Beyond Rodgers: Why Celtic Should Move Heaven and Earth for Knutsen

With Brendan Rodgers leaving, Celtic face a crucial choice. Kjetil Knutsen - the mastermind behind Bodø/Glimt’s rise - offers the ideal blueprint for Celtic’s future success in Scotland and Europe.

With the rumoured departure of Brendan Rodgers this summer growing legs amidst rising tensions with the Celtic board, it presents a critical juncture for the Scottish champions. At this pivotal moment, Celtic must make the right decision but the fear among some Celtic fans is that the board will hire from within or hire a stooge that does their bidding. In my opinion, Celtic must appoint Kjetil Knutsen as Rodgers’ successor - to reshape Celtic’s future on the domestic and European stage.

Knutsen is known for engineering a dramatic rise in Norwegian football with FK Bodø/Glimt, with his philosophy, youth development mastery, and tactical brilliance offer an ideal blueprint for what Celtic needs next.

Given the fiasco that has unfolded at the club over the past few months, the Celtic board must commit to a lasting transformation and Knutsen is the perfect fit.

The Case for Kjetil Knutsen: A Blueprint for Sustained Success

Knutsen’s story at Bodø/Glimt is one of determination, innovation, and remarkable success. Taking over as head coach in 2018 after a period of instability, Knutsen transformed Bodø/Glimt into one of Norway's most dominant clubs. Prior to his tenure, Bodø/Glimt was relatively unknown on the European stage and struggled for consistent league success. However, under his guidance, the club secured an unprecedented four Norwegian Eliteserien titles (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), the first ever national league titles in the club’s history. What makes these achievements even more striking is how Bodø/Glimt shattered records, including a historic 2020 season where they lost only a single game.

Beyond domestic dominance, Knutsen propelled Bodø/Glimt to new continental heights. His team became the first Norwegian side to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage in nearly two decades. Bodø/Glimt also achieved a stunning run in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League, reaching the semi-finals and becoming the first Norwegian club in history to reach a major European competition's last four - eventually being beaten by eventual winners Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side.

Knutsen’s journey was far from smooth, especially early on. He faced criticism and calls for dismissal during his first season, but the club’s leadership maintained faith in his long-term vision. This patience aligns with Knutsen’s own philosophy - success comes from process, culture, and identity rather than quick fixes. His leadership embodies calmness, resilience, and an obsessive focus on building a system rather than depending on individual stars.

For Celtic, a club looking to regain European respect and maintain domestic supremacy with an evolving squad, Knutsen’s proven formula of sustained growth, tactical innovation, and youth development stands as a powerful contrast to the instability that often disrupts bigger clubs - including Celtic. His tactical acumen, combined with mental fortitude and cultural clarity, could spell a renaissance at Parkhead.

Tactical Identity: Why Knutsen’s Style Perfectly Suits Celtic’s Squad

Knutsen’s tactical blueprint revolves around a dynamic 4-3-3 formation that prioritises high-tempo, attacking football coupled with intense, coordinated pressing. His teams are known for aggressive ball recovery, positional fluidity, and rapid transitional play, giving them an attacking edge and defensive solidity despite often operating with smaller budgets compared to the elite European sides.

Celtic’s current squad mirrors many of the traits Knutsen values. Wingers like Daizen Maeda providing blistering pace and directness, capable of exploiting wide spaces and breaking defensive lines with quick dribbles and incisive runs. Similarly, Kieran Tierney’s ability to surge forward from full-back, combined with solid defensive awareness, aligns well with Knutsen’s use of full-backs who join the attack while maintaining structural discipline.

Central midfielders such as club captain Callum McGregor offer the technical quality and footballing intelligence needed for Knutsen’s deep-lying playmaker role. This pivot orchestrates play from the base of midfield, ensuring quick distribution and control over tempo. Meanwhile, players like Arne Engels provide versatility and technical sharpness crucial for Knutsen’s fluid positional rotations, which often see midfielders and defenders interchange roles during the build-up phase.

Knutsen’s emphasis on high pressing and immediate counterpressing fits neatly with Celtic’s energetic forward line and industrious midfielders, who already adopt a work-rate beneficial to such intensity. His preference for third-man runs and quick vertical passes would enhance Celtic’s existing attacking potency, delivering faster ball progression and increasing goal-scoring opportunities.

Moreover, Knutsen’s tactics allow for adaptability - his team is capable of adjusting their shape and pressing triggers depending on opposition strengths. This tactical flexibility would empower Celtic to compete more robustly against diverse opponents in both Scottish and European competitions.

Overall, Knutsen provides a system that not only complements Celtic’s player strengths but also elevates the team by adding sharper collective structure, positional intelligence, and relentless energy, creating a clear and exciting identity for the club going forward.

