11 fun facts about Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is a renowned professional footballer who currently serves as a striker for Manchester City in the Premier League and the Norway national team. Throughout his career, Haaland has achieved numerous accolades and shattered multiple records. Haaland has also represented Norway at various youth levels, notably winning the Golden Boot in the 2019 FIFA…
Erling Haaland is a renowned professional footballer who currently serves as a striker for Manchester City in the Premier League and the Norway national team. Throughout his career, Haaland has achieved numerous accolades and shattered multiple records.
Haaland has also represented Norway at various youth levels, notably winning the Golden Boot in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup by scoring a record-breaking nine goals in a single match.
Since making his senior international debut in September 2019, he has become the second-highest all-time top goalscorer for the Norwegian national team. Here are some interesting things to know about him.
1. Comes from a sports family
Haaland comes from a highly athletic family background. Both of his parents were exceptional athletes. Alf-Inge Haaland, Haaland’s father, had a successful career as a professional footballer, representing esteemed English clubs such as Leeds United and Manchester City.
On the other hand, Haaland’s mother, Gry Marita Braun, gained recognition as a national champion in heptathlon during the 90s. Additionally, his grandfather was a renowned long-distance runner in Norway.
2. Broke record at just 5 years old
Erling’s natural talent for sports was evident from a young age, as he made headlines at just five years old for achieving a record-breaking standing long jump of 1.63 meters.
Unsurprisingly, his mother Gry, a former professional athlete and heptathlon champion in Norway, played a significant role in nurturing his athletic abilities.
3. Scored a hat-trick in his debut for Borussia Dortmund
What a remarkable start to his Bundesliga career! Haaland made a substitute appearance for BVB against Augsburg and within just 20 minutes, he netted three incredible goals. It was an unforgettable performance that truly set the stage for his future in the league.
4. Professional senior debut at 15 years old
Haaland made his senior football debut at the age of 15, playing a full game for his hometown team Bryne FK against KFUM-Kameratene Oslo. Despite the loss, his talent did not go unnoticed, leading to a move to Molde, where he caught the attention of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
5. Made his senior international debut at 19
Erling decided to decline the opportunity to represent England, opting instead to make his first appearance for Norway in a match against Malta on September 5, 2019. Nearly a year later, he netted his inaugural international goal in a game versus Austria in the UEFA Nations League B.
6. Idolises Ibrahimovic
Erling frequently acknowledges Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the renowned Swedish legend, as one of his inspirations who has already left a significant mark on the global football scene.
Although Erling may surpass Ibrahimovic in terms of personal accomplishments, he still has a long way to go in matching Zlatan’s enigmatic persona, tough demeanor, and candid interviews, which never fail to captivate and entertain.
7. Nicknamed the ‘Manchild’
Haaland possesses a commanding physical stature standing at an impressive 6’4. His imposing presence didn’t come overnight. His teammates at Molde’s youth team in Norway dubbed him ‘manchild’ due to his massive size and stature.
8. Eats healthy like CR7
Haaland has adopted an unconventional diet, bypassing professional advice to mirror the eating habits of the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. According to his father in 2020, Haaland consumes a diet identical to Ronaldo’s, consisting of fish, chicken, pasta, and surprisingly, no salt or sauce.
9. He scored nine goals in one game
Haaland is a goal-scoring phenomenon, consistently finding the back of the net since his time at RB Salzburg. It’s mind-blowing to think that he scored an incredible nine goals in one game!
In a U-20 World Cup match against Honduras, the young talent showcased his scoring prowess by netting nine times – that’s three hat-tricks in a single match!
10. First player to appear on the box of the new EA Sports football game
Haaland, widely known as a Manchester City and Norway star is the face of the latest EA Sports football game, EA Sports FC 24, which hit the shelves in late September 2023.
11. He broke a record in his first season in the Premier League
Haaland has etched his name in history by setting a remarkable record for the highest number of goals scored in a single Premier League season. With an astonishing tally of 36 goals, he left defenders in awe during the thrilling 2022-23 season.
