For Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland, time can be an opponent, but timepieces are an obsession. In an exclusive interview, the powerhouse player and Breitling ambassador reflects on football, family ties and how he truly measures luxury
In football, time is everything. The seconds that dictate a decisive pass, the critical closing minutes that could turn a match on its head. But it’s the longer stretches of time that have recently dominated conversations around Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland, with the top striker sealing a monumental 10-season deal with Manchester City earlier this year.
It's in the wake of this news that Haaland takes a moment in his adopted home of Manchester for a chat. Dashing from other duties, he arrives – glancing at the red-gold Breitling Premier B21 Chronograph Tourbillon 42 on his wrist as he takes a seat. Punctuality aside, wrist-checking is second nature for Haaland, a self-professed ‘watch freak’. “I’ve always loved watches,” he says. “The first thing I look at when I come into a room is the wrist.” His affinity for Breitling watches in particular traces back to his grandfather. “The first Breitling watch I saw was my grandfather's,” he explains. “I think it was a Navitimer – I'm quite sure. His name is actually Erling, just like me as well. Erling Dag. I was named after him.”
Photo: Courtesy of Breitling
Like the watch on his wrist, much of Haaland's present it shaped by the past – family ties woven through football. His father, Alfie Haaland, played for Manchester City in the early 2000s and it was during this era that Erling was born. The family later returned to the Norwegian town of Bryne when he was three, but his path to the pitch was already set in motion.
“I wanted to become a footballer ever since I was young. I saw my father playing football and I wanted to become better than him.” he recounts. “Every weekend, we went to a hall in Norway, playing football, getting better without even realising. It’s simple – when you enjoy something, you want to do more of it. And that's a good thing, because it means you’re going to train more. You're going to keep working hard even though it doesn’t feel like hard work.”
I saw my father playing football and I wanted to become better than him.
Erling Haaland
At just 18 years old, he was already the best player in Norway, and by 22, he had arrived in the Premier League. When it comes to time, few have made better use of it. His success comes down to his prolific talent, of course, and his opportunities as a child. “But also planning,” he adds. “Once a game ends, we have to start focusing about the next game. It's about being organised and knowing what you want to do. I think it's really important to kind of set your goals. If you're going to do it halfway, why should you do it? I would rather go 100% or don’t do it.”
Beyond his new decade-long commitment to City, Haaland is also continuing his ambassadorship in Breitling's 'All-Star Squad', a partnership that has only grown stronger over time. “As a watch lover it's a bit of a dream. To be able to work with a watch company. It's a really cool brand with so much history.” Even now, he admits he has to “pinch his arm” to believe it's all happening. It's a passion he shares with his loved ones too. “When I became the all-time top scorer, I gave this one to all my friends and family,” he says, holding up Breitling's Superocean Automatic 42 and flipping it over to reveal an engraved back.
When Erling Haaland became the all-time top scorer, he gave an engraved Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 to all of his friends and family. . Photo: Courtesy of Breitling
Photo: Courtesy of Breitling
With his Viking mane and towering six-foot-four frame, Haaland's bold taste – in particular, his penchant for colourful silk pyjama sets – has put him on the fashion radar. But how does the Norwegian who seemingly has it all define luxury? “To be 24 and a half years old and be able to wear a Tourbillon is a good feeling,” Haaland laughs, “and to play in front of 50,000 every single week is something you have to appreciate. But in the end, for me, luxury is enjoying those small moments in life that I don't always get to have. Being with my friends, having a day off, doing the most normal things.”
His response is a reminder that, despite the weight of his professional expectations, and having recently welcomed his first child with partner Isabel Haugseng Johansen, he is young and keen to enjoy life. Perhaps it's most evident before the game, when he and his teammates queue up Tupac, Notorious B.I.G. and ABBA to get in the zone. “In the locker room, we put a lot of party music before a game. I like it, I enjoy party music. But I also like Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. Just before the game, I like music that puts you in a good mood. Go with the flow kind of vibes.”
Photo: Courtesy of Breitling
Despite his unwavering dedication, Haaland has a youthful, carfree attitude to the future. “If you look back 10 years, the core of my playing style has remained the same – I’m still doing a lot of the things on the pitch that I did when I played with the under-14s in Norway at Bryne,” he says. “But, of course, I’ve improved a lot since then. This is my third season, and I’ve won the Premier League twice. I'm doing quite well already, and I hope I can continue. All I can say is, smile and enjoy life because you only have one life.”
There's his passion for timepieces, and his ability to remain cool under the pressure of time – the precious minutes he has both on and off the court. But there's one instance in which time completely lose its grip on Haaland. “When I score goals,” he says, “I forgot everything.”