Erling Haaland's Parents Are Retired Athletes – Facts about Them

Erling Haaland's parents have unwavering support for his athletic career and pursuits since he showed interest in the game. Both his mom and dad were athletes and had a deep admiration for soccer.

Promising soccer player Erling Haaland has made significant milestones at a young age in his career. His incredible prowess on the field made him Norway's best player at 18, Germany's best player at 20, and among FIFPro's 11 best players in the world by 21.

With his many achievements locally and internationally, no one is more proud of the young athlete than Erling Haaland's parents, Alfie Haaland and Gry Marita Braut.

Erling Haaland's Parents Were Athletes

The athlete's parents had the same career in sports during their prime. His father, Alfie Haaland, played for Manchester City from 2000 to 2003. In the years before, he had played soccer as a hard-tackling midfielder for Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Although Erling was born in 2000, he doesn't remember watching his father's soccer games. He would only get flashbacks upon seeing photographs with his siblings when they still lived in England.

Erling Haaland's parents, particularly his father, influenced his decision to join Manchester City. As a former athlete who played for the club and lived in England, Alfie and his son discussed Erling joining the team and agreed it was the best thing for the young athlete. "He has been a good father in that," Erling said.

Meanwhile, Erling's mother, Gry Marita Braut, was a former heptathlete champion in her home country, Norway, in the '90s. Besides her impressive athletic career, not much is known about her.

Erling Haaland's Parents Did Not Pressure Him on Soccer

Although supportive and excited about his son's career, Alfie did not pressure him. Instead, he watched Erling's athletic life unfold from the sidelines and did not control it. He said:

"[Erling] was five years younger [than his brother], but he wanted to play the game, and I could see the passion. So I stayed in the background, especially around the organized training and the matches. I didn't say a word."

However, Erling does receive guidance from his father when it comes to soccer. As a former professional player, Alfie understands the game well and helps his son strategically think of potential moves for a game.

Erling Haaland Has a Great Relationship with His Parents

Despite being busy with his career, Erling maintains a great relationship with his parents. As former athletes, Alfie and Gry deeply understand their son's pursuits and challenges.

They remain supportive in many ways but want to watch their son grow independently. In 2022, the couple was seen leaving the Manchester hotel with Erling during his first full day there.

They tried to keep a low profile, wearing casual outfits as they loaded luggage into the car. Like Erling, fellow Manchester City athlete Raheem Sterling has a supportive parent.

He credits his mother for being instrumental in his success, as she is his biggest supporter and harshest critic. Unfortunately, a devastating tragedy caused Raheem to lose his father when he was two.