By Graham Ruthven
Of their present situation, Glimt are Norwegian champions. They’re, in actual fact, the nation’s dominant footballing power having received the Eliteserien title in 4 of the final 5 seasons. On prime of this, Bodø/Glimt have made themselves a daily fixture in continental competitors. José Mourinho nonetheless has nightmares about Roma’s 6-1 defeat to the Norwegians in 2021.
This season, although, Kjetil Knutsen’s group have reached new heights. Final week’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Lazio took Glimt into the ultimate 4 of the Europa League the place they may tackle Spurs for a spot within the last. The Norwegians are simply two wins from finishing a Leicester Metropolis-style run.
Glimt’s Europa League run has been years within the making. Promoted from the assistant supervisor place to the highest job in 2018, Knutsen rapidly set about turning the counter-attacking group he inherited right into a high-pressing, possession-based outfit. His high-intensity coaching drills have been likened to the strategies utilized by Marcelo Bielsa. ‘Murderball’ classes are frequent.
Below Knutsen, Bodø/Glimt acquired fitter. Fitter than another Eliteserien group which allowed them to play probably the most intense, and entertaining, soccer within the Norwegian prime division. Trophies and titles adopted, as did curiosity in Glimt’s greatest gamers. When a few of them left, although, the identification of the group – and the membership – remained. It’s nonetheless sustaining Knutsen’s group to today.
“Every little thing is feasible now,” mentioned the Bodø/Glimt supervisor after the dramatic Europa League win over Lazio. “There are 4 groups left, and we have now to maintain working exhausting to arrange for Tottenham. They’re a powerful group with many good gamers. It’s going to be robust, like [against Lazio], however this group can do it, and we clearly consider in ourselves.”
It’s value noting Bodø/Glimt are creating a special picture in Norway. Whereas the tiny Arctic membership are considered as loveable underdogs to European followers, they’ve made enemies of many inside the home sport. That is largely attributable to Glimt’s stance on VAR, one thing that put them at odds with the desire of most Norwegian supporters.
This has positioned Bodø/Glimt as a part of the institution at a time when Norwegian soccer followers are doing their greatest to reshape the game within the nation. There’s no denying, nonetheless, that Knutsen and his gamers are doing one thing particular in Europe. They’re among the best groups Norway has ever produced.
Knutsen’s success as Glimt boss has attracted curiosity from throughout Europe. The 56-year-old was linked with Celtic earlier than Brendan Rodgers’ return to the Glasgow membership two years in the past. Brighton additionally reportedly took a have a look at the Norwegian after the departure of Roberto De Zerbi solely to go for Fabian Hürzeler as an alternative.
Different golf equipment will certainly give Knutsen a name this summer season, significantly if his group goes even additional within the Europa League. There will probably be curiosity in a few of Glimt’s greatest gamers too. Defensive midfielder Patrick Berg has shone towards among the strongest groups on the continent. No person has scored extra Europa League targets this season than Kasper Høgh whereas goalkeeper Nikita Haikin has been strong, not least within the shootout towards Lazio.
Jens Petter Hauge was plucked from Glimt by AC Milan again in 2020 after making himself a key man underneath Knutsen. After struggling in Serie A, and at Eintracht Frankfurt afterwards, the Norwegian worldwide returned to the Aspmyra Stadion and is as soon as once more a constant performer for the Arctic outfit.
In some unspecified time in the future, Bodø/Glimt might revert to the imply. Their annual wage funds of €6m pales compared to a few of Europe’s larger golf equipment. Glimt’s Europa League semi-final opponents Tottenham Hotspur, for instance, have an annual wage funds of €120m. Spurs pay Son Heung-min greater than Glimt pay their total squad.
Proper now, although, the membership whose followers deliver toothbrushes to matches are sweeping away the competitors within the Europa League. It’s not simply Lazio who’ve suffered by the hands of the Norwegians this season – it’s Porto, Braga, Beşiktaş, Maccabi Tel Aviv, FC Twente and Olympiacos, all of whom have misplaced to Glimt.
It takes lots for Bodø/Glimt to compete at such a excessive stage season after season, however their sustained success over a number of years reveals it may be performed. They’re setting an instance for different small golf equipment outdoors Europe’s Huge 5 leagues simply as Leicester Metropolis for the remainder of English soccer 9 years in the past.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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