Son of Man City legend is ‘making a name for himself’ in his own right.

Forging His Own Legacy: The Journey of Colin Rosler, Son of a Man City Favourite

Colin Rosler, son of former Manchester City fan-favourite Uwe Rosler, was named after club legend Colin Bell. He grew up immersed in City culture, even meeting his namesake regularly after moving to England in 2010.

Though Colin shared early experiences with Erling Haaland — both played together in Norway’s youth setup and are sons of ex-City players — their paths quickly diverged. While Haaland rose to global fame, Rosler quietly built his career away from the spotlight.

“I’ve always wanted to make my own way,” Rosler told BBC Sport. “I never wanted to ride on my dad’s reputation.”

Now 25, the tough central defender is stepping out of his father’s shadow. In the past seven months alone, he’s become a league champion and earned his first senior international cap — with Haaland coincidentally present at both milestones.

Rosler’s football story began in earnest when he joined City’s academy in 2010 — a dream come true for the lifelong supporter. Despite playing a different position than his father, City coaches quickly spotted similar traits in his aggressive playing style and temperament.

Still, Uwe Rosler was realistic early on about the odds of his son making it to the City first team, stressing the importance of using the club’s education to forge a career elsewhere.

After five appearances in the EFL Trophy, Colin took the leap at 19 to leave City permanently, opting to shape his own future instead of going out on loan.

In 2019, he joined NAC Breda in the Netherlands — a move that challenged him both culturally and professionally. Living alone and adapting to a new league and language helped him mature quickly.

Subsequent stints included time at Lillestrom in Norway and, most recently, Mjallby in Sweden — a modest club where he thrived. “It was the best decision I’ve made,” he said. “I became a leader and was ready to take the next step.”

That step came with a move to Malmo, one of Scandinavia’s top clubs, in August 2023. The timing aligned with a title race and a reunion with former youth teammate Erik Botheim.

When Malmo had a shot at the Swedish title last October, Haaland — still a close friend of Botheim — chose to skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony to support them. “He got almost more attention than us winning the league!” Rosler joked. The night ended with a dramatic comeback and a chaotic pitch invasion as Malmo clinched the trophy.

Just weeks later, Rosler came on for Haaland in a Norway senior match, nearly a decade after their U15 debut. “That moment meant a lot — it shows how different every player’s journey can be.”

Now a fixture in Malmo’s starting lineup, Rosler is eyeing more silverware in the Swedish Cup final and is part of Norway’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Despite blazing his own trail, Rosler remains deeply appreciative of his father’s guidance. “He’s faced the same things I have, so we talk about everything,” he said. “That insight has given me an edge — but I still have to make it count.”