Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt defeated European giants Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday, February 24, to advance to the Champions League round of 16.
Following a dominant display in the first leg in Bodø, winning 3-1, the unlikely winners held out for a victory in Milan to advance.
They will now face off against familiar opponents, Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, in the round of 16, subject to the draw results on Friday, February 27.
They have an advantage over their competition in that Norway’s season runs from the end of March to the end of November, meaning they have not yet commenced their domestic league for the round of 16.
Bodø/Glimt were founded in 1916 and, until recently, operated in the realms of irrelevancy in the Norwegian Eliteserien, until they caught attention by beating AS Roma 6-1 away from home in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021, later reaching the semi-final in the following season.
They won their first league title in 2020, repeating that success in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Following an extensive qualification campaign last summer, Bodø qualified for the Champions League for the first time, making them the northernmost team to compete in the competition.
In a remarkable season for the four-time Norwegian champions, they have secured the scalps of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and notably drew against Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund during the competition this year.
Bodø is a city located around a 16-hour drive from Norway’s capital, Oslo, and is just north of the Arctic Circle.
Bodø’s stadium, Aspmyra, has a reported capacity of 8,200, making it the second-smallest in the Champions League this season, behind only Azerbaijani club Qarabağ FK.
Equation for success
We are now aware of Bodø/Glimt’s success, but what has caused this success?
As is often the case, the head coach has seemed to be the catalyst for their success.
Kjetil Knutsen was appointed in 2018 after previously serving as Glimt’s assistant head coach, where he regularly impressed.
The 57-year-old has transformed the club’s style with his tactics, relying heavily on high-intensity pressing.
This style is likely what ensures strong performances in away matches in Europe.
As for their home ties, they seem to have given new meaning to the phrase ‘home court advantage’. Teams that visit Aspmyra struggle with the cold and windy conditions, as well as the artificial turf they play on to keep the surface from freezing.
Glimt’s first league title in 2020 broke a whole host of records, including a record-breaking goals and points total for the season, which also provided the club with financial stability and room to grow following continental qualification.
They have appeared in some form of European competition since then, allowing the club to grow freely without significant financial worries.
No doubt, their success so far this year will further benefit their situation, with plans to build a new stadium also in Bodø’s future.
Team chemistry
Bodø/Glimt’s success may be attributed to a steady core of senior players leading the way, perhaps most importantly, Patrick Berg.
Captain of the club and anchor of the midfield, Berg is local to Bodø, having been born there in 1997. He has attracted interest from heavy hitters in Europe, such as Celtic and Ajax, and even spent a short spell at RC Lens in France before returning to Bodø after just one season.
The creative element of the team is Jens Petter Hauge, a left winger who also spent a short time away from Bodø after he was signed by AC Milan in 2020 following the team’s first title.
The fact that the club’s two biggest stars decided to return after big European moves speaks to the club’s culture.
The main issue many smaller clubs face is having their key players poached by larger teams in Europe, yet Glimt’s ability to hang on to their key players may highlight one reason for their success.
What next?
Barring a miracle, they will likely exit the Champions League in the next round, coming up against strong opposition once again, but they will have no doubt made strides in announcing their name around Europe.
The sad truth is that Bodø’s future may not be as exciting as its present; the location of the club mixed with the standard of the league they play in may not bode well for the progression of the club.
Bodø/Glimt received the €18.62 million basic participation fee upon qualifying for the Champions League, which every club receives upon qualification.
However, larger teams in the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A receive a larger amount through the market pool, which is awarded based on TV revenue and general reputation.
This payment usually amounts to between €40 and € 60 million, meaning Premier League clubs may earn up to €80 million for initial qualification, dwarfing the money smaller teams receive.
Neutral fans will no doubt cheer on Bodø for the remainder of their continental campaign, as the underdogs aim to make history and advance to the quarter-finals.
The draw for the next round is on Friday, February 27, and the round of 16 first leg will be March 17-18, followed by the second leg a week after on March 24-25.