Getting to Know You - Bodo/Glimt | OneFootball

Manchester United v FK Bodo/Glimt - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The waiting is over. After an impressive league phase, Olympiacos find themselves at the business end of the competition—knockout football! The Round of 16 draw has presented José Luis Mendilibar with Bodø/Glimt as the team standing between his side and a place in a major European quarter-final for only the fourth time.

FK Bodø/Glimt is a Norwegian football club based in Bodø, a city located just north of the Arctic Circle. Founded in 1916, the club has grown into one of Norway’s most exciting and successful teams in recent years. Known for their attacking style, Bodø/Glimt have become a dominant force in Norwegian football, winning multiple Eliteserien titles. Their nickname, “Glimt,” translates to “Flash” in Norwegian, reflecting the club’s fast-paced, electrifying style of play.

Bodø/Glimt’s biggest rivalry is with Tromsø IL, with matches between the two teams referred to as the “Battle of the North.” These fiercely contested encounters showcase the footballing pride of Northern Norway and are among the most anticipated games of the season.

The club plays its home matches at Aspmyra Stadion, which has a capacity of almost 8,300. Despite its relatively small size, the stadium has become a fortress for Bodø/Glimt, with passionate supporters creating an electric atmosphere—even in the harsh Arctic conditions.

Honours and European Experience

Bodø/Glimt’s success is relatively recent. Until 2019, their best league finishes had been as runners-up on three occasions—1977, 1993, and 2003. They finished second again in 2019 and have since built on that foundation. Having now won the Eliteserien four times, most recently in the 2024 season, they have also claimed the Norwegian Cup twice (1975 & 1993), firmly establishing themselves as the dominant force in Norwegian football.

Due to their relatively recent rise, the club does not have a long and storied history in Europe. Bodø/Glimt have represented Norway in UEFA competitions on 15 occasions. Two of their most remarkable European results include a stunning 6-1 victory over A.S. Roma in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage and a 5-1 aggregate triumph against Celtic in the same competition’s knockout round play-offs.

This will be the first meeting between Glimt and Thrylos. In fact, Bodø/Glimt have never faced any Greek opposition in UEFA competition.

In the Hot Seat

FK Bodø/Glimt are led by Kjetil Knutsen, who has been at the helm since 2018. Knutsen had a modest playing career before moving into coaching. A goalkeeper, he never reached the top tier of Norwegian football, playing instead for local clubs including Hovding and Åsane. His playing career was relatively short, and he transitioned into coaching at a young age, where he found greater success.

Today, Knutsen is regarded as one of the finest tacticians in Norwegian football history, having transformed Bodø/Glimt into a dominant domestic force and a respected competitor in Europe. Under his leadership, the team have developed a reputation for disciplined, possession-based football. His ability to unearth and develop talent has been instrumental in Bodø/Glimt’s sustained success—all of the club’s league triumphs have come under his reign.

Route in Europe & Season-to-Date

Bodø/Glimt find themselves in the Round of 16 after a dramatic play-off round. They overcame Twente with a 6-4 aggregate score, losing 2-1 in the Netherlands before forcing extra time in the second leg with a 3-2 lead after 90 minutes. The home side then found two more goals in extra time to secure progression.

Glimt reached this season’s competition after losing their Champions League play-off against Red Star Belgrade. After eliminating Polish champions Jagiellonia 5-1 in the previous round, the Serbian side proved too strong, narrowly winning 3-2 on aggregate.

The Europa League league phase saw them drawn against Portuguese pair Porto & Braga, Union SG, Qarabağ, Manchester United, Beşiktaş, as well as Nice & Maccabi Tel Aviv. Four wins and two draws saw them finish just outside the top eight, placing ninth with 14 points.

In Norway, Glimt have not played a league game since the conclusion of their 2024 season—a 5-2 win over the famous, once-dominant Lillestrøm on December 1. The 2025 Eliteserien campaign is set to begin at the end of this month.

Players to Watch

Interestingly, Bodø/Glimt’s squad is almost entirely made up of Scandinavian players, with Russian goalkeeper Nikita Haikin the only exception. Even more impressively, the majority of the squad are Norwegian, with a scattering of Swedish and Danish representatives.

Kasper Høgh poses the biggest threat for the Norwegians. The Danish striker began his career at Randers FC before playing for clubs like Hobro IK, AaB, and Stabæk. After impressing in Norway with Stabæk, he joined Bodø/Glimt in 2024, quickly becoming a key player. He finished as the league’s second-highest scorer with 12 goals and earned a contract extension until 2028. The striker has also netted four goals in Europe so far, proving clinical from the penalty spot, converting both penalties awarded to him.

Central midfielder Patrick Berg is another key figure. The deep-lying playmaker has spent almost his entire career at Bodø/Glimt, barring an eight-month stint at Lens in France in 2022. In this season’s Europa League, he has been one of his side’s top performers across multiple metrics. According to SofaScore, he leads his team in average rating and has contributed five goal involvements en route to the Round of 16.

Thrylos have their work cut out over these two legs but are more than capable of travelling to Norway and securing a victory. However, fans, players, and the club as a whole must remain calm and confident even if they suffer a setback away. Glimt aren’t great travellers, and this Olympiacos side is developing into a formidable unit—one that knows how to get the job done.