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Haaland's first coach: He was very thin as a child. He talked about food and sleep even then

2026-07-11 15:59:47Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Haaland's first coach: He was very thin as a child. He talked about food
Haaland child

Before he became the Premier League's dominating centre-forward and one of the world's most powerful players, Erling Haaland was a kid in Bryne with a ball at his feet and a burning desire to improve. His first steps were taken by Alf Ingve Berntsen, his first coach, who guided him through his formative years at Bryne FK and saw to the development of the characteristics that make him the unique striker he is today.

On the eve of the quarter-final against England, the most important match in Norway's history at the World Cup, Berntsen told Fanpage.it what Haaland was like before the records and victories, the details that made him different from the other boys, and the journey of a national team that, thanks to a golden generation led precisely by Erling and Martin Odegaard, has reached where no Norwegian team had gone before.

Erling was 6 years old when you started coaching him. What is the first memory that comes to mind when you think of him as a child?

"I always thought he was a very strong player, from day one."

Is there any episode or anecdote from those years that best shows who Erling really was as a child?

"There is no special episode. He was just one of 40 boys who trained together. Erling trained a lot, smiled a lot and scored a lot. He was very loved by the group and never received special treatment."

From a footballing point of view, what was he like when he was young? Did he already have exceptional qualities and were there aspects of his game where he still needed to work on?

"Physically he was still missing something. He wasn't short, but he was very weak. For that reason he had to compensate with intelligence and technique."

Was there anything Erling did in training or off the pitch that other kids his age didn't? And when did you realise he had all this potential?

"He was never afraid to experiment. From a young age he was interested in nutrition and proper sleep habits. When he was about 12 years old we started to realize that he could really explode."

His father, Alf-Inge, is a former player. Did he consult you about his son's football development? What kind of relationship did Erling have with his teammates?

"His father was a perfect role model. He never interfered and let Erling grow and develop on his own. Erling was very loved by the group and even today he has very close friends from that team. Some of them are with him in the United States these days."

Norway has been one of the biggest surprises of this World Cup. In your opinion, what is the secret of this generation?

"Martin Odegaard has shown all the young players that you can become a great footballer even coming from Norway. This gave Erling and his whole generation confidence."

During your career you have contributed to the growth of many young footballers. What has changed in Norwegian football in recent years? Why is Norway able to produce so many talents today?

"The team training sessions are of high quality and reproduce as much as possible the situations that can occur during the match. Furthermore, we never overload the boys: we seek the right balance between team work and individual work. We let the kids be kids and do not train them as if they were already adults."

Haaland's first coach: He was very thin as a child. He talked about food

Will Norway reach the World Cup semi-finals?

"I think England will beat Norway 2-1. Of course, I hope the opposite happens. Fortunately, I often get my predictions wrong."

How do you personally feel when you see that kid you coached in Bryne playing his first World Cup today with a Norway jersey?

"I'm proud of him. Of course for what he does on the field, but even more for his behavior. He is a kind and helpful boy and represents our region in the best way. During all the years he trained with us, we had three rules: to be punctual, to always give his best and to behave well. I believe that Erling still follows these principles today that he learned as a child and, for me, this is worth more than any result."


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