In the small Norwegian town of Bryne, Olinda Haaland runs a fabric shop surrounded by red hats, No. 9 shirts, and Erling Haaland action figures. She’s not related to the famous striker, but she’s proud to share his now world-famous name. She says everyone in his hometown has become a football fan these days.
“It’s been pure joy,” she said of her namesake’s rise to the top of world football. “We all love him so much, and he’s doing so much for Bryne.”
Her shop faces Bryne’s central square, where hundreds of people will gather on Saturday to watch an outdoor broadcast of Norway’s World Cup quarter-final match against England.
As she speaks, people keep coming in looking for Haaland shirts, finally deciding it’s time to buy one. The retro World Cup shirts from 1998—the last time Norway qualified—sold out in two days. Now, she says, anything red will do.
Although Haaland was born in Leeds, where his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played for Leeds United, he grew up and trained in Bryne, a small farming town in southern Norway near Stavanger.
The 6-foot-4-inch (1.95-meter) Manchester City striker, who has scored 62 goals in 54 senior international matches, still regularly visits his old favorite spots around town. He also donates football equipment to local children and organizes reading competitions. This autumn, a rare 16th-century book of Viking sagas that Haaland bought will arrive at the local library.
Andreas Vollusund, the town’s mayor and Haaland’s former schoolteacher, stopped by Olinda’s shop. He said the 25-year-old has had a huge impact on the town.
“We are proud of the little boy who has grown into a huge Viking,” said Vollusund, who—naturally—was wearing a Haaland shirt. “Now Bryne is the capital of Norway, not Oslo. When he talks about his hometown, you can see in his eyes that he loves his homeplace, and that makes us really happy and proud of him.”
Vollusund, who taught Haaland when he was 10 and knows his father well, said that as a child, Haaland was “funny, he loved joking with others, had lots of energy, loved sports, loved football. When he was 10, he said he was going to be a footballer when he grew up. He was very focused.”
Vollusund pointed to Bryne’s down-to-earth, hard-working farming culture and the traits Haaland inherited from his parents (his mother was a national heptathlon champion) as two factors behind his success.
“We have a culture of having fun with our kids and working hard,” he said. “We come from a place in Norway where our feet are on the ground. Farms, hard work… and he has good genes from his mom and dad.”
Norway’s focus on fun for younger children in sports has played a key role in developing world-class talent across many sports, including football, handball, athletics, chess, skiing, and golf.
Incidentally, one of Haaland’s few sporting weaknesses is chess, according to Kjell Madland, who runs Norway Chess in nearby Sandnes—a competition Haaland has invested in. “I don’t think he’s very good, but he likes to play,” Madland said.
On Saturday, the mayor will serve hotdogs to 3,000 children and families at an alcohol-free screening of the match at Bryne’s football stadium. “We’re doing what we can to ma”Make this a really big event,” he said.
Vollusund said Haaland is a huge inspiration for young people in the town. “Everyone looks up to him. He’s shown that you can come from a small place like Bryne and become the best player in the world. Whether you’re a young girl or boy, you can see that becoming a footballer is possible.”
View image in fullscreen: A tour guide stops with visitors next to a Haaland mural in Bryne. Photograph: Marie von Krogh/The Guardian
Gabriel Høyland, Erling Haaland’s great uncle, said he thinks Saturday’s game—which he plans to watch from his home on a farm just outside Bryne—is “wide open.” He added, “I can’t wait for the game to start and see what happens.” He called Norway and Haaland’s World Cup journey “quite remarkable,” saying, “We’ve never experienced this kind of atmosphere before.”
On Friday, 10-year-old Emilian and his seven-year-old brother Leander, on holiday with their family from Oslo, posed for pictures in front of a Haaland mural in the town center. “We’re going to the stadium to see where it all began,” said their mother, Chantal Samsing. Their father, Christopher Gundersen, added, “It’s bigger than football. The whole country is coming together. It’s had a huge impact.”
View image in fullscreen: Alf Ingve Berntsen, Haaland’s former coach at Bryne FK. Photograph: Marie von Krogh/The Guardian
At the Bryne FK stadium up the road, Alf Ingve Berntsen, who started coaching Haaland when he was eight, said Haaland’s extraordinary passion and talent were clear from an early age. “He was quite similar to how he is now. He was funny, he was smiling, he was scoring lots of goals. At that level, you can see it’s glowing. It’s a fire, it’s passion.”
Berntsen says social media has divided many Norwegians, but the World Cup has had the opposite effect. “It’s brought a kind of togetherness. Not just in Bryne, but all over Norway. It’s amazing.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Erling Haalands hometown celebrating him as the little boy who grew into a huge Viking
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q What is this little boy who grew into a huge Viking celebration
A Its a tribute in Haalands hometown that honors his journey from a local kid to a worldfamous football star The phrase highlights his Norwegian Viking heritage and his transformation into a powerful athlete
Q Where exactly is this celebration happening
A Its happening in Bryne Norwaythe small town where Erling Haaland grew up and started playing football
Q Is there a statue of Haaland in his hometown
A Yes a bronze statue of Haaland was unveiled in Bryne It shows him in a dynamic Vikinglike pose celebrating his connection to the town
Q Why do they call him a Viking
A Its a nod to his Norwegian roots and his aggressive powerful playing style on the pitch The nickname Viking fits his physical presence and fearless attitude
AdvancedLevel Questions
Q What does the statue look like and what is the exact phrase on it
A The statue shows Haaland striking a triumphant pose similar to his famous meditation celebration The plaque reads Erling Braut Haaland the little boy who grew into a huge Viking
Q How did the town of Bryne react to the statue and celebration
A The reaction was overwhelmingly positive Locals see it as a source of pride and a symbol of their communitys success Many attended the unveiling and it has become a popular photo spot
Q Are there any other events or landmarks in Bryne related to Haaland
A Yes besides the statue theres a mural of Haaland in the town center and his childhood football club Bryne FK has commemorated his time there with displays and events
Q Did Haaland himself say anything about this Viking tribute
A Yes Haaland has expressed gratitude and pride He said it feels special to be recognized by his hometown and that the Viking label fits his identity and style
