Bodo/Glimt's ten‑year academy plan has produced a unique trio now playing at the World Cup for Norway. Jens Petter Hauge, Fredrik André Bjørkan and Patrick Berg all grew up in Glimt's system and are now on the international stage.

Where did the success begin?

In 2016 Glimt were relegated from the Eliteserien, the same year Hauge and Bjørkan made their debuts. At the same time Patrick Berg was about to break into the first team after five appearances in 2015. At the end of that year Ørjan Berg, then development director, travelled to Oslo to discuss the club's academy programme at a cup‑final seminar. The question was whether a NOK 4.5 million investment would pay off. Ørjan recalls: "We answered we were confident it would and we could talk again in ten years."

Why did it pay off so brutally?

Ten years later the three men sit in the US‑based Norway World Cup squad. Patrick Berg, now 28, calls the experience surreal: "It's a bit surreal when you think about it." Bjørkan adds that traveling together has been a key factor. Ørjan Berg stresses that Glimt's environment, with continuous interaction among the same players, has been an "x‑factor". He also mentions Andreas Schjelderup, who has become a good friend to the trio despite being five years younger than Hauge.

What does this mean for Bodo/Glimt now?

The club's youth focus has not only supplied national team players but also strengthened its league competitiveness. Today Bodo/Glimt sit second in the Eliteserien with 70 points after 30 games (22‑4‑4) and a recent form of WWWLW. With 85 goals scored and only 28 conceded (+57 goal difference) they are just one point behind leaders Viking. Top scorer is K. Høgh with 7 goals in 10 appearances. The next fixture is an away match against KFUM Oslo on 12 July 2026.

What can we expect ahead?

The current crop of young talent shows that Glimt's long‑term investment yields results at both club and national level. With World Cup experience under their belts, Hauge, Bjørkan and Berg can bring an international standard back to Namsos. Ørjan Berg believes the success will inspire more clubs to adopt the academy model and that Glimt can stay at the top of the Eliteserien for years to come.