How Embracing Unconventional Tactics Could Propel Arctic Minnows Bodo/Glimt Beyond Lazio

A tenacious spirit, distinctive training regimes, aggressive pressing strategies, and a defiance of conventional practices have propelled Bodo/Glimt, a remarkable team located just north of the Arctic Circle, to the cusp of the Europa League semi-finals as they prepare to take on Lazio in the return leg on Thursday at the Stadio Olimpico.

Underdog stories are a cherished narrative in sports. From Leicester City’s Premier League triumph to the Detroit Pistons shocking the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals, and the USA’s surprising victory over the Soviet Union during the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’, these tales resonate deeply.

While such tales remain rare—particularly for Scandinavian teams competing in a football landscape where wealth is increasingly concentrated—their uniqueness adds to their allure. Each saga has its own distinct elements, yet they often share common threads.

These stories typically feature inventive tactics, dedicated players eager to make an impact, a visionary coach, and astute management.

You’ll find all these qualities in a team hailing from a town of just 50,000 residents, situated a 16-hour drive from Oslo and further north than Iceland.

Kjetil Knutsen’s Bodo/Glimt stand a mere 90 minutes away from clinching a place in the Europa League semi-finals, following a 2-0 victory against Lazio in the first leg last week.

Echoes of ‘Murderball’

Upon their arrival in 2017, Knutsen and his assistant, Morten Kalveness, took over a club that had declared bankruptcy in 2011 and was almost destroyed by a Luftwaffe air raid in 1940. Historically labelled as an ‘elevator team’, they were embroiled in constant battles against relegation and promotion between the Eliteserien and the second division.

Fast forward to today, and the club has captured the Norwegian championship four times in the last five seasons. They exhibit a relentless spirit cultivated through high-intensity training sessions reminiscent of Marcelo Bielsa’s relentless drills known as ‘Murderball’.

Bodo/Glimt has cultivated a strong identity grounded in its home-grown talent, with players like playmaker Patrick Berg, captain Ulrik Saltnes, and winger Jens Petter Hauge all emerging from the club’s youth academy.

“Half the first team are local boys,” remarked Orjan Berg, a former player and the current sports director, in an interview with The Athletic.

“We aim for 40% of our squad to be from northern Norway, and that local players account for 15% of playing minutes. That’s part of our identity. Our fans want to see northern Norwegian players on the field.”

Charting a different course

The club’s lynchpin is undoubtedly 27-year-old Patrick Berg, who returned to Bodo this past summer after a brief, unsuccessful stint with French Ligue 1 side Lens.

Berg hails from Norway’s most renowned football lineage; his father, Orjan, and uncles, Runar and Arild, all played for the club. His grandfather, Harald, is celebrated as the greatest player in Bodo/Glimt’s history, having lifted the Norwegian cup in 1975.

Captain Ulrik Saltnes embodies the club’s refusal to yield. He once contemplated walking away from football due to persistent nausea and stomach issues before Knutsen’s arrival in 2017.

Now, he shares that the squad comprises numerous players with their own stories of setbacks and injuries, forging Bodo into an incredibly cohesive unit that takes immense pride in overcoming challenges.

Robert Frost’s line – ‘two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by’ – aptly depicts Bodo/Glimt’s club philosophy, building an identity by treading a different path than most.

Knutsen’s inclusivity—for player input, their unorthodox possession-based football, morning meditative sessions before training, and emphasis on performance over results—marks them as a club that operates outside the norm.

Identifying the X-factor

This philosophy extends to their recruitment strategy. Talents some clubs might overlook for being unfinished products are embraced at Bodo, a sentiment echoed by assistant coach Morten Kalveness.

“Does this player possess the specific X (factor) we’re after? Will they fit within our structure, and if they lack some elements, can we integrate them due to their potential?

“Can we design their development in ways that leverage their strengths, and identify a role within the team where those skills can shine?”

This approach aligns with a tactical vision where players interchange during build-up play. Bodo has adopted a dynamic style, frequently shifting formations to gain numerical advantages and exploit gaps. Knutsen consistently aims to position players so their individual talents can flourish.

The evidence of this strategy’s success is apparent, as UEFA statistics highlight that Bodo/Glimt has indeed emerged as a formidable opponent in European club competitions.

Remarkable statistics

When assessing aspects such as financial power, player valuation, crowd capacity, and city size, Bodo/Glimt may not rank among the elites. Nevertheless, in terms of recent achievements, they hold their own against the best within the Europa League.

Among all teams in the Europa League, Bodo/Glimt has netted the most goals this season with 24, leading Lyon (23) and Real Sociedad (22). Furthermore, Danish striker Kasper Hogh currently sits atop the tournament’s scoring chart with seven goals, alongside Olympiacos’s Ayoub El Kaabi.

At the other end of the pitch, Russian goalkeeper Nikita Haikin stands out with 50 saves, surpassing Viktoria Plzen’s Martin Jedlicka, who has made 41. Additionally, Hakon Evjen leads in tackles with 30, and Bodo/Glimt ranks among the top three clubs for possession recovery.

These statistics suggest that Lazio faces a considerable challenge as they attempt to overcome the underestimated Norwegians at the Olimpico.

Back in April 1991, the Olimpico became the site of a Scandinavian nightmare when Rudi Voller’s 88th-minute goal dashed Danish side Brondby’s UEFA Cup final hopes. Fast forward 34 years, and the Olimpico could witness the next chapter of a Scandinavian fairytale if these Arctic minnows manage to secure their spot in the Europa League semi-finals at Lazio’s expense.