Youth Development: Integrating Tomorrow’s Stars Today

One of Knutsen’s most compelling credentials is his unwavering commitment to youth development. At Bodø/Glimt, the academy and youth system are cornerstones of the club’s philosophy. Under Knutsen, the club has prioritised nurturing young talent, especially local North Norwegian players, by providing a clear, patient pathway from the academy to first-team football. Something that is missing at Celtic under the current structure.

Knutsen’s approach to integrating youth is remarkably holistic. Recognition is given not only to technical ability but also to character, mentality, and readiness for the physical and psychological demands of senior football. Knutsen collaborates closely with mental performance coaches to ingrain young players with resilience and confidence, allowing them to “live in the moment” and embrace challenges without fear of failure.

Crucially, young prospects at Bodø/Glimt receive substantial playing time under Knutsen’s watch, often in high-pressure domestic and European matches. This contrasts with many clubs that hesitate to throw youth into critical moments. Bodø/Glimt’s strong belief in development over results means players have the time to mature gradually, reducing burnout and fostering long-term improvement.

Players like Patrick Berg represent success stories of this system - rising through the ranks to become indispensable first-team leaders. Knutsen’s personal patience and trust in youth are vital ingredients in creating this conveyor belt of talent while maintaining high team performance levels.

For Celtic, where youth potential abounds but conversion into senior stars has failed for over a decade, Knutsen’s model provides a timely and proven framework. By replicating Bodø/Glimt’s patient, character-driven approach, Celtic could establish a steady flow of academy graduates prepared tactically and mentally to step into roles traditionally filled by expensive imports, blending club identity with sustainable competitiveness.

Resources Needed: Building a Knutsen-Inspired Future at Parkhead

To replicate Knutsen’s success, Celtic must devote sustained investment and commitment across multiple departments. Something that the current board seem to be alien to.

Youth Development Infrastructure

A clear, integrated academy structure is essential—linking youth training, scouting, and first-team pathways. This includes funding for regional scouting networks to identify local Scottish, UK, and European talents who embody the club’s values alongside technical potential.

Coaching and Support Staff

Celtic must recruit and develop coaches aligned with Knutsen’s philosophy - dynamic, flexible, and focused on both tactical and personal development. Expanding support with sports psychologists, data analysts, and conditioning experts mirrors Bodø/Glimt’s comprehensive approach to holistic player growth. None of this jobs for the boys mentality which continues to see Kennedy and Strachan retain their roles, along with the likes of McCart, Maloney, and McManus also in pivotal roles at the club.

Tactical Alignment

Embed a consistent style of play from youth through senior levels ensures that players transition smoothly and system knowledge is cumulative. This demands education and coaching consistency at all levels with regular monitoring and adaptation.

Training Facilities and Technology

State-of-the-art training grounds, recovery centres, and digital analysis labs are crucial for modern development. Celtic already have Lennoxtown and the newly refurbished Barrowfield facilities - but the club must continue to upgrade its physical and technical resources to ensure players grow in optimal environments with access to detailed performance feedback, injury prevention methods, and tactical sessions.

Leadership and Patience

Perhaps most importantly, Celtic must foster a culture that trusts long-term processes over instant results, backing Knutsen with the time, authority, and autonomy needed to embed his methods. This cultural patience is fundamental given the initial adjustment period youth integration and tactical reshaping demand.

With these resources committed, Celtic can translate Knutsen’s formula from the north of Norway to Scotland, creating a sustainable powerhouse rooted in identity, youth, and tactical coherence.

A New Dawn at Celtic with Kjetil Knutsen

The appointment of Kjetil Knutsen would mark a seismic shift for Celtic, signifying a commitment to innovation, youth, and tactical identity over short-term fixes like loan deals, free transfers, and project players bought from other clubs. His unparalleled record at Bodø/Glimt - four league titles, historic European nights, and a thriving youth academy - is a testament to what he can achieve with faith and the right tools.

Knutsen’s style aligns perfectly with Celtic’s current squad profile, promising a compelling brand of football that ignites fans and challenges rivals. His youth development blueprint offers a sustainable pipeline of talent, safeguarding the club's future and reducing reliance on expensive transfers. Yet, success requires more than appointment; it demands sustained investment, cultural change, and patience. Which former CEO Dominic McKay tried to do during his short time at the club, before being forced out by a board resistant to modernisation and change.

Embracing Knutsen’s philosophy fully could set Celtic apart in Scotland and Europe, offering a modern club model blending ambition, community, and footballing excellence. For a club ready to move beyond internal strife and stalled progress, Knutsen is not just a manager to fill a vacancy - he is the man to reshape Parkhead’s future.

What are your thoughts on the future of Brendan Rodgers at Celtic? And who you want to replace him, if he does indeed leave the club at the end of this season.