Football fans often talk about the predictable nature of the game. For long periods, across most major leagues, we see the same teams claiming the major trophies. In Italy, Juventus have dominated in recent seasons. In Spain, Barcelona have won eight of the last 11 titles, restricting old foes Real Madrid to just two. While in Germany, Bayern Munich are aiming for their eighth-straight league title.
Against the odds
But sometimes, as we have seen in England of the last few years, there is a changing of the guard where established forces such as Manchester United and Arsenal are forced out of the picture while other teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City enjoy great revivals. And at other times, there are fairy-tales where the underdogs prevail against all the odds. A recent example was Leicester City’s 2015/16 Premier League win which virtually nobody saw coming – apart from the Foxes fan who wagered £50 at odds of 5000-1 on the outcome. In fact, plenty of people predicted the East Midlands to be relegated when Italian coach Claudio Ranieri was appointed.
Norway’s surprise package
Few people who take part in betting in Norway would have put money on FK Bodø/Glimt winning the Eliteserien at the start of this season. The league has been dominated by Rosenborg in recent years with seven of the last 10 titles heading to the Trondheim-based club. However, the minnows from Bodø are heading into the final two months of the season as genuine title contenders.
Yo-yo club
The team coached by Kjetil Knutsen were only promoted in 2017 and finished the Eliteserien in 11th place last season as Rosenborg claimed their 26th title. Their biggest previous achievement was winning the Norwegian Cup, a feat they achieved twice in 1975 and 1993. They also finished runners-up in the league on three previous occasions but they have never ranked as regular contenders. Their most recent second-place finish in 2003 was followed by a 12th place finish in 2004 and then relegation a year later. Since then, they have yo-yoed between the first and second tier. They are best known in Norway for their mascot: a bee named Putte who rides a salmon across the pitch.
Big games ahead
After 21 games played of the current campaign, FK Bodø/Glimt trailed Molde by just three points having lost just four games all season. Coincidentally, the two sides will face each other in the final game of the season at the end of November. However, they will also have to face fellow title contenders Brann and Rosenborg before then.
If FK Bodø/Glimt can win the Norwegian top-flight title, it will probably go unnoticed across much of the footballing world but it would be big news in Scandinavia and a momentous achievement in any context. The fans are known for bringing large yellow toothbrushes to their matches, a ritual that started back in the 1970s. Maybe that was all in preparation for the huge smiles that would be brought to their faces by a miracle title win.
