Bodo humbled, but Kjetil Knutsen remains the manager Celtic should target

March 18, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Bodo/Glimt may have exited the Champions League after a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Sporting in Lisbon last night. The Norwegian Champions ended up losing out 5-3 on aggregate, but they still made their mark at the highest level of club football, and impressed more than a few folk with their ability and desire in the Champions League, clearly the greatest club competition in the world.

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Players of Bodo/Glimt pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Kjetil Knutsen is the main driving force behind the minnows exploits, as he and his players once again proved their credentials on the biggest stage of all, taking tiny Bodo to the last sixteen of Europe’s premier competition, just a year after leading them to the last four of the Europa League.

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Knutsen has masterminded wins over the likes of Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan along the way, on what can be only described as a very modest budget. He took a 3-0 hime advantage to Lisbon before the wheels came off, losing out in extra-time to the Portuguese Champions.

Kjetil Knutsen, Head Coach of Bodo/Glimt, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

The 57 year old Norwegian hasn’t just seen his team scrape past the big guns, he’s done it by tactically outsmarting his so called bigger name rivals in the opposite dugout.

Maximiliano Araujo of Sporting CP celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting CP and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Knutsen’s side play a very effective and efficient modern style of football, making them a very difficult side to play against, as several top sides have discovered. That is the footballing philosophy we’ve been crying out for, and the Norwegian is the man who could revive Celtic’s fortunes if given the chance.

Bodo are also still very efficient at adapting to the pressure of juggling domestic and European football, winning four of the last six Norwegian top flight titles, despite being universally viewed as a ‘small’ club.

Bodo’s supporters are now used to success thanks to Knutsen’s revolution, and after last nights exit from Europe, as well as narrowly missing out on last seasons title, Knutsen may well feel as if he’s taken Bodo as far as he can.

Fans of Sporting Clube de Portugal show their support by displaying scarfs prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

In my opinion, Celtic should be doing everything they can to snare Knutsen and persuade him to take the reins before the end of the season.

To acquire Knutsen’s signature would require a hefty compensation fee after he recently extending his contract, but he would be worth every penny, as he has the proven credentials to rejuvenate our fortunes, both domestically and in Europe.

FK Bodo/Glimt supporters in action at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting CP and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Forget all the other reported names for the job, like Roberto Martinez or Jens Berthel Askou. Kjetil Knutsen is the outstanding candidate for the Celtic managers job. He’s a winner domestically, and he can punch above his weight in Europe, we’ve got to do all we can to entice him to Celtic Park.

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