Neil Lennon has pushed back on Celtic and Bodo/Glimt comparisons after the Norwegian side powered their way into the Champions League last 16.
Kjetil Knutsen’s side dismantled Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate to get there. They have already beaten Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in this season’s competition.
That run has sparked the inevitable discussion among Celtic supporters.
Bodo/Glimt come from a town of around 40,000 people. Their stadium holds roughly 8,000. Since 2018, they have generated around €77m in income and spent about €34m, all while keeping Knutsen in place and building a clear structure that produces and develops talent.
They reached a Europa League semi-final last season. They are now in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Knutsen’s name has been linked with Celtic for what feels like years, which only adds fuel to the discussion.
But Lennon is not entertaining the comparison.
Speaking on Premier Sports Ireland, the former Celtic manager said:
“Bodo/Glimt is maybe an exception to the rule this year. They have their own way of doing things. The salary cap, you can’t do that at Celtic. They’ve just got Norwegian and Danish players. (If Celtic wanted to do that), they’d just have to reset and just sign Scottish and Irish players.
“And then they’d have to have a four or five year plan. Are the fans going to be willing to sacrifice domestic dominance to build a team for Europe in four or five years time?
“That’s the question. These questions were asked about Midtjylland as well. Everyone’s going on about the structure of Celtic… since 2000, they’ve had three last 16s and a Europa League Final. When we got to the last 16 in 2012, the following summer we sold Wanyama, Hooper and Kelvin Wilson. Because it’s not sustainable.”
“The recruitment has been disappointing” 🗣️
Neil Lennon and @ashoreilly_ discuss what’s gone wrong for Celtic this season 😬🍀 pic.twitter.com/wj1Stgl5hP
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) February 26, 2026
Lennon’s point about sustainability is one Celtic have leaned on for years. When the club hit a European high point, key assets were sold. Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson left after that 2012 run. The cycle resets.
He continued: “The other thing is, clubs who are successful get assets stripped. For Bodo/Glimt, can they keep Knutsen? Will there be clubs coming in for their players? And can they then replace that? That’s what Celtic try and have to do year in year out.”
That is the business model. Buy, develop, sell, repeat.
Knutsen recently signed a new contract at the club, keeping him there until 2029. He’s fully bought into the project, aligning with the club’s vision.
Yet supporters look at the bank balance and ask a fair question. Why, with tens of millions sitting there, has the club not pushed harder in the transfer market to close the gap?
When presenter Aisling O’Reilly asked why more has not been spent, Lennon admitted:
“I don’t know the answer to that, to be honest with you. It’s difficult to attract £10m, £12m, £15m players to Scotland unless you’re guaranteed Champions League. That’s in my own experience.”
There is truth in that. Scotland is not a glamorous sell without Champions League football secured.
But Celtic are the fourth most profitable club in Europe. The resources are there. The frustration comes from the sense that the club rarely stretch themselves unless qualification is already in the bag.
Lennon admitted that Celtic supporters do make legitimate points regarding the club’s hierarchy.
“There are valid questions to be asked of the board. But over the piece, over the past 15 years, the board’s record has been impeccable.”
Project signings. Failed bids. Deals that drift and collapse. It has become familiar.
Domestic dominance matters. It always will. But Europe is where Celtic are measured beyond Scotland.
Bodo/Glimt have shown that smart planning, continuity and boldness can punch above their weight.
Celtic head into the summer with an interim manager, an interim director and a fanbase looking for direction. The next appointments and the next transfer window will say plenty about whether the club are content to manage the cycle, or finally try to break it.
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