Before Erling Haaland became a global football superstar, he was a six-year-old boy learning the game in the small Norwegian town of Bryne.
His first coach, Alf Ingve Berntsen, coached Haaland at Bryne FK from 2006 to 2015. From the beginning, he remembers a young player who “smiled a lot, scored a lot and trained a lot”.
In an article by Mozaiqsports, the coach shared that what shaped the Manchester City striker was not talent alone. His early years offer valuable lessons for parents supporting children in sport.
1. Develop the child first, athlete second
For Haaland’s coach, the goal was never simply to produce better footballers.
“To us, every player was equally important. Our focus was on developing well-rounded individuals first, and then focusing on their football skills.”
At Bryne FK, Haaland trained in a large group where players developed together regardless of ability.
The focus was not only on performance, but also on character, discipline and enjoyment. As Berntsen put it: “A happy Erling will succeed more than an unhappy one.”
For parents, it is a simple reminder that before asking how well a child is performing, it may be worth asking whether they still enjoy the sport.
2. The three simple rules that shaped young Erling Haaland
Success often begins with simple habits repeated consistently.
“We had three rules: a) Be on time, b) Do your best, c) Behave.”
These principles encouraged responsibility, commitment and respect from an early age.
“Erling was well-liked in the group and good at following these rules.”
Young athletes may not need complicated routines or constant pressure. Learning to show up, make an effort and treat others well can be just as important as developing sporting skills.
3. Talent is important, but mentality makes the difference
As a young player, Haaland was fast, technically good and tactically intelligent. But he was also skinny and lacked strength, which meant he had to learn to move smartly on the pitch.
For Berntsen, however, Haaland’s greatest quality was his mindset.
“His best quality was his mentality and his ‘grit’.”
“If you do that day after day, week after week, and year after year, then players with special gifts can explode at some point. Erling did just that.”
Talent matters, but children develop at different rates. What can make the difference is the willingness to keep learning, improving and showing up.
4. Recognising potential takes patience
Haaland’s journey was not an overnight success. His coach began noticing something special developing when he was around 12 years old.
There were challenges too. During a growth spurt at 14, he trained less and played fewer matches. His training was largely play-based, and he did not begin strength training until he was 16.
Outside regular sessions, Haaland and his teammates often spent weekends simply playing football, from street-football-style games to shooting competitions.
Long before the trophies and records, there was a child who genuinely enjoyed the game.
Not every young athlete will become the next Erling Haaland. But his journey shows that potential needs time, patience and the right environment to grow.
Talent may open the door, but character, consistency and a love for the game can shape how far a child goes.