The question of how a skinny, talented teenager from a small Norwegian town becomes one of the world’s most feared football strikers is a fascinating one. The documentary, “How I became Erling Haaland,” offers a deep dive into the journey of Erling Braut Haaland, revealing that his success is a calculated blend of familial influence, strategic physical development, a relentless winning mentality, and a singular focus on the game.
From Bryne: The Foundations of a Professional
Haaland’s story begins not on the grand pitches of Europe, but in the humble surroundings of Bryne, a small town in southwest Norway. Despite its modest size, Bryne has a strong footballing heritage, though its local club, Bryne FK, now plays in the lower divisions.
It was here that Haaland took his first steps on the pitch. His first coach, Alf Ingve Berntsen, recalls seeing a six-year-old Haaland score two goals immediately upon his first indoor training session. This early sign of a natural goalscorer’s instinct was undeniable.
Perhaps the most significant factor in his early development was the presence of his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, a respected former defender who played in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Manchester City. The documentary highlights that Alf-Inge served as Erling’s greatest role model and advisor, fostering a strict winning mentality and a fierce desire to improve. Crucially, the elder Haaland was a calm presence who never interfered with training sessions or matches, allowing his son to develop autonomously while providing high-level guidance behind the scenes. Erling himself has stated that a personal goal has always been to become a better player than his father, demonstrating his competitive drive.
The Molde Transformation: From Skinny Kid to Muscular Athlete
Haaland’s strategic development took its next major leap when he signed for Molde FK at the age of 16. Molde, nicknamed the “Town of Roses,” is a haven for young talent, a quiet environment Ole Gunnar Solskjær once described as “paradise” for a developing footballer, free from major distractions.
It was in Molde that the lanky teenager underwent a crucial physical transformation. Fitness coach Bjørnar Stenslid recalls Haaland as a “skin and bone” kid who was still growing, noting that the young player shot up 8 centimeters during his two years at the club, eventually reaching his towering height of 1.94 meters. Stenslid shifted the focus to gym work to ensure he bulked up enough to compete with adult opponents while avoiding injury during his growth spurt.
This physical change was supported by the club’s cook, Torbjørg Halen (affectionately nicknamed “Tanta”), who oversaw his diet. She humorously recalls that he “ate like a horse,” laying the nutritional foundation for the powerhouse striker he would become.
The hard work culminated in his Molde breakthrough—a moment that put him on the radar of top European clubs. On July 1st, 2018, just 20 days before his 18th birthday, Haaland scored an astonishing four goals in just 17 minutes against SK Brann, tearing apart the defence of the Norwegian top-flight team and securing his status as a budding superstar.
The Calculated Ascent: Salzburg, Dortmund, and the Yellow Wall
Following his success in Norway, Haaland and his advisors made a crucial strategic decision: they chose to follow a deliberate, step-by-step path rather than jumping straight to an elite European giant. He signed a five-year deal with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
It took him six months to adapt, but once the 2019 season began, the floodgates opened. Barely 18, Haaland made international headlines by scoring four hat-tricks in just eight weeks across the Austrian Cup, Austrian Bundesliga, and the Champions League. Suddenly, clubs like Juventus, Real Madrid, and Manchester United were vying for his signature.
Again, Haaland chose the most logical next step for his development: Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. His arrival in January 2020 was explosive. Coming off the bench in his debut, he immediately bagged a hat-trick, an opening performance he later joked was “two in my dreams.” His time at Dortmund was defined by constant record-breaking and prolific scoring, proving that his earlier success was no fluke and that his skill seamlessly translated to a higher-level league. He credited his teammates for making his job easy, but his fearlessness and clinical finishing were his trademarks.
The Real Secret: Football, Football, Football
The documentary ultimately concludes that while his genetics (his mother was also an athlete), his diet, and his training were all factors, the true secret to Erling Haaland’s unstoppable rise lies in his personality and mentality.
His former coaches and teammates all point to the same core attributes:
- Singular Focus: “The only thing Erling wants to do is to play football. It’s football or nothing,” noted one commentator. His interests outside the sport are minimal, allowing for total dedication.
- Unending Hunger: He possesses an immense, unwavering hunger for success. He is constantly seeking the next level, using the achievements of players like Kylian Mbappé as motivation to push himself higher.
- Self-Confidence: Built on years of consistent success at every level he has played, his self-confidence is unshakable. When faced with a new challenge, he simply continues to score and improve.
- Work Ethic: He is described as a “very hardworking, really nice guy to work with” who always trains a lot and never quits on the pitch.
In the eyes of those who helped forge his career, Haaland wasn’t created by any single coach or system; he was “born with special gifts.” The role of his coaches and club environments was to provide the best possible environment—from nutritional support to strategic game time—for those gifts and his unparalleled drive to flourish.
From the modest pitches of Bryne to the roar of the Yellow Wall, Erling Haaland’s journey is a powerful case study in how talent, discipline, and strategic career progression can quickly transform a player into a global icon. He is, simply put, a goal machine engineered for the top.
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