Erling Haaland has hailed Pep Guardiola in a farewell post to the Manchester City manager, saying it had been an honour to have worked under him for four years.
The Norwegian striker waxed lyrical about the impact the Catalan coach had on his career, describing him as a mentor who constantly pushed him to new heights. Haaland spent the last four seasons under Guardiola, who recently called time on his decade-long tenure at the Etihad Stadium. This period marks the longest Haaland has played under any manager, and it brought him unparalleled success.
Haaland joined City in 2022 after several prolific years with Borussia Dortmund, stepping into a team that had won trophies without a natural number nine. His arrival prompted a slight tactical adjustment, but the striker adapted seamlessly, scoring twice on his debut and finishing his spell under Guardiola with 162 goals. In his first season, he helped City secure a historic treble, breaking the Premier League record for goals in a campaign.
Haaland's Tribute to Guardiola
Taking to social media, Haaland wrote: "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."
Despite a slight dip in form earlier this season, Guardiola had publicly stated: "Erling is the best striker in the world." Over his career, Guardiola has managed elite forwards such as David Villa, Samuel Eto'o, Robert Lewandowski, and Sergio Aguero.
Haaland's Achievements Under Guardiola
Haaland's association with Guardiola ended with the club winning the domestic cup double. The Norwegian has twice won the Premier League and this season collected his third Golden Boot award in four years. Guardiola's influence extended beyond Haaland, as numerous City players paid tribute to the departing manager.
Bernardo Silva, who also 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."
Guardiola has rewritten numerous records during his time in English football and waved an emotional goodbye to the club's fans on the final day of the season. His legacy at City is secure, with Haaland's heartfelt words underscoring the profound impact he had on players and the club as a whole.
