Norway, a nation comparable in size to Scotland, has achieved significant success in international football, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals. This accomplishment prompts an examination of whether Scotland can draw lessons from its North Sea neighbors.
The Norwegian national team's progress is partly attributed to a notable development in their domestic league, exemplified by the club Bodo/Glimt. The club experienced a remarkable resurgence, returning to the top flight in 2016 after relegation and subsequently achieving success in European competitions. Bodo/Glimt reached the semi-finals of a major European competition for the first time for a Norwegian side when they faced Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, and later reached the knockout stages of the Champions League in their debut season.
Bodo/Glimt, nicknamed 'The Super Team,' are now considered a model for clubs across Europe, contributing significantly to the national team's talent pool. Currently, three of the four players in the Norwegian national squad who play domestically are with Bodo/Glimt. This emphasis on developing local talent has resulted in a squad where 25 out of 26 players progressed through their home country's development systems. The only exceptions were the player who learned in Liverpool's system and Erling Haaland, neither of whom were born in Norway.
In contrast, the Scottish national team, following the resignation of its manager, sees eight players from the Scottish Premiership and ten from the Premier League and Serie A. Seven of these players did not undertake their youth development in Scotland. The success of players like Erling Haaland has been acknowledged as a significant factor in Norway's performance, but the broader strategy of developing talent domestically appears to be a key element of their sustained success. The performance of clubs like Bodo/Glimt, alongside the national team's achievements, raises questions about whether a more fundamental change is needed within Scottish football to emulate Norway's developmental model.