Norway will break an 18-year drought on Tuesday by hosting its first Champions League game since 2005, not in its football capitals but in the remote Arctic town of Bodø. The town’s team, Bodø/Glimt, has remarkably risen to European prominence, dominating the Norwegian league four of the last five seasons and making headlines with their Europa League semi-final run against Tottenham Hotspur last year.
Bodø/Glimt’s success is rooted not in a superstar manager or players, but in a unique team spirit and culture, cultivated by their mental coach, Bjørn Mannsverk. A former fighter pilot, Mannsverk is credited with transforming the team’s mental resilience. He has become instrumental for the club, despite splitting his time working for the Norwegian Oil Fund and having no prior interest in football.
Mannsverk’s journey with Bodø/Glimt began in 2017, the year of the club’s centenary, which also saw them relegated. This low point made clear the need for mental fortitude, and Mannsverk introduced individualized mental training sessions, which quickly became popular among players. Notably, under his guidance, a struggling Ulrik Saltnes overcame persistent performance and physical concerns to become a core part of the team’s success.
Mannsverk’s philosophy doesn’t rely on quick fixes. Instead, it focuses on consistent improvement and a refusal to seek scapegoats. His approach includes fostering open communication and feedback within the team, cultivating an environment akin to his experience as a fighter pilot, where sharing mistakes is crucial for collective learning and safety.
One of Mannsverk’s impactful initiatives is ‘The Ring’, a huddle where players debrief and share responsibility after conceding a goal, instilling accountability and mutual support. This ethos has translated into standout performances, most memorably their 6-1 demolition of Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the 2021 Europa Conference League, a night touted as transformative for Norwegian football.
Despite setbacks, like losing to Spurs in the Europa League semi-finals, Mannsverk believes such experiences are vital for growth. The team uses these lessons as motivation, aiming to consistently perform at their best. Recently, Bodø/Glimt demonstrated their tenacity with a comeback from 0-2 down to draw with Slavia Prague in the league phase.
Bodø/Glimt’s story isn’t just a classic underdog tale; it’s a testament to the power of resilience and cooperative spirit, sharply epitomized by their mental preparation and Mannsverk’s influence. As they step onto the Champions League stage again, their journey speaks volumes about the potential of thoughtfully cultivating psychological robustness in sports.