Player Profile: Erling Haaland

So let me get straight to the specifics

Team: Borussia Dortmund as of January, formerly Red Bull Salzburg
Position: Centre Forward
Age: 19
Height: 194 cm
Preferred foot: Left
Nationality: Norway 

Competition stats
Goals - 10
Games played- 8
Minutes played - 554
Assists - 1

[stats courtesy of uefa.com]

Where do I start with this guy? First things first, he’s young, born in 2000. He’s tall, necessary for someone of his position. He’s quick, something you wouldn’t entirely expect, has a humble character and has an eye for the goal. This guy is definitely one for the future because if he can raise eyebrows now, what more when he’s hitting peak performance. ⚽️🔥

Notable Performances 

VS Genk, Matchday 1 
This was when he was still at Salzburg. All I remember is watching this game and see someone score a hat-trick in the first half and I’m thinking ‘okay, that’s incredible, well done to that guy...’ until I hear how old he is and my jaw drops 😱❗️He played so well in that game and so did the team. It made me curious to see if he would continue this streak in the following games. His speed was on show, his finishing as well and his movement was very good, as if he had been playing for years!

Superstar in the making

Click here to watch Haaland destroy Genk

VS Liverpool, Matchday 2
In this game he scored an easy tap in goal. Mentioning this performance because it was against the Champions at their home ground and I feel like he played well and composed at the age he’s at. That Anfield crowd isn’t always the easiest to come up against.

Pinched in

Click here to watch that tap-in goal

VS Genk, Matchday 5
He came off as a substitute in this one. Thought he had been playing and was quiet but no! He comes off the bench, sets up assist and scores in the closing minutes of the game. Impact 🔥 Genk defenders  must have dreaded seeing him on the pitch after what he did to them in their last game.

Click here to watch Haaland's goal

VS Paris-Saint Germain, Round of 16 1st leg
 Big game. New team. Same old Haaland! He opened the scoring in this game up until PSG leveled it back to 1-1, and what happened after.... left me speechless. All I remember is seeing the ball move forward and then position itself right ahead of Haaland’s foot. Haaland then connects his left foot onto the ball, generating so much force that the ball flies straight towards the top of the net and smacks itself into the net. Guysss.....🤯 That was the best goal he’s scored in the competition, and what a way to do it, getting himself double figures for this season’s Champions League. At this stage he has now transferred to B. Dortmund (as I mentioned) after they signed him in the January transfer window. Unfortunately, PSG knocked out Dortmund in the second leg which means Haaland’s ended, again.

Click here to watch that 'rocket' shot

Final Thoughts 
Like I said earlier, Erling Haaland is one for the future. He’s caught the eye of everyone, he’s shown that he’s innate to his position on the pitch and if he’s groomed well, we could be witnessing another iconic footballer in the making. Not over-hyping the guy but what he’s done is really outstanding. He also has a pretty cool celebration too.