Football has seen plenty of iconic hairstyles over the decades, ranging from the famous man buns sported by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gareth Bale to the long locks of Erling Haaland. However, Haaland has decided to kick off the new Premier League season with a dramatic and entirely different visual statement.
Scissors and Smiles in the Barber Chair
Before taking the plunge, Haaland playfully reminisced about his previous hairstyles throughout his career while tossing around some questionable concepts for how his fresh cut might turn out. Looking visibly anxious as the hairdresser snipped away the very first lock, it did not take long for the striker to break into a smile once his new appearance began to take shape.
Video Calls Bring Mixed Reactions from Peers
To show off the transformation, the 26-year-old made video calls to Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish, Oasis musician Noel Gallagher, and former City manager Pep Guardiola, drawing a colorful range of responses. Noel Gallagher remarked that the forward looked about 17 years old, adding that change is always a good thing.
Both Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola expressed immediate enthusiasm for the new style. Grealish laughed and noted that Haaland looked about 10 years old, admitting he could not stop staring at the front of his head and loved the look. Guardiola chimed in with typical humor, stating that Haaland was lucky to have hair at all and that he would love to have it himself.
The Ibrahimovic Disapproval
Prior to reaching out to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Haaland joked about the advice the former Sweden international had previously given him regarding his locks. Haaland shared that Zlatan had explicitly warned him never to cut his hair because his strength resided in it, though he ultimately opted for a military-style buzzcut anyway.
It turned out that Ibrahimovic was thoroughly unimpressed by the disregard for his advice. Reacting to the new look, the veteran striker asked whether Haaland had lost a bet, before jokingly telling him to block his account and erase his number entirely. Notably, Haaland had not worn his hair short since his playing days at Borussia Dortmund.
