In recent months, it has been entertaining to follow European big clubs that put Kjetil Knutsen on their wish list. A few years ago we had said: “Oh, the very …. have the Norwegian coach as a candidate for the big job.” When the Scottish big club Celtic wanted Knutsen to Glasgow this autumn, even Celtic supporters stated that “Bodø/Glimt are sportingly bigger than Celtic”. This week came the news of a Premier League club that has Knutsen on the list of candidates – without them having anything more to offer.
In September 2022, the BBC and Daily Mail reported that Brighton had singled out Kjetil Knutsen as a top candidate to replace Graham Potter, who was brought in by Chelsea (just under seven months ago). Knutsen had shown himself with Bodø/Glimt in matches out in Europe, the style of play was considered a good match with Brighton’s philosophy. It ended with Roberto de Zerbi. Four years later, Fabian Hürzeler is in charge of Brighton, but the young German has gone from a strong start to leading Brighton in their last six games without a win. Another change of coach is lurking in the English seaside resort.
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Hürzeler is still not in danger of being sacked, but continuing the streak without wins, the Brighton management has the list ready with potential replacements. Football-Insider claims the list consists of Edin Terzic (former Borussia Dortmund), Kieran McKenna (Ipswich), Bo Svensson (former Mainz) – and Kjetil Knutsen.
Before Knutsen extended his contract with Bodø/Glimt, the success coach said it would take a lot to tempt him away from Glimt. After the Champions League adventure that now seems to have no end, we do not understand which club will persuade Knutsen to opt out of Bodø/Glimt in the coming years. Do like Thomas Frank, leave the big success and fun at little Brentford to be fired at big Tottenham after eight months? No, thank you.
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The big clubs can stop putting Kjetil Knutsen on the list of candidates. The Bodø/Glimt phenomenon is the place to be for the biggest matches – in the long run.
