Bodø/Glimt, the small Norwegian club from a fishing town, has captured hearts in Europe just as the cash-driven Super League project collapsed this month. The timing is striking.

At Friday’s Champions League draw, Manchester City faced a choice between Bodø/Glimt and Real Madrid, whose Super League ambitions once threatened UEFA competitions. For Bodø/Glimt chief executive Frode Thomassen, the club’s rise shows that effort and teamwork matter more than money.

Bodø/Glimt made its Champions League debut in 2021, losing in the first qualifying round. Since then, the club has steadily progressed through European competitions, including the Europa Conference League and Europa League semifinals last season. This year, four wins in five weeks against elite teams like Man City, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan have solidified their reputation.

With coach Kjetil Knutsen, Thomassen, and a loyal staff since 2017, Bodø/Glimt has grown from a 40-member team with a €4.2 million budget to a Champions League contender. Thomassen emphasizes the club’s “family-like” culture, where respect and teamwork outweigh individual brilliance.

Financially, success is paying off: UEFA prize money exceeded €26 million last season, with a potential €12.5 million bonus for reaching the quarterfinals against Arsenal or Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, a new 10,000-seat Arctic Arena is under construction.

Bodø/Glimt’s story stands as a triumph of heart, teamwork, and passion, showing that even small clubs can compete at the highest European level.