Bodo/Glimt: Kjetil Knutsen linked with manager jobs but club ‘calm’ over interest

Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen should be applauded “all the way to the airport” should he leave the over-achieving Norwegian club.

As they prepare to face Tottenham in the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, Knutsen has been the subject of links to Leeds and Scottish giants Rangers.

Technical director Havard Sakariassen told BBC Sport he has grown used to 56-year-old Knutsen being touted as moving to some of Europe’s more famous clubs.

After seven seasons together, during which time Bodo have won four Norwegian league titles and become the first team from Norway to reach a major European semi-final, Sakariassen is relaxed about the speculation – and does not think Knutsen will leave.

“It’s his eighth year here, so we have been on a long journey together trying to build Bodo/Glimt to what it is today,” he said.

“It was not a quick fix. The first season he was here as head coach, half of the Bodo/Glimt press wanted him fired halfway through the season.

“But it was never, ever a discussion internally. We were 100% certain Kjetil was the right man – and he knew it.

“I know that he enjoys being in Bodo, enjoys working at this club. He’s probably had some really good offers along the way and should he for some reason decide to do something else I think we should applaud him to the airport and say thank you.

“But I’m not afraid of that at all. I think that we will work here for more years to come – but who knows.”

Knutsen’s name tends to come up each time a Premier League managerial vacancy arises, and with teams across Europe operating on significantly higher budgets, there is certain to be interest in their players too.

Skipper Patrick Berg – suspended for the first leg against Tottenham – left for French side Lens in 2021 and came back less than a year later. Midfielder Hakon Evjen left the club in 2019 for spells in the Netherlands and Denmark but returned in 2024.

Bodo/Glimt have worked hard to ensure, contractually, they are in a good place. But Sakariassen feels the club has a special attraction that means players are loathe to leave.

“Number one, we are in a good contract situation with all our players, which is really important,” he said. “It was a big job over the last years to put ourselves in a situation where we are in control.

“That players or staff are attractive to other countries and clubs is only a positive thing. It is not something to be afraid of because it means we are doing a good job and achieving success.

“But really, players enjoying playing here and being part of it. It has to be a really cool club that comes for it to outrank Bodo/Glimt.”