Inside the Bodø/Glimt Academy: Culture, Curiosity, and Player Development with Olav Øverli

In this episode, we go inside one of the most fascinating clubs in European football — Bodø/Glimt. Over the past few years, the Norwegian club has built a remarkable culture and player development environment that has helped them compete at the highest levels of the game, including the Champions League.

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Joining Gary Curneen on this podcast is Olav Øverli, Academy Director at Bodø/Glimt. Olav shares a detailed look into how the club develops players, builds a strong culture, and creates an environment where curiosity, responsibility, and hard work are non-negotiable. He explains why the foundation of their academy begins with something simple but powerful: a love of the ball.

We discuss the principles behind Bodø/Glimt’s development model, the importance of aligned leadership throughout the club, how the academy balances joy and professionalism in youth development, and why they prioritize curious, engaged footballers over rigid systems.

Topics covered include: • Bodø/Glimt’s academy philosophy and culture • Developing curious and engaged footballers • Why “non-negotiables” are the starting point • Balancing joy and professionalism in youth development • Coaching younger players vs academy age groups • The role of feedback and honest coaching • Technology, data, and the limits of sports science in development • The impact of phones and distractions on young players • Hiring coaches and building a strong academy staff culture

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