15.10.2026 13:11
Bjorn Mannsverk, who served as a fighter pilot in the Norwegian Air Force for 20 years, played an important role in Bodo/Glimt's rise despite saying he did not understand football. The relegated Norwegian team, with the former pilot's mental training, won championships in its country while also challenging European giants.
Behind the rise of Bodo/Glimt, the team of the Norwegian city of Bodo with a population of about 50,000, in European football came an extraordinary figure. Bjorn Mannsverk, who served as a fighter pilot in the Norwegian Air Force for 20 years, played an important role in the club's success story despite having no background as a footballer or head coach.
THEY BROUGHT A 20-YEAR VETERAN FIGHTER PILOT TO THE TEAM
At Bodo/Glimt, which was relegated in 2016, football director Havard Sakariassen thought that the team's biggest problem was mental fragility rather than technical inadequacy.
Seeking the solution outside the football world, the Norwegian side reached an agreement with former fighter pilot Bjorn Mannsverk, who had worked on mental resilience and awareness throughout his military career.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND FOOTBALL," HE SAID, AND CHANGED THE TEAM'S FATE
Mannsverk, who took up his role in 2017, focused on changing the way players dealt with pressure, despite openly stating that he had no football knowledge. Working together with Kjetil Knutsen, the former pilot taught the players to focus on their momentary decisions on the pitch rather than on results they could not control. Mannsverk's "1 percent rule," based on the idea that small improvements would make a big difference over time, became one of the fundamental parts of the team's mental preparation.
THE RELEGATED TEAM DOMINATED THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bodo/Glimt won the first Norwegian league championship in its history in 2020, scoring 103 goals in 30 matches. The Norwegian team also reached the championship in 2021, 2023 and 2024, becoming a major force in the country's football.
BEAT MANCHESTER CITY, ELIMINATED INTER
Bodo/Glimt's rise also went beyond Norway's borders. The team, which drew with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, secured victories against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. The Norwegian side eliminated Inter 5-2 on aggregate in the play-off round and advanced to the round of 16.
THEY WON 3-0, LOST 5-0 AND WERE ELIMINATED
In the round of 16, Bodo/Glimt defeated Sporting CP 3-0 in the first match but lost 5-0 in the return leg and bid farewell to the tournament. After this heavy defeat, Mannsverk also evaluated the disappointment experienced by the players as part of mental development. The former fighter pilot said, "After the match, in the dressing room there was not only disappointment but deep shame. I wanted them not to suppress this pain but to feel it." Mannsverk's extraordinary career, extending from fighter piloting to football pitches, became one of the most striking details of Bodo/Glimt's success story.