Erling Haaland says cropped hair helps him go unnoticed in public
Erling Haaland says his cropped hairstyle has made him less recognisable in public, with Manchester City’s Norway striker enjoying a quieter life away from the pitch after abandoning his trademark blonde ponytail.
The new look
The 26-year-old made the sharp change before the current campaign, replacing the long hair that had become one of football’s most familiar images with a much shorter cut.
Haaland said the difference has been immediate when he is out in public. “People do not notice me as much in the street now,” he said. “The lovely blonde hair is no longer there. It is a change, and I like it.”
He expected supporters to react online, but admitted the worldwide scale of the response surprised him.
“I thought it might go a little viral, but I did not think the whole world would be watching my new haircut,” Haaland said. “It was pretty funny.”
A trademark left behind
Haaland’s ponytail had become closely tied to his image during his rise as one of the game’s most recognisable forwards. He had previously joked that the long hair gave him strength on the field.
- Haaland had said Zlatan Ibrahimovic advised him not to cut his hair.
- Ibrahimovic reacted to the new style by joking that the City forward may have lost a bet.
- The hairstyle had become commercially valuable enough to trigger legal action involving Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Haaland and his representatives challenged the airline after it used an altered image of an aircraft featuring a ponytail in a ticket promotion. The company described the post as an impromptu gesture backing Norway’s national side, but the dispute underlined the value attached to the striker’s personal image.
Goals have not slowed
The haircut has not altered Haaland’s output in front of goal. He has scored seven times in his opening seven appearances in all competitions this season.
| Competition record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Appearances in all competitions | 7 |
| Goals | 7 |
He has made the fast start under Enzo Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, with City’s leading scorer showing that the old ponytail was never essential to his finishing.
What happens next
Haaland will look to maintain his early scoring pace as City continue their campaign under Maresca. Off the pitch, the forward appears content with a change that has reduced the attention he receives in the street — even if it briefly turned his haircut into a global talking point.
