Bodo Glimt profiled as Celtic face minnows who inflicted Jose Mourinho nightmare

It was tough blow for Celtic to narrowly drop into the Europa Conference League.

After an impressive nine points earned in a tough Europa League group, the Parkhead side had to settle for third spot and a place in the new competition.

Now they know they face a tough away day to Norway in February as they step into the third-tier competition for the first time.

They will take on Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt as they look to progress through the tournament.

While not a household name in European football, the club are beginning to make their mark domestically and on the Continent. One advantage Celtic will have is they are likely to come up against a side that is rusty given their domestic campaign finished at the weekend, with Glimt again top of the league.

Record Sport takes a look at the team from the Arctic Circle and what Ange Postecoglou can expect.

Who are they?

The Norwegian side are famous for bringing novelty toothbrushes to games, but have become notable in recent years for brushing aside the competition.

Having been on the fringes of the Norwegian game and playing in the second tier as recently as 2017, the club have enjoyed a meteoric rise in their domestic game.

They have lifted the last two Eliteserien titles, but are still looking to make their mark on Europe.

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The debut of the Europa Conference League marks the first time the club have reached the group stage of any European competition. However, they came painstakingly close to a historic victory at the San Siro last season, with Milan ultimately narrowly a avoiding Europa League playoff disaster with a 3-2 win.

Oh, and the toothbrushes. Fans carry the large yellow brushes to games, but the origins are shrouded in mystery. The most popular claim is that former player Olav Jacobsen pulled a toothbrush out of his pocket to conduct the fans in the 70's, and the tradition stuck.

Where do they play?

Celtic fans face a tough away day trip – the Arctic Circle.

The Aspmyra Stadion can squeeze in just under 7500 fans and punters may be huddling together for warmth with temperatures in Bodo plummeting as low as minus 7 degrees last February.

Biggest moment

Jose Mourinho suffered the heaviest defeat of his managerial career as Roma were battered 6-1 by the Norwegian side earlier this season. The that aren't one that Postecoglou can afford to take lightly after that statement victory and, boy, do they like to attack.

Who is the manager?

Kjetil Knutsen took over three years ago from his post as assistant when former manager Aasmund Bjorkan became sporting director.

Before his tenure, Bodo/Glimt had never won the Norwegian league title, with three runner-up finishes their highest achievement.

He has transformed the club into a dominant side in Norwegian football as Knutsen guided them to a runners-up medal in 2019, their highest league finish in 16 years.

He would cap that the following year as he broke the decades of dominance of Rosenborg and Molde at the top of the Norwegian game. And then followed that up with another title in the season just finished.

Knutsen's exploits saw him linked with taking over the hotseat at Norwich before the arrival of Dean Smith while he was also on a list of potential next Rangers managers after Steven Gerrard left Ibrox.

Who are the key players?

Erik Botheim is expected to the next breakthrough talent out of Norway and the 21-year-old striker is their top scorer so far this season with 21 goals. He has been heavily linked with a move to Lazio and Roma in recent months.

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Ola Solbakken has been a key player in the club's title success last term, and has made his breakthrough into the national side this season. At just 23 has formed a lethal partnership with Botheim.

Captain Ulrik Saltnes is the glue that holds the team together in the middle of the park. The 29-year-old has spent more than a decade with the club on his way to lifting the historic league title last season.