Erling Haaland: player, centurion, ambassador
Great role model as well as scorer
Type “Erling Haaland dive” into Google and there’s a rare pause in cyberland. The search-engine party managed to find a Haaland tumble when challenged by Andreas Christensen in Manchester City’s meeting with Barcelona at the Nou Camp. That was a charity match three years ago. Try “Haaland simulation” and you get re-directed to video games. He’s fast becoming a byword for honesty. Given the current debate over player behaviour, whether diving or amateur dramatics, Haaland’s conduct is even more welcome.
Haaland even acknowledged that a Norway team-mate, Morten Torsby, fell to earth far too easily to win a penalty against Sweden in 2022. “That’s a dive,” Haaland told TV after being shown a replay. He’s competitive, successful and a champion for fair play. Google “Haaland booking” and it’s hardly extensive. He gets booked only once every 16 hours.
Everyone understandably focuses on Haaland’s astonishing scoring numbers. He reached the 100-goal Premier League landmark last night against Fulham in only 111 games. He’s hunting down Alan Shearer’s record of 260. Life began before the Premier League but it is still a notable mark. If Haaland stays fit and stays at City - and it’s hard to see him elsewhere in England – he could pass Shearer’s record in his early 30s.
Or quicker at his current rate (15 in 14 games). In all competitions this season, Haaland has scored 33 times in 24 appearances for City and Norway. It even made headlines last month when Haaland went three games without scoring, against Newcastle United, Bayer Leverkusen and Leeds United. But his impressive desire to play the game the right way, not stooping to the dark arts, adds to his appeal. Grass-roots and academy coaches can point to Haaland and tell young players that honesty can prevail. When challenged, Haaland tries to stay on his feet. His focus is on shooting, not winning a penalty.
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Haaland’s scoring numbers inevitably take the headlines. But his disciplinary record is similarly remarkable. He’s never been sent off in a first-tier match. In his 347 club games from Bryne to Molde, Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund and City, Haaland has been booked only 26 times. His last booking for City came 13 months ago against Brighton & Hove Albion for a foul on Jan Paul van Hecke.
It obviously needs emphasising that Haaland’s not so involved in the skirmishing side of the game, and has made only 24 tackles, 11 interceptions and seven blocks in the Premier League. By contrast, Harry Kane put in 190 tackles, 75 interceptions and 58 blocks in his 320 Premier League games. Kane was booked 38 times. But Haaland does his fair share of pressing, and also contributes defensively at corners.