Erling Haaland has posted a tribute to outgoing Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and claimed he “made greatness feel normal”.
The Norwegian has spent the last four years playing under the Catalan coach, who has just called time on his decade in charge at the Etihad. It makes Guardiola the manager that Haaland has played under for the longest during his career – and the one who bought him the most success.
Haaland signed for City in 2022 after several prolific years with Borussia Dortmund and joined a team who had claimed trophies without playing with a natural No.9 – leading to a slight rejig in the way they played.
The striker scored twice on his debut and finished his spell under Guardiola with 162 goals. He helped City win the treble in his first year, breaking the Premier League record for goals in a season and has hailed the influence the ex-Barcelona boss had on his career and the club.
He said on social media: “A coach who never stopped teaching. It sounds crazy to say this, but you made greatness feel normal.
“Even after hat-tricks, wins and trophies, there was always another lesson, another challenge and another level to reach. That mentality changed this club forever and changed me too. The honour of a lifetime to work with the best. Thank you for everything, boss.”
Amid a slight dip in form earlier this season Guardiola claimed: “Erling is the best striker in the world.” He has previously managed the likes of David Villa, Samuel Eto’o, Robert Lewandowski and Sergio Aguero across the course of his career.
Haaland’s association with Guardiola ended with them winning the domestic cup double. The Norwegian has twice won the Premier League and this season picked up his third Golden Boot award in the space of four years.
Pep Guardiola helped Erling Haaland reach new heights(Image: PA)
A host of City’s players have paid tribute to Guardiola as he prepares to depart English football. He has rewritten numerous records and waved an emotional goodbye to the club’s fans on the final day of the season.
Bernardo Silva, who leaves Manchester after nine years, said: “He’s my father of football. I am really grateful for everything he did for me, the way he trusted me, the way he supported me during the bad moments, the way he helped me see football in a different way and then obviously winning helps.”
