Former Aberdeen defender Thomas Solberg believes his old club should consider looking to Norway for their next boss after two of his countrymen were linked with the post following Jim Goodwin’s sacking.
Geir Bakke is a name that has been sweeping the north east and Solberg reckons the Lillestrom gaffer, who led them back to the top flight in his homeland before earning a Europa Conference League place, could be a realistic option.
Kjetil Knutsen is another name mentioned although the Bodo/Glimt previously knocked back the Reds and could be destined for bigger things given his heroics with the small-town club. Bakke is 53-year-years old and has earned a solid reputation in Norway. Solberg spent three years at Pittodrie after working under the late cult hero boss Ebbe Skovdahl and said of Bakke and Knutsen: “I know Aberdeen are looking for a new manager and they are probably the two most esteemed managers in Norwegian football at the moment.
“They have both been successful, especially Kjetil at Bodo/Glimt. They have won the league and made an impact in Europe as well. He is highly thought of. Geir took over the Lillestrom job when they had been relegated and took them back up to the Eliteserien.
“They are both very good managers. I know Geir a bit because he was at my old club Moss for a few years. He is a really hard-working guy who has enjoyed a lot of success. They would both come highly recommended from people who know Norwegian football.”
Solberg, speaking to the Press & Journal, believes Bakke is a more realistic option. He said: “I’m not sure how probable it is for Kjetil to leave because he has built something and I’m not sure he is ready to leave.
“Aberdeen would probably be the right-sized club for him and the right type of challenges. Geir would maybe be the more likely to be looking at that type of move. It feels like the more natural choice. Would Aberdeen be a step up or a sideways move compared to where he is at the moment? That is difficult to say. I’m sure they would both like to test themselves outside of Norway. It’s about finding the right club.
“For the average Norwegian football fan, they may see a move to Aberdeen as a sideways move but for the managers I think it could be a good challenge to try to replicate their success in a different league. It would be more of an accomplishment than doing it in their own league.”
