Managers

[CroJack]

1. Kjetil Knutsen



Kjetil Knutsen’s tactics and style of play ​

“When Kjetil Knutsen was appointed as head coach of FK Bodo/Glimt, the club finished only 11th, and this was due to the system he employed. Knutsen prefers a system that encourages high pressing and is attack-minded, much like Jurgen Klopp’s Gegenpressing. Knutsen’s style was simple: win the bal as quickly as possible, press the opponents in their half and make the field as wide as possible.

And while the system may be deployed heavily in the top leagues, it is hard to find the personnel to do so in a league like Eliteserien (Norwegian First Division). Hence it took an entire season for the team to acclimatise to Knutsen’s demands. But when it did, FK Bodo/Glimt became unstoppable. In the following season, they broke the record for most points, most wins, most home wins, most away wins, most goals and the best goal difference in the league’s history. In defence, the team resorted to a 4-1-4-1 system to ensure they didn’t get pushed back in their half.

However, they were so dominating that they rarely got pinned in their half. In attack, Knutsen’s philosophy is to create overloads, especially on the wings. The teams make multiple passing triangles. Players always show for the ball and every player on the ball has two passing options at all times. So, they just outpassed their opponents much like Barcelona did with their famed tiki-taka system.

However, what made Knutsen different was his strong emphasis on mental toughness. Knutsen appointed Bjorn Mannsverk, a former Norwegian air force pilot, as a mental health coach to ensure this. Knutsen’s emphasis was that his players should be psychologically in top form.

Kjetil Knutsen is slowly but surely reaching the point where he would find it hard to ignore the advances of other clubs. He has worked miracles with Bodo/Glimt while playing an attractive style of football. Having a club where the town’s population is 52,000 on the brink of a Champions League place is the stuff fairytales are made of.”

Read more here:

Kjetil Knutsen: Norwegian Manager Scripting Bodo/Glimt's Fairytale

Kjetil Knutsen has taken FK Bodo/Glimt to two titles, and Conference League quarterfinals in just three seasons and is now in demand

www.foottheball.com