at one of the world’s biggest clubs like Manchester United. Additionally, the current chaos at Man United makes this striker hesitant.
The events that unfolded at Manchester United afterward show Solskjaer’s regret after missing out on Erling. The Norwegian coach turned to Josua King, another compatriot striker but with lesser potential. They were once again rejected after giving the player 15 minutes to think.
In the end, the English club had to borrow a striker playing in China, while Dortmund had to pay €20 million to the Austrian club to secure Erling. It seemed like a great deal for the German club.
Feet Firmly on the Ground
When asked to choose a word to describe Erling, Salzburg head coach Marco Rose did not hesitate to use the words “professional” and “dedicated.” “He always gives his all in training, day in and day out,” Rose said. “What’s more important is that Erling has a support system that helps his football career. His family, his father, his friends, they all understand and assist him in dealing with challenging moments.”
Haaland has almost set goal-scoring records in every competition he participates in. The Norwegian striker scored 9 goals in a single match at the U20 World Cup last year. He became the third-youngest player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League. He has consistently set new milestones in the Bundesliga.
On the third night of this week, the 1.94m tall striker dazzled on the world’s most prestigious stage, outshining famous names like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
At just 19 years old, Erling’s future lies ahead of him. His former teammate at Salzburg, Maxmilian Wober, revealed that Erling even studied scientific articles on improving sleep and diet, while his teammates played relaxing video games. It’s a small detail, but it shows the professionalism of a young player.
Roman Burki, his current teammate at Dortmund, believes that for a young player like Erling, the most difficult thing is to keep his feet on the ground amid all the praise. “I believe he can overcome it because of his professionalism and serious attitude towards his profession,” Burki said.
Erling seems to be the kind of player that every coach in the world dreams of having in their squad. A young man growing up with a football, inheriting family traditions, possessing a great physique, and a serious work ethic. This summer, as Erling turns 22, the sky’s the limit for him. With his recent achievements, including winning the domestic treble with Man City, Erling has etched his name in history as one of the greatest strikers in Man City’s history (including three championships, FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League).
