Runar Berg: The Bodø/Glimt player
Runar Berg played 315 games for Bodø/Glimt over two spells as well as winning five Norway caps – he is the uncle of Bodø/Glimt’s Norwegian international Patrick Berg and played - along with his two bothers - against City back in '94…
“I remember it well. I played against City that day, as did my two brothers, Ørjan and Arild.
“My father Harald was also a Bodø/Glimt player and was the first to represent the national team from the north of Norway as well as being one of first Norwegians to play abroad.
“My nephew Patrick plays today for Bodø/Glimt and Norway, so he is carrying on the family tradition.
Patrick Berg for Bodø/Glimt in the 2025/26 season
Patrick Berg for Bodø/Glimt in the 2025/26 season
“I was actually born in The Hague, when my father was playing for Den Haag, but we moved back to Bodø when I was five or six.
“Me and my brothers were raised and came through the Bodø/Glimt youth system to play for the first team, and we also returned later in our careers to play for Bodø/Glimt again.
“It’s hard to know why Bodø/Glimt is so special to us, because we were something of a yoyo club in the 1990s, doing well for one or two years, winning a cup, finishing runners up in the Eliteserien and then being relegated. “
“When we played Manchester City in 1994, Bodø/Glimt were a side who constantly had their best players bought by other teams – it happened to me and to my brother – but now they are the best team in Norway and also Scandinavia because we are attracting players from Denmark and suchlike because they want to play in the Champions League, before moving abroad again later.
“Rosenberg had that position in the 1990s and it wasn’t easy for Bodø/Glimt to attract players, even from Norway because they were put off by the size of the club, the weather and location, so it was a struggle, but things have changed.
“So yeah, me and my two brothers, played that day, but Arild sadly passed away in 2019, which was very tragic for our family, but life goes on.
“English football in Norway is huge and has been for many, many years.
“I grew up in the 1980s and I was a huge Liverpool fan, and my bedroom wall was covered with posters of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and all their big stars, so Norway has a very strong connection with English football and even back in 1994, it was very special that Manchester City came to Bodø/Glimt.
“It was a really good day for us - and we are telling the current Bodø/Glimt players that they must beat City because as we showed, it’s easy!
“We changed from natural turf to artificial in 2006 and now most of the teams in Norway have artificial pitches, bar a few.
“Of course, nothing can beat a nice, natural grass pitch but it just wouldn’t work here because of the climate.
“Today, I work at Bodø/Glimt in the marketing while my brother Orjan works with the younger Bodø/Glimt players and also is in charge of the club’s community work.
“My nephew Patrick and his team-mates are professional and used to playing in big European matches now, but still, to have Manchester City – the best team in the world at the moment, I believe – it’s a huge, huge moment for our club.
“The team will treat as a normal game, but of course, it is special. I believe Erling played against Bodø/Glimt when he was at Molde and, of course, they won 1-0 and Erling scored the goal!
“City have quite a following in Norway these days. The kids everywhere wear his name and number on their back – I knew Alfie as well, because we are the same age – but yeah, Erling is a superstar but also a really nice person and everybody hopes he will play against Bodø/Glimt, while also hoping he doesn’t at the same time!
“The weather is cold just now, though not freezing, so not too bad – it’s a bit windy, but if it stays dry and the same, it could be quite nice. However, if it turns, it can be quite rough in Bodø with snow and strong winds, but we will see.
“It stays light here between 10am and 2pm, but it’s getting lighter and by the end of the month, we will be getting there, I think! I am looking forward to welcoming Manchester City and if we can repeat the score from 1994, I’ll be very happy!”