Bodø/Glimt: The Norwegian Giant-Killer

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·21 gennaio 2026

Bodø/Glimt: The Norwegian Giant-Killer

Unless you were living under a rock, you heard about the bombshell result yesterday in the Champions League group stage. Bodø/Glimt, a minuscule club from Norway, toppled the six-time champions Manchester City.

Bodø/Glimt leapt into the public consciousness last year when they advanced into the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League. They lost that fixture to Tottenham Hotspur, the eventual tournament winner, but were still the first Norwegian club to advance that far in any major European competition.

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Bodø/Glimt 3 – 1 Manchester City

Many pundits, including Nigel Reo-Coker from the Golazo Show, commented that the scoreline could have been higher in favor of the hosts. Bodø struck the post, and had a goal called back for the slimmest of offsides. Ultimately, a brace from Kasper Høgh and 58th minute dagger from Jens Hauge were enough.

The home side executed a perfect game plan, sitting in a low block and absorbing the City attack (Manchester had 65.8% possession). Then, with lightning speed, they struck on the counter-attack (all three of their goals came from the fast break). Ruthless finishing made the most of every opportunity: five of their eight shots were on frame. We saw this same scenario play out in Saturday’s Manchester Derby, when United defeated City 2 – 0.

Clearly City were frustrated, and when Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was booked twice in quick succession and sent to the locker room, Bodø fans knew their club’s first ever win in a Champions League match would be secure.

Some Bodø/Glimt Facts

Bodø is one of the northernmost cities in the world, and lies on the southern edge of the Arctic Circle. From June 1 through July 14 the sun does not set. In December the sun does not appear above the horizon.
Bodø’s entire municipal population (~42,800) could fit in Puskás Arena (site of the final), and there would still be nearly 25,000 extra seats.
The club was founded in 1916.
“Glimt” is Norwegian for “Gleam.” I have to assume this references the Aurora Borealis which is visible many winter nights.
The team’s home ground, Aspmyra Stadium, is not indoors. The pitch is artificial turf with under-soil heating elements to prevent ice and snow accumulation.
Fans carry giant yellow toothbrushes to every game. Why? Supposedly it started in the 1970s when supporters used toothbrushes as conducting batons to orchestrate crowd chanting. Hey, tradition is tradition. A normal-sized yellow toothbrush is given to the captain of the opposing team during the coin toss and club crest exchange.
They have won the Eliteserien, Norway’s top flight, three of the five years since 2020. They came in second in the others.
Of the 27 players of the roster, 21 are Norwegian, 4 are Danish, 1 Nigerian and 1 is Russian. This makes them one of the most nationally homogenous teams in the Champions League.

Bodø’s Role in History

Bodø played a small but significant role in the foundation of the modern Norwegian state. In 1818 the town seized a large cargo of contraband goods illegally imported by a British trading company. The traders broke out of prison, harming numerous citizens as they fled. At the time the area was ruled by a Swedish monarchy, who subsequently sided with the British and forced the Norwegians to pay a sizable compensation to the smugglers. This injustice was one of many incidents that led to the peacful dissolution of the kingdom of Sweden-Norway in 1905 and the foundation of an independent Norway.