Kjetil Knutsen drifts as new favourite emerges for Celtic job | OneFootball

Ahead of Celtic’s match against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon the clear favourite for the Celtic job vacated by Brendan Rodgers after his resignation a fortnight ago, was the highly rated Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen.

Head coach Kjetil Knutsen of Bodo Glimt looks on prior to the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-Off second leg match between Crvena Zvezda and Bodo Glimt at stadium Rajko Mitic on August 28, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill then sent out a Celtic side that comfortably saw off Kilmarnock, scoring another four goals without reply at Celtic Park for his second match on home soil as interim Celtic boss.

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill during the Premier League match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on November 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

However since that Knutsen has drifted in the better and while he would be available next month to take the Celtic job, his subsequent comments yesterday has lengthened his odds and there’s a new favourite in the shape of French coach Wilfried Nancy.

Wilfried Nancy, Head Coach of Columbus Crew SC, looks on during the MLS match between New England Revolution and Columbus Crew at Gillette Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The 58 year-old Norwegian seemed set to leave Bodo/Glimt at the end of his contract next month to seek a fresh challenge, and Celtic would certainly provide that! However with three weeks left of his contract and just two games remaining in the Norwegian season, with Bodo/Glimt a point behind current leaders Viking, Knutsen has spoken for the first time about his future and contrary to previous reports he seems likely to remain at Bodo rather than seek pastures new, even at a place we call Paradise.

Kjetil Knutsen, Head Coach of FK Bodo/Glimt, acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and FK Bodo/Glimt at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 01, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

When asked directly about the Celtic vacancy Knutsen refused to rule anything out, instead saying “nothing is certain in life” and suggesting that his next job would certainly have to be “more exciting than Glimt.”

However he also discussed the possibility of signing a new deal with the Norwegian club and seemed more open about staying on there than had previously been the case, as reported by Norwegian outlet Avisa Nordland:

“We’ll see now if we can get things moving a bit. I don’t really have the energy to talk about it,” Knutsen said when asked about signing a new contract at Bodo/Glimt. “I think we’ve had five matches in 13 days so there hasn’t been much time for contract matters. But we’re in control. I don’t have any plans to do that (leave Bodo/Glimt) but I hope you won’t throw me out either. We have to find the right balance but I think we’ll get it settled quite soon.”

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy celebrates with his team following an MLS soccer match against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

Like the rest of us no-one really has a clue what’s happening although having spoken to the club today The Celtic Star understands that there’s nothing imminent happening. That could change at a minute’s notice. We have been talking about Wilfried Nancy and he’s the latest to be installed as the favourite.

Kieran McKenna, Manager of Ipswich Town, acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and West Ham United FC at Portman Road on May 25, 2025 in Ipswich. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

You will recall that Kieran McKenna was the first favourite but he has drifted as indeed has Martin O’Neill, no doubt as a result of what he’s being saying as he downplays staying on longer than initially anticipated in the Celtic job. O’Neill’s results, domestically at least, speak for themselves and his appearance at the St Mirren v Hibs game on Saturday hints at future work and a longer stay for the legendary Celtic figure.

Martin O’Neill, Interim Manager of Celtic, reacts during the Premier Sports Cup Semi Final match between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden Park on November 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

After Celtic’s defeat at Tynecastle in what was Brendan Rodgers’ last match in charge, Martin O’Neill has shaved four points and eight goals off Hearts’ lead and also knocked theRangers out of the Premier Sports Cup. No wonder the Celtic support is in no real hurry to see him going back to talkSport.

Brian Barry-Murphy, Manager of Cardiff City, gives instructions to his players from the touchline during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Burnley and Cardiff City at Turf Moor on September 23, 2025. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

The Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy was also mentioned in an article on The Celtic Star yesterday alongside Wilfried Nancy and he too now has a place in the top five names being quoted at the moment.

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