‘Offside, me?’ The secrets and stats behind Erling Haaland’s uncanny ability to stay onside

Key Points:

• Erling Haaland is known for rarely being caught offside, a skill he attributes to years of practice since age 13 and careful timing of his runs, which has been enhanced by VAR technology in the Premier League.
• Since joining Manchester City in 2022, Haaland has been offside only 18 times in over three and a half years, a significantly lower rate compared to many other players, including those with fewer appearances.
• Haaland's ability to stay onside complements his playing style, which involves frequent and well-timed runs behind defenses; he averages 9.5 runs in behind per Premier League game, ranking among the top five players.
• His disciplined approach to movement and preparation, developed from his youth at Bryne and influenced by his athletic family background, has contributed to his effectiveness and minimal offsides despite the fast-paced nature of his game.
• The recent Manchester derby highlighted his onside awareness when a goal initially disallowed for offside was correctly awarded, although officials later admitted to missing an offside interference by a teammate.