15 intriguing facts about Erling Haaland that will impress you

With his astonishing talent and remarkable accomplishments at such a young age, Erling Haaland has captivated the sports industry and quickly became a football superstar. This article delves into interesting facts about Erling Haaland and his intriguing life and accomplishments.

Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland plays for Premier League club Manchester City. His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, is also a former footballer. Erling was born on July 21, 2000, in Leeds, England, but grew up in Bryne, his parents' hometown in Norway.

15 Facts About Erling Haaland

The Manchester City striker's phenomenal goalscoring ability has propelled him to stardom in recent football. Here are some fun facts about Erling Haaland that everyone wants on their team.

1. He once scored nine goals in one match for Norway

Erling has been an iconic figure with both clubs and the national team. He started playing for Norway at the Under-15 level and has since progressed to the senior squad. The tall striker scored nine goals against Honduras in the 2019 Under-20 FIFA World Cup.

2. Erling Haaland has a footballing dad

Football is in Erling's blood, as he was born to the legendary Alf-Inge Haaland. Allfootballapp revealed that Alf was a defender and midfielder for legendary clubs like Manchester City, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, and the world-famous Nottingham Forest. He was a right-back or midfielder during the '80s, '90s and early 2000s.

3. Although Norwegian, he was born in England

Erling was born in England, where his father played professional football. According to Goal, he became a Norwegian citizen due to his parents' Norwegian ancestry, even though he was born in Leeds in 2000. Bryne is a little village 25 kilometres south of Stavanger, and he and his parents moved there when he was three years old.

4. He is beloved in Bryne

The striker started playing football with Bryne FK's youth program before joining the reserve squad, Bryne 2. In 2015 and 2016, Erling scored 18 goals in 14 appearances for Bryne 2. He made his first team debut with the club at 15 and spent two years with them before moving to Molde.

Today, Manchester City shirts displaying Haaland's name are sold in the club shop. Tourists also flock to the town to capture photos of Haaland murals dotting the landscape.

5. He worked with Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Erling debuted for Molde on April 26, 2017, in a Norwegian Cup match against Volda TI. He scored and helped the team win 3-2. At Molde, he worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the head coach. The striker scored four goals in 20 appearances for the first team in his first season.

He finished as the club's top scorer in the 2018 season with 16 goals in 30 appearances. Haaland departed Molde to sign for Red Bull Salzburg of Austria in 2018.

6. He became known internationally at Red Bull Salzburg

Forbes reported that Erling's goalscoring exploits for Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League catapulted him to global stardom. Haaland shocked defences with a 17-goal performance in 16 domestic league games during the 2019–20 season.

Axel Tuanzebe's net worth, contract, Instagram, salary, house, cars, age, stats, latest news, and more!

Football

The rest of the globe noticed him after he performed on the European stage. For Salzburg's six group-stage matches, he scored eight goals. With this feat, he became only the second youngster in Champions League history to score in his first three outings.

7. Borussia Dortmund won the bidding war

Haaland's goalscoring prowess attracted the attention of several clubs, but Borussia Dortmund won the race to sign him. The striker quickly became one of Europe's most lethal strikers. While playing in Germany, he scored 62 goals in only 67 appearances.

Many remember him for bagging a second-half hat trick in 23 minutes in a 5-3 win over Augsburg. Erling came on as a substitute in the second half to power his team to victory.

8. Haaland has a five-year contract at Man City

The striker signed a five-year contract with Manchester City on July 1, 2022, after completing his move from Dortmund. Sky Sports reported that City paid around $63.4 million, including agent fees and other add-ons.

9. He broke records and won awards galore in 2023

Haaland broke multiple Premier League records after his massive transfer to Manchester City. According to the Business Standards, some of his records include EPL's top scorer (36) and setting new records for the fastest time to score a hat trick.

Erling also won the Gerd Müller Trophy and the European Golden Shoe. He was also named the 2023 UEFA Men's Player of the Year, the IFFHS World's Best Player, and the Ballon d'Or runner-up. The striker was also part of the Man City squad that won the treble.

10. Haaland nearly did not become a footballer

Even though Erling was a football maniac as a kid, he was also a natural athlete and a handball prodigy. That will be no surprise to anyone who has observed his lightning speed firsthand. When he was only five, he broke the world record for his age group in the longest-standing long jump, measuring 1.63 meters.

11. Zlatan inspired him

Haaland was inspired by Zlatan Ibrahimovic's talent and achievements to pursue a football career. Soccerway indicates that the Swedish legend won 34 titles and scored over 570 goals. Haaland is making great strides in matching or surpassing his hero's records.

12. Haaland recorded a rap track

In 2016, Erling's single "Kygo jo" was released under the alias "Flow Kingz" alongside Erik Botheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg, teammates for Norway's under-17 national team. With a nod to the legendary Norwegian DJ Kygo, the song has gone viral, amassing millions of views on YouTube.

The song's lyrics, particularly Haaland's verses, have been translated into English, exposing their weird and unusual content and adding to its eccentricity.

13. Haaland has an unconventional diet

Goal reported that Erling's unconventional diet significantly affects his exceptional athletic performance. The striker eats about 6,000 calories daily, three times the norm for adult men. His nutritional philosophy emphasizes high-quality, locally sourced foods, such as the iron-and vitamin-rich cattle heart and liver.

14. He values daily meditation

Erling Haaland attributes his daily meditation practice to his one-of-a-kind goal celebration; sitting with his legs crossed, eyes closed, and hands on knees). This behaviour stood out at Dortmund, demonstrating his desire for inner peace.

15. Haaland invests in rest and recovery

Haaland frequently uses ice baths and yoga, and he has an expensive cryotherapy chamber at his Chester estate. He has a regular bedtime ritual and always goes to bed by 10. When sleeping, he wears blue light-blocking spectacles and turns off all electronic devices.

Frequently asked questions

The talented striker is among the most exciting young footballers on the planet. To understand him better, here are other facts about Erling Braut Haaland.

How old is Erling Haaland?

Erling Haaland's birthday is July 21, 2000, making him 23 years old at the time of writing.

How big is Erling Haaland?

Eurosport says the Norwegian is 1.94 m tall and weighs 87 kg, making him one of the tallest strikers in the Premier League.

Which club does Erling Haaland play for?

How many goals has Erling Haaland scored in his career?

Haaland has scored around 218 goals for his club and 27 for the Norway national team as of April 2024.

Has Erling Haaland won any major trophies?

In 2023, the striker won the Gerd Müller Trophy, the Premier League Golden Boot, and the European Golden Shoe. His achievements also earned him the titles of IFFHS World's Best Player, UEFA Men's Player of the Year, and Ballon d'Or runner-up.

Final word

The Norwegian footballer has become one of his country's best and most famous athletes. Our facts about Erling Haaland reveal things people do not know about him. He has grown to become one of the most renowned global sports stars.

Sports Brief published an article on one of New Zealand's professional rugby players, Jean Josh Lord. He represents the Chiefs and the New Zealand national rugby union team.

Josh Lord's Chiefs career began in 2019 when he made his provincial debut for Taranaki. However, injuries have ruled him out of most New Zealand games. Click on the link above to dive into his personal and professional life.