The Norwegian school, the new world that revolves around Haaland

2026-07-08 21:09:55Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Gabriele Romagnoli, The Republic

We shouldn't just look at Haaland on the field of play, but at everything that has made his success possible.

The Norwegian striker looks extraordinary in the way he scores, the calm way he celebrates and his demeanor after matches, as if he has simply carried out his daily duties. However, behind him lies a carefully constructed system, a team and a country that has invested years in the development of football.

Norway is not just Haaland. The national team has a group of quality players, a goalkeeper like Nyland who has been decisive in key moments and a captain like Martin Odegaard, who organizes the game, leads the team and serves as an example for his teammates. Many Norwegian footballers play in the strongest leagues in Europe, while clubs like Bodo/Glimt continue to surprise on the international stage.

A major role in this success has coach Stale Solbakken. He is not only a skilled technician, but also a man with an extraordinary history. After a cardiac arrest that stopped his heart for seven minutes and ended his career as a footballer, he came back to life and built a successful journey as a coach. With Norway, he has created a team that does not rely solely on the strength of Haaland, but that plays organized football, creates chances collectively and supplies the striker only when the moment is right.

At the heart of this transformation is the Landslagsskolen, the national football school established a decade ago. Its network includes dozens of scouts who look for talent from the ages of 12 to 16. They educate not only footballers, but also citizens, teaching them discipline, respect, teamwork and the importance of decision-making. Most of the current national team players have gone through this system.

From childhood, talents are carefully monitored. Martin Odegaard was identified as a player with extraordinary intelligence and skill at the age of 11, while Haaland declared at the age of 10 that he aimed to become the best striker in the world. These dreams were not left to chance, but were supported by work and organization.

The Norwegian model is not limited to football. It reflects the way the entire country functions. Free education, quality social services, very low levels of corruption, public safety and a fairer distribution of wealth create an environment where young people can develop their potential without the pressures encountered in many other countries. Political stability and trust in institutions also help build a culture of long-term success.

Today, Norway is reaping the rewards of its investments. Haaland's success is not a coincidence or an individual miracle. He is the symbol of a system that has known how to discover talent, educate it and support it to the highest level. For this reason, when talking about Norway's triumph, one should not only look at its biggest star, but at the entire model that has made this success story possible.


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