Haaland Plans a Peaceful Rural Life After Retirement: Dreaming of a Small Farm

2026-08-18

According to reports from the Daily Sport, renowned footballer Erling Haaland has begun contemplating his life post-retirement, expressing a desire to return to Bryne, Norway, where he hopes to lead a life centered around animal husbandry and small-scale farming. In an interview with ESPN, he shared, "I want to have a small farm in Bryne. Although the exact location isn’t determined, I clearly wish to raise some animals." For Haaland, this rural life is not merely a hobby but also an essential means of maintaining his mental balance.

Despite being born in Leeds, England, Haaland moved to Norway with his family during his childhood. After his playing career in England, his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, chose to settle in Bryne. This small town in southwestern Norway has a population of around 12,000 and is where Haaland grew up, trained, and took his first steps into professional football.

Even as he has developed into a world-class star, Haaland still considers himself an "ordinary boy from Bryne." Upon joining Manchester City in 2022, he noted that his identity remains deeply linked to his hometown.

Haaland’s professional journey began at Bryne FK, followed by a move to Molde FK in 2017. In 2019, he transferred to Red Bull Salzburg, where his impressive performances in the Champions League expanded his career stage significantly. By 2020, he had signed with Borussia Dortmund, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most formidable forwards. In 2022, he made the leap to the Premier League, with Manchester City paying €60 million for his transfer, making him a part of one of the most ambitious clubs in European football.

For Haaland, life in the countryside is more than just an interest; it's a way to escape the pressures of his professional life. He believes that farming can help him momentarily detach from the demands of football and rediscover the tranquility of his youth. A photograph of him driving a tractor at home in Bryne underscores his affinity for this form of relaxation.

Haaland remarked, "I enjoy doing many things to temporarily escape all the thoughts related to football." During breaks in his schedule, activities like driving a tractor and feeding cows are integral to his everyday life.

Rather than imagining a life surrounded by the spotlight, Haaland yearns for a quiet future in retirement, accompanied by animals, relishing a simple life connected to his childhood memories. After years spent amidst goals, trophies, and raucous stadiums, this forward seems to have found his sanctuary: Bryne, a place he continues to regard as "home."