Kjetil Knutsen live option for Rangers appointment, ‘all systems go’ for new Ibrox hire
Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is a “live option” for Rangers as they hunt down a successor for Michael Beale, according to the Daily Record.
The newspaper reported via their website on Monday (2 October) that while Graham Potter isn’t a contender for the Ibrox vacant, Kevin Muscat and Pascal Jansen are also in the running along with Knutsen.
It is understood that while Steven Davis is gearing up to take interim charge of the Light Blues, “it’s all systems go on finding a new boss” to replace Beale permanently.
Rockstar appointment
In the case of Knutsen, it wouldn’t be a left-field appointment to look at the Norwegian Eliteserien to hire a replacement for Beale, who was sacked – and rightly so – on Sunday (1 October).
Knutsen has transformed Bodo/Glimt into the top force in Norwegian football, winning the league title in 2020 and 2021, receiving three coach of the year awards and even leading the Bodo club to a massive 6-1 win over Roma in the Europa Conference League in 2021/22.
Knutsen became the first manager to see his team score six times against a Jose Mourinho team in that victory and currently, his team is top of the Norwegian top-flight yet again as they seek a fourth title in three seasons.
Knutsen’s rise in Scandinavia has seen him linked with top jobs across Europe.
Ajax and Celtic were linked with him in the summer [Herald] while Brighton were linked with Potter left them for Chelsea in 2022 [SussexLive].
It would be a major coup if Rangers were to land the 55-year-old Norwegian, who should be top of John Bennett’s shortlist right now.
In other Rangers news, Todd Cantwell has spoken out about Beale’s exit.