Kjetil Knutsen remains one of the names in the frame as Celtic’s hunt for a manager goes on.
Martin O’Neill is the interim manager for now, but it isn’t yet known if he will still be in charge at the end of the international break.
But along with Wilfried Nancy and Kieran McKenna, Knutsen is one of the names being spoken about – and his CV at Bodo/Glimt is impressive.
This wouldn’t be the first time that a highly-rated Norwegian champion has come to Celtic to replace a Northern Irishman – the exact same thing happened with Ronny Deila in 2014.
And Deila is one of just two managers to have reached a certain European feat against the Bodo/Glimt boss, who could be a serious option for Celtic.
Ronny Deila’s achievement against Celtic target Wilfried Nancy
Knutsen’s European achievements across the last five years at Bodo are quite something.
From obliterating Jose Mourinho’s Roma, knocking out Porto and Lazio on the way to a Europa League semi-final and (sadly) thrashing Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic in 2022, they have established themselves as a force.
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Tottenham Hotspur v FK Bodo/Glimt - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg
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But they couldn’t crack Ronny’s Club Brugge.
Whilst in charge of the Belgian side, Deila was drawn in the same Conference League group as Knutsen’s side, alongside Besiktas and Lugano.
Brugge dominated the group, winning all but one of their six group matches, and crucially doing the double over the Norwegian side.
Not many teams go to the Arctic Circle and pick up the three points but Deila won 1-0 there, with the help of midfielder Hugo Vetlesen who had joined Brugge from Bodo just months earlier.
Only Arsenal have also achieved the double over the Norwegians in Knutsen’s reign, doing it in the following season’s Europa League.
Of course, the new format of European competitions means that teams no longer play twice against each other before the knockouts.
He is unlikely to leave the club before the conclusion of their Champions League round at the end of January, but 67 Hail Hail understands that Knutsen would be keen on the role.
Should they qualify for the later stages of the competition, this date would become even later – so it remains to be seen if the Hoops are willing to wait.
Celtic target Kjetil Knutsen’s position at Bodo/Glimt
Knutsen is the figurehead of Bodo/Glimt’s remarkable rise, but there is more to it than just one exceptional manager.
He works closely in a well-oiled football structure alongside Club Manager Truls Bjerke, Director of Football Håvard Sakariassen and, perhaps most crucially, Chief Analyst Aasmund Bjørkan.
Bjørkan, whose son is Bodo and Norway’s left-back, has an extremely close relationship with Knutsen. He was previously the manager of the club with Knutsen as his assistant.
Knutsen took over when Bjørkan moved to the role of Sporting Director, before moving to the analyst role in 2023.
If Celtic could dismantle Bodo’s entire staff, it would be some coup, and it could be integral in persuading Knutsen.