Erling Haaland scores goals with the efficiency of a machine. While defenders fear his speed and power, his lifestyle off the pitch involves some truly strange habits. For instance, he tapes his mouth shut before he goes to sleep every night. Furthermore, he used to wake up to a very specific football anthem instead of a normal alarm. Prepare to meet the Terminator of football.
Erling Haaland
He entered the world in Leeds, England. His father played for Leeds United at the time. Therefore, Erling technically could have played for the England national team. However, he chose to represent Norway because he grew up there.
He holds a world record from age five. He jumped 1.63 meters in the standing long jump as a child. remarkably, this record for five-year-olds still stands today. Thus, his explosive power appeared long before he became a professional.
He eats cow hearts and livers. Most athletes stick to chicken and pasta. In contrast, Haaland consumes organ meats to get extra iron and vitamins. He calls this his “Hannibal Lecter” diet.
He tapes his mouth shut while he sleeps. He believes nasal breathing improves his recovery. Consequently, he places a strip of tape over his lips every night. This forces his body to breathe only through his nose.
He once scored nine goals in a single match. During the 2019 U-20 World Cup, Norway played against Honduras. Haaland destroyed the defense completely. As a result, he scored a triple hat-trick in one game.
Erling Haaland formed a rap group called Flow Kingz. Before his football fame, he made music with his friends. You can still find the video of him rapping on YouTube. Surprisingly, the video has millions of views.
He used the Champions League anthem as his alarm. Most people hate their alarm clock. However, Haaland loved the tournament so much that he woke up to its theme song. He claimed it gave him the perfect start to the day.
His father cooks him a special lasagna. Before every home game, he eats a meal prepared by his dad, Alf-Inge. He jokes that this lasagna contains the secret to his hat-tricks. Thus, he never skips this pre-match ritual.
He enjoys driving tractors in the summer. When the season ends, he returns to his family farm in Norway. He finds peace while he tends to the potato fields. Therefore, he spends his vacation doing manual labor.
His mother was a national heptathlon champion. His athletic genes come from both parents. Specifically, his mother Gry Marita Braut competed in seven different events. This explains his rare combination of speed, strength, and stamina.
Erling Haaland wears orange glasses before bed. These glasses block out all blue light. Consequently, his brain produces more melatonin. This helps him fall into a deep sleep immediately.
Teammates call him “Daemon” from House of the Dragon. Fans noticed a striking resemblance between him and the character Daemon Targaryen. Eventually, the nickname stuck in the dressing room. He even posed with a sword to acknowledge the joke.
He meditates to celebrate his goals. He often sits in the “Lotus” pose after he scores. This tribute to meditation highlights his mental discipline. Furthermore, he ignores the noise of the crowd to find his inner calm.
He sprints faster than many Olympic athletes. During a counter-attack, he clocked a top speed of 36.22 km/h. This speed rivals professional sprinters. Defenders simply cannot catch him once he starts running.
Finally, Erling Haaland copies the diet of Cristiano Ronaldo. He removed all sugary drinks and processed foods from his life. He saw how Ronaldo maintained his body. Therefore, Haaland decided to copy the Portuguese legend to prolong his own career.
