Erling Haaland, the superstar striker, wasn’t always the physical specimen he is today. His former coach, Espen Undheim, remembers seeing flashes of potential in the “skinny” kid who had a burning passion for the sport.

Early Days

Haaland’s journey to the top of soccer began at Bryne FK, a soccer club in the southern tip of Norway. Undheim, a youth coach for the team, first met Haaland when he was around 8 years old. Haaland was one of the thousands of local kids eager to learn the game.

What was special about Haaland was that he was always looking to score, even if he wasn’t in a position to do so. He would move and try to be in situations where he could score goals. When he scored, he celebrated them a lot, running all over the pitch.

Rise to Fame

Haaland’s record speaks for itself. In his four seasons at Manchester City, he has been the Premier League’s top scorer on three occasions. He also fired Norway to this summer’s World Cup, the first time his nation has qualified for the tournament since 1998.

Haaland’s former coaches, including Leif Gunnar Smerud, recall his development and rise to fame. Smerud, who is currently the assistant manager at Angel City, was a national youth coach in Norway and took charge of the under-18s and under-21s.

Haaland’s passion for the sport and his mentality have been key to his success. He has a drive and desire that have helped him become one of the best players on the planet.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.