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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Difficult to disagree with targeting the pedigree of the guy and the achievements of BG have been astonishing.
However, if Knutsen were to be appointed at Celtic Park, the entire organisation would need to be modified to adapt to the new style. He would need absolutely, and convincingly backed.
Now I’m not suggesting that the changes to training, tactics, incoming or outgoing player would be overwhelming. And I’m neither suggesting that the disruption Knutsen would introduce would be the chaotic cliff-edge we witnessed from Nancy.
But if we look at our existing squad and the potential summer outgoings, combined with existing loans, there is a little bit of a rebuild there for whoever takes the reins. It can’t be dependent on the accountants selling first, or clearing out deadwood, or waiting on bargains. A new manager (like Knutsen) will need backed from Day 1 to bring in key players to make any new system work.
Call me cynical, but the new boss would only be a part of the solution. Backing him, as we’ve asked for our previous managers, remains the greater issue.
Our board don’t do exciting or progressive, the new manager will have to be able to say yes lots of times.
IMO it’ll be Brian Barry Murphy currently at Cardiff City, another pet pooch for DD.
It’s not just about the manager himself, you could put Klopp into Celtic and we’d still be a mess.
You need structure,vision a future plan etc,sadly Celtic have none
Would be a good capture but definitely not robbie keane
Would say, he already has no shortage of offers in a managerial position imo?
Not so sure that the lure of Scottish football, would be to high on his interests list, at present either?
A major rebuild is potentially on the cards for ourselves.
With huge expections to be delivered.
A toxic environment between support and the board.
A new core group formed within the squad, but such players, may well not have to much intentions of staying around to long with ourselves.
So potentially looking like every summer, is going to involve many changes for the foreseeable.
No development programme available within Scottish football still.
So overall, we aren’t as much of an attractive proposition, that we once were imo?
Even struggling now, as to who will fill our 8 homegrown quota for next season? Accounts for nearly a third of a European squad, before a campaign even begins.
We are hopefully looking for a manager with a longer term in mind, as that’s what is potentially required for ourselves.
Somehow think someone like Knutsen, might be more interested in easier and better money available to himself now,than taking on ourselves imo?
He’s a proven manager. However Celtic being Celtic nepotism will be a factor.hh