Tottenham Hotspur had some inside help when they faced Bodø/Glimt during the Norwegian side’s impressive European run last season.
According to Record in Portugal, Portuguese coach Sérgio Raimundo – who was part of Ange Postecoglou’s staff at Tottenham at the time – played a key role in preparing the club for that tie.
Bodø/Glimt became one of the surprise teams in European football. Their 2025/26 campaign included big results against clubs such as Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Inter, while they also drew with Borussia Dortmund.
However, last season their Europa League journey eventually ended in the semi-finals against Tottenham. Spurs won both legs of that tie, beating the Norwegian side 3-1 and 2-0.
The Portuguese outlet tells the story about Raimundo, called ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’, and how he helped the reigning Europa League champions.
Tottenham’s scouting trip to Norway
Record explain that Postecoglou sent Raimundo to Norway ahead of the tie to watch Bodø/Glimt in person. The idea was to understand exactly how the team played, especially in their unique home conditions.
The Portuguese coach says the Norwegian side have a very clear pattern when matches start.
“Bodø/Glimt tend to start matches very quickly in the first 15 minutes. They usually press high from goal kicks and then drop into a very compact block once the press is broken.”
Their physical intensity also stood out during that European run.
“They maintain short distances between players at all moments of the game. In fact, they were the team that covered the greatest total distance in the 2024/25 Europa League.”
Raimundo also highlighted the unusual conditions at Aspmyra Stadion, Bodø/Glimt’s home ground in northern Norway.
“The stadium is very different from what the Champions League is used to. The low temperatures create a harder pitch and the water freezes when it hits the ground.”
That environment affects the behaviour of the ball on the artificial pitch.
“The ball can ‘stop’ when it bounces on the synthetic pitch, which allows Bodø/Glimt to exploit direct passes behind opposing defences during transitions.”
Now offering advice ahead of Sporting clash
Bodø/Glimt’s rise has been one of the most interesting stories in European football in recent years. Their intense pressing, physical output and unusual home conditions have caused problems for several major clubs.
However, Tottenham’s preparation under Postecoglou showed how careful scouting can neutralise those strengths.
By understanding the tactical patterns and the unique conditions at Norway, Spurs managed to control both legs of the semi-final and stop Bodø/Glimt’s Europa League run before lifting the trophy.
Now, Raimundo shared those observations while speaking to Record about Bodø/Glimt’s current Champions League tie against Sporting.
The Portuguese side will face the Norwegian club in the round of 16, and Raimundo was asked to outline what teams should expect when playing them.
His insights come from first-hand experience. After all, he was part of the Tottenham staff that helped stop Bodø/Glimt’s Europa League run last season with two controlled victories.
Those matches remain one of the clearer examples of how detailed scouting and preparation can help neutralise one of Europe’s most unconventional opponents.
