Bodø/Glimt have established themselves as the team to beat in Norway. In this article, we use Wyscout data to analyze Norwegian champions’ tactics, key players, recruitment strategy, and European ambitions.
Bodø/Glimt are the reigning Norwegian Eliteserien champions and have won four of the last five titles domestically. Their quick rise was once seen as an exception and a bubble which would burst quickly, but they have proven themselves to be in this game for the long haul.
Their quest to become the first Norwegian side to qualify for the new version of the Champions League starts this summer, but before that, a potential Europa League run awaits in addition to the defence of their domestic crown.
Here we take a look at what sort of team Bodø/Glimt have morphed into in the last calendar year.
Dominant domestic metrics
Despite nearly blowing a sizeable lead at the top of the standings and securing the title on just the last day of the season, from a metrics perspective Bodø/Glimt were clearly the best team in Norway last season.
They scored the most goals, conceded the fewest, had the best xG and xGA, plus were very dominant with the ball. Glimt averaged 63% possession, averaged the most PPDA against and racked up nearly 200 more progressive runs than any other team! They committed the fewest fouls, had by far the fewest yellow cards (29) and only KFUM Oslo conceded more shots against.
They were a statistical juggernaut all over the field and manager Kjetil Knutsen has turned this team into a possession monster, dominating fixtures.
Focus down the left
Bodø/Glimt’s actual formation has generally stayed very consistent with a 4-3-3 in the last five years with different roles slightly tweaked depending on personnel.
Bodø/Glimt's average formation - Wyscout Team Report
The left back spot was filled by Fredrik André Bjørkan who is a key man for them due to his two footed nature and ability to perform in a more inverted role. Glimt focus a lot of their attacks down the left hand side where Bjørkan has a strong relationship with Jens Petter Hauge, who cuts inside as an inside forward.
Their sustained danger and dribbling rate are very apparent in this area of the field, and centrally where their midfield trio is renowned for being very strong.
Key player – Patrick Berg
Midfielder Patrick Berg was arguably the best player in the Eliteserien in 2024 and possibly the key man in this whole Bodø/Glimt team.
Once signed by Lens for £4m in January 2022, he returned back to the club within 9 months and has stayed with them since. He operates in a deeper role compared to Ulrik Saltnes who is a genuine box to box midfielder and Håkon Evjen effectively a modern day mezzala.
Glimt score a lot of goals from their midfield trio, 20 in total in the Eliteserien in 2024, whilst Albert Gronbaek in the first half of last year also chipped in with 8 goals.
Berg's Shot Map - Wyscout Player Report
Impressive recruitment and transfer strategy
Bodø/Glimt are a club who are well managed both on and off the pitch. Their transfer policy, talent identification and point of sale are usually spot on and they rarely make many mistakes in this department.
In the last five years they have sold nearly £70m worth of players and spent nearly £33m. These are huge amounts for any Norwegian club, either in or out, but their success has enabled them to grow.
Some great examples of profit are Albert Gronbaek, who was signed from Danish club Aarhus for £4.80m and sold to Rennes 2 years later for £15m. Faris Moumbagna was signed from relegated club Kristiansund in January 2023 and sold exactly one year later to Marseille for £8m.
Victor Boniface is one of the top strikers in Europe now and it was Glimt who picked him out from Real Sapphire in Nigeria, before eventually being sold for over £6m to Belgian club Royal Union Saint Gilloise.
The talent spotting, up-coaching and conveyor belt system has been a remarkable machine for the team from the Arctic circle.
In the 2023/4 season Bodø/Glimt were able to spend more money (£15.20m) than what they sold (£14.36m). They are in a great position to gain an edge over their domestic rivals and can also pay big wages due to the transfer money they’ve received, in addition to money from strong European runs. Their scouting is complete around the world, and it is not often they get a player wrong.
Glimt have also welcomed previous star players back to the club, sniffing out when a move hasn’t worked out abroad.
The likes of Fredrik André Bjørkan, Jens Petter Hauge, Patrick Berg, Håkon Evjen, Philip Zinckernagel, Marius Lode and Nikita Haikin have all returned in some form, either on loan or permanently.
They have also been very active in bringing back players to the Eliteserien who were from other clubs which didn't work out. Amahl Pellegrino, who was a key man for them for several seasons’ springs to mind. They keep close tabs on players once they leave the country and use it to their advantage.
Manager Kjetil Knutsen has been highly rated for years and it’s a surprise he’s still at the club. One burning ambition is to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, something that would be fitting for this team after a great era of domestic dominance.
No Norwegian club has qualified for the UCL group stage since the 2007/08 season (Rosenborg) which is a massive wait of 17 years. Glimt have come agonisingly close, losing out to Dinamo Zagreb AET in 2022 and by a one goal margin to Red Star Belgrade last summer. That was bitter disappointment for the club who only created 0.05 xG in the 2nd leg and let themselves down in nearly every department.
They reached the Europa Conference league quarter finals in 2022 and the playoff round of the Conference League twice, so they have had some success on the European stage.
Red Star Belgrade vs Bodø/Glimt Match Dynamics - Wyscout Match Report
Glimt reached the Europa Conference league quarter finals in 2022 and the playoff round of the Conference League twice, so they have had some success on the European stage.
And they could yet continue their Europa League journey further this spring. An action-packed knockout tie against Twente, which swung back and forth but eventually saw Glimt prevail to get through to the Round of 16, where they will face Olimpiacos.
Regardless of what happens, business will again get properly serious in the summer when the Champions League qualifiers come around. The club have improved their own individual UEFA Coefficient to such a level, in addition to the Eliteserien moving up the rankings so that they will give themselves the best possible chance.
If they could bolster the squad in the next two Norwegian transfer windows and not lose anyone significant, then this could be the year they could finally get over the line.
If you want to learn more about Wyscout Data & API, get in touch!
