Bodø/Glimt may lose successful coach Kjetil Knutsen to Strasbourg

Bodø/Glimt have confirmed that 57‑year‑old Kjetil Knutsen is in final talks with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. According to L’Equipe he is one of two candidates to replace Gary O’Neil, who recently moved to Ipswich. The move would mark the first time a Norwegian top‑coach leads a club in one of Europe’s five major leagues.

The club currently sits second in the Eliteserien with 70 points after 30 games (22‑4‑4) and a +57 goal difference, just one point behind leaders Viking. Top scorer is K. Høgh with seven goals in ten appearances. The next fixture is an away match against KFUM Oslo on July 12, where they face a team sitting twelfth.

What has Knutsen achieved at Bodø/Glimt?

Knutsen arrived as an assistant in 2017 and took over as head coach before the 2018 season. Since then he has delivered four league titles, one cup win and numerous European runs. In 2025 the side reached the Europa League semi‑final, and this season they became Champions League round‑of‑16 participants after eliminating Inter 5‑2 on aggregate. Those successes have given the club the finances to build a new stadium.

Why is Strasbourg interested?

Strasbourg, owned by the same consortium as Chelsea, has struggled with stability after Gary O’Neil left after only 27 games. They have also considered Wilfried Nancy, but see Knutsen as a coach who can bring Nordic discipline and an attacking philosophy to Ligue 1. The club finished eighth this season and hopes a new tactical leader can lift them into the top four.

What does this mean for Bodø/Glimt?

If Knutsen departs, Bodø/Glimt will be without its architect heading into a crucial final stretch. The club has already lost Gaute Helstrup to Malmö, and now the experienced manager could also leave. Aasmund Bjørkan, who has been with the club for decades, may serve as a temporary solution, but the board must quickly find a replacement who can retain the four players from Bodø who featured for Norway at the World Cup: Patrick Berg, Andreas Schjelderup, Fredrik Bjørkan and Jens Petter Hauge.

What happens next?

Strasbourg plans to announce its new coach before the season starts in August. At the same time Bodø/Glimt will likely begin a search for a foreign or Norwegian candidate who can continue the aggressive playing style. For fans the coming weeks will be exciting – both to follow the negotiations and to see how the team performs in the decisive match against KFUM Oslo.

Summary: Kjetil Knutsen is in final talks with Strasbourg, a move that could reshape both Ligue 1 and the Eliteserien. Bodø/Glimt face a new era, either with a new manager or with Knutsen at the helm for a season aiming to catch Viking in the title race.