Bodo/Glimt Fairy Tale Echoes in Europa League

Before eliminating Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Bodo/Glimt was merely a speck among elite European clubs. Slowly but surely, Bodo/Glimt compelled the public to pay attention to their achievements. The dramatic victory over Lazio also made them the first Norwegian club to advance to the semifinals, creating a captivating tale for the public.

Every competition is indeed destined to have its own tale. The tale in football refers to the rise of a small club that defies predictions and emerges as a hero. The English Premier League has already narrated its tale with the success of Leicester City in becoming champions in 2016.

The UEFA Champions League is not lacking in heroic tales of clubs turning the tide after suffering a heavy defeat in the first meeting. In the Europa League, this story was illustrated by Bodo/Glimt. Their presence in the Europa League had gone unnoticed or at least disregarded by the public. However, they proved their worth by defeating Lazio in a penalty shootout at the Olimpico Stadium in Rome, Friday (18/4/2025) early morning WIB.

Armed with a 0-2 defeat in the first meeting in Norway, Lazio played tenaciously and with determination to turn the situation around. This effort bore fruit when goals from Valentin Castellanos (21st minute) and Tijjani Noslin (90+3) brought Lazio to equalize the aggregate score to 2-2.

The match continued into extra time. From here, the drama began. Boulaye Dia's goal in the 99th minute sent the entire stadium into a roar. However, the joy of Lazio supporters was short-lived. Nine minutes later, Andreas Helmersen equalized the score at 3-3. The winner ultimately had to be determined through a penalty shootout.

Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin became a hero thanks to his actions in thwarting penalty executions from Loum Tchaouna, Noslin, and Castellanos. In the Bodo/Glimt camp, only Patrick Berg and Jens Petter Hauge failed to fulfill their duties.

"This is an extraordinary night. I am very tired now, but in the end, I am very happy to have made it through. It was truly difficult. Lazio is a very, very strong team. We started well, then we faced many difficulties. They pressed us very high. We often lost the ball, and they have very good players," said Hauge.

Bodo/Glimt is now just two matches away from the final they aspire to reach. In the semifinals, the team coached by Kjetil Knutsen will face Manchester United. The two teams previously met in the group stage at Old Trafford Stadium, where MU had to "fight hard" to secure a 3-2 victory.

Knutsen praised his team's spirit and resilience, saying it was not easy to score at the intimidating Stadio Olimpico.

"This is a historic moment for our club, and we are proud of what we have achieved tonight. We believe in ourselves and have demonstrated that we can compete at this level," said Knutsen.

After the quarter-final stage concluded, four teams remain in the semi-finals of the Europa League. These teams are Bodo/Glimt, MU, Tottenham Hotspur, and Athletic Bilbao. Unlike MU, Spurs, and Bilbao, which are relatively well-known to the public, the achievements of Bodo/Glimt are relatively less heard of. However, Knutsen assures that his team is not just coming as a mere participant in the semi-finals.

Playing in minus 10 degrees Celsius and on hard field grass is a common occurrence. It is a different experience for other players compared to us.

Although not as well-known compared to the other three semifinalists, Bodo/Glimt's performance over the last four seasons has been remarkable. Hailing from a small town, Bodo, in the Arctic region, Bodo/Glimt has successfully won the Norwegian League for four consecutive seasons since 2020.

That achievement feels miraculous for a city where playing football is nearly impossible. For almost the entire month of the year, the Bodo region is covered in snow and cold temperatures. To play football, resilience and perseverance are required to withstand the howling winds and freezing temperatures that strike the city throughout the year.

"Playing at minus 10 degrees Celsius and on hard grass is normal. It's a different experience for the other players than it is for us. I think it also makes us more resilient in terms of the game and the type of weather there. We are used to having to adapt to everything in a different way, but that's how it is here," Bodo/Glimt midfielder Hako Evjen was quoted as saying by CNN.

Thanks to the success of Bodo/Glimt in winning the Norwegian League for four consecutive seasons and their impressive performance in the Europa League, the city, which is usually dormant under the snow, is now bustling. Every time Bodo/Glimt plays a home match, more than 6,000 people fill the Aspmyra Stadium.

"We have received so much support and the entire city is now almost a football city. It is wonderful to see how football can transform a city and how people perceive it. Playing here now is much bigger than it was a few years ago," said Evjen.

The famous English playwright, William Shakespeare, once said, what is in a name? For Bodo/Glimt, a name can be the beginning of their success. Glimt in Nordic means flash, sparkle, or light. From the philosophy of this name, Bodo/Glimt has ultimately illuminated the entire city.

Through the tales they tell in the Europa League, the entire population of Bodo is now awakened from its long sleep. (REUTERS)