How son of Man City cult hero is ‘creating his own name’

He was given the name “Manchester City” in honor of a legend of the club.

Erling Haaland, whose father also played for City, and he both played for Norway youth teams.

However, Colin Rosler had to choose a different path in order to pursue his career while Haaland achieved stardom.

He tells BBC Sport, “I’ve tried to make my own name since I was a young child.” “I’ve made an effort to be my own and not rely on my father,” he said.

The tough-tackling centre-back, age 25, is finally emerging from the shadows and establishing himself.

Uwe Rosler, a hard-working striker, played for East Germany before becoming a favorite of the city’s fans between 1994 and 1998.

Given Rosler’s association with the club, he named his sons Colin Bell and Tony Book, who were later the birth of his two sons.

Before his father played and managed in Norway, Colin Rosler was born in Berlin in 2000. The boys frequently met their namesakes at Etihad Stadium after the family relocated to England in 2010.

Colin Rosler calls it an honor to be given City’s honor to honor such a legend.

“I’d always laugh when I was with Colin and my brother when I was with Tony Book, and it was always fun to see them and learn more about the club’s history.”

Colin and his father play on the opposite end of the pitch, but the City coaches soon noticed a striking connection.

I was already an aggressive defender when I was just ten years old, Colin says. I merely desired to smash people.

We always appear the same on the field, and my mother always says that I have a similar temperament to him.

And despite Colin’s advancement through the City and Norway age groups, Uwe was aware that his son’s chances of making the first team, or any other academy graduate, were very slim.

He told BBC Sport in 2013 that he was uncertain whether all of them knew it, but my one does.

“You get a very good football education from City, and you can make a living playing football elsewhere,” says the statement.

Colin felt prepared to travel alone because he was born in Germany and raised in England and Norway before deciding to pursue a career abroad. He signed for Dutch side NAC Breda in August 2019.

He says, “Leaving City wasn’t the easiest choice, but it was one I felt I had to make.” I was expecting a culture shock and a new challenge, but I’m good at adapting quickly and becoming knowledgeable.

“And I learned a lot in Holland, living alone, playing for the first team, and not speaking the language.

You must enter that place, take control, and act like a man. I quickly realized that winning is everything.

Prior to joining Mjallby, a Swedish club that is “not as well-known and sort of in the middle of nowhere,” he spent the 2022 season with Lillestrom, a Norwegian side.

According to Colin, “That was probably the best choice I ever made.” Because I could just concentrate on football, it came at the right moment in my career.

Malmo, arguably the biggest club in Scandinavia, recently experienced a mid-season slump with the signing of Rosler in August.

Erik Botheim, a Malmo striker who played for Norway’s youth teams alongside him and Erling Haaland, made the reunion a reality.

In 2015, Rosler and Haaland played for Norway’s Under-15s, sharing a unique trait.

We immediately discussed the fact that both of our fathers played there and that we are both Blues.

We both said it was our dream to play for City, I recall. It’s amazing to see how well he’s done there, despite the fact that he’s obviously continued to do that. He has turned into a total monster.

Since Botheim and Haaland still have close friendships, Haaland chose to watch Malmo fight back from Gothenburg in a 2-1 victory over Botheim when Malmo had a chance to win the Swedish title in October.

He almost attracted more attention than our league victory, he said! Rosler asserts.

It was interesting to see that he made the effort to come here and show his support because he has a busy schedule.

Nine years after making their U15s debut together, Rosler replaced him with Haaland when he left for Norway in November.

According to Rosler, “I actually thought about that, that it would be a nice picture.”

We’ve known each other for a very long, and I did, yes, I did his senior debut, which is very intriguing in football.

There is no correct way to go. Everyone follows a different path. In my brief career, I have faced many challenges, but also many incredible experiences.

It’s something I’ve worked so hard for and for my family to achieve, and winning the league made me proud.

As Malmo face Hacken in the Swedish Cup final on Thursday (14:00 BST), Rosler will continue to be a regular player and could win another trophy.

He will also be included in Norway’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Estonia next week.

Rosler is “extremely grateful” for his father’s guidance as he searches for his own path, despite having already done so.