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London: Erland Fagli admits his finishing ability leaves a little to be desired and he is not particularly impressed with fellow Norwegian Erland Haaland’s form for European champions Manchester City.
But if you put a football at the 26-year-old’s feet, be prepared to be amazed.
While goal machine Haaland is breaking records in the Premier League, Fagli is the undisputed king of freestyle football and is preparing to challenge for a tenth world title.
Like freestyle football players like his brother Brynjar, Fagli doesn’t need to tackle, score or run in his “battle”. He is more like the new Olympic sport of breakdancing, but with a ball.
Winner Erlend Fagerli performs during the Red Bull Street Style competition in Pula, Croatia, October 8, 2022. Marjan Radovic/Red Bull Content Pool/Reuters This image was provided by a third party
Freestyle competitions usually involve two competitors taking turns performing upper body techniques, lower body techniques (techniques that use the upper body), and seated techniques on a small circular court to impress the judges.
“The only thing in common with regular football is that we both use the ball and good ball control helps a lot,” said Fagli, who will defend his titles at the World Freestyle Football Championships in Nairobi this Saturday and the Red Bull Streetstyle Championship in Brussels next week.
The ball handling abilities are fairly understated, as Fagley can seemingly keep the ball off the ground in a myriad of ways, including his signature move, the “Ellender Roll.”
“I just kick the ball up like that, then jump forward like a front flip, roll it on my heel, and then sit down and catch it,” he explained.
Fagley once tried playing on a regular team, but when he saw videos of freestyle football players online, he became hooked, spending hours imagining new tricks and then working to perfect them.
“I train five or six days a week, and 95 percent of the time I’m working on techniques that I haven’t mastered yet,” he said.
“But I have a habit of spending 10 minutes thinking and trying to imagine some weird movements. Usually, I can’t come up with anything, but at least I’ve activated my mind and something comes out of it.”
Erlend Fagerli of Norway poses for a photo before the 2021 Red Bull Street Style World Final in Valencia, Spain. Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool/Reuters Image courtesy of a third party
Fagley, whose brother Brynjar is one of his fiercest rivals in basketball, believes freestyle basketball would be a natural fit for the Olympics, like breakdancing and skateboarding combined.
However, even if this wish comes true, it will be too late for him as the next two games in Nairobi and Brussels will be his last as he has decided to give up basketball to focus on a career in medicine.
“I’ve been training hard for nine years and these two fights are my last fights at the highest level,” said Fagley, who has a large following on social media.
“I make money from freestyle skiing, but for me it’s the sport part that’s most important.
“The thing I’m most proud of is winning nine world championship titles. But equally, I think the level I’ve reached in freestyle skiing and the way I’ve been involved in the development of the sport.”
He’s looking to win his fourth straight title at next week’s Red Bull Street Style Championship and says he may even have a new trick up his sleeve as a farewell gift.
“I like the element of surprise, and it’s one of the best feelings to have a new twist in a big game or a big fight,” he said. –Reuters
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