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Fullname: Odin Thiago Holm
aka: Odin Holm, OTH
Born: 18 January 2003
Birthplace: Trondheim, Norway
Signed: 22 June 2023 (from Valarenga (Norway) est £2.5m)
On loan: 14 Jan 2025-31 Dec 2025 (to LA City FC (MLS)); Mar 2026-Nov 2026 (Valerenga (Norway))
Left: –
Position: Midfielder
Debut: Celtic 4-2 Ross County, SP, 5 Aug 2023
Squad No.: 15
Internationals: Norway
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
“It’s been tough. Glasgow is a tough city!”
Odin Thiago Holm (Apr 2026)
Odin Holm was the first signing under the returning Brendan Rodgers. He’d actually been monitored prior to Rodgers, with the young player seen as a good prospect for an ambitious Celtic. Scotland had just beaten Norway (with Man City’s incredible striker Haarland) the weekend before, although Holm had still to win his first cap to this point.
The returning Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was very encouraged with the new signing which boded well for Holm, yet he was to end up little playing him.
A key match ended poorly, when Holm was sent off in his debut Champions League match (2-0 defeat to Feyenoord Sep 2023), after a rash challenge. He had much to still learn, but actually so did the entire Celtic squad, who fared very poorly in that campaign in Europe.
As Celtic faltered on the field in his first half season at Celtic, Holm was pushed back in the queue for first team places. If anything, he seemed to have totally disappeared from sight for the support, and even in comments he was forgotten. He managed to score a goal in a one-sided steam-rollering over amateur side Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup (Jan 2024) which helped to get him some visibility, but thereafter only had one more appearance in the season.
So season 2024/25 was a make or break for Holm at Celtic, but an immediate blow for him was not even being listed in Celtic’s Champions League squad. Next thing, he wasn’t even included in the squad photo for the season! It was a blow and taken as a vote of no confidence in him.
As Celtic were going through a strong spell both domestically and finally pushing well in the new Champions League setup, it was a greater challenge to make it into the first team, especially with the wealth of talent at hand at the time. The expensive purchase of Engels further dented Holm’s chances.
As Celtic had stepped up with a strengthened squad pushing to their limits both at home and in the Champions League, the challenge facing Holm was beginning to seem impossible. He moved on loan to LA FC in the MLS for their 2025 season for a fresh start.
He had a poor time in LA having to wait until March 2025 before he was belatedly given a first team appearance, yet was awarded with little on-field time with the MLS side. He was to end up struggling through much of the 2025 season with a leg injury, according to an MLS press release. As LAFC were doing well, it was an extra struggle to get into the side.
He revealed that he was battling to save his career at the age of just 22 after a rare condition in his calves that has left him feeling “half-paralysed” when he played. You could only sympathise with his predicament:
“It’s painful and disgusting. It feels like I’m losing control of my ankle joint. I can’t seem to lift my ankle or my feet when I run. It feels like I’m half paralyzed”.
Holm on his injury (Oct 2025)
He returned to Celtic, and soon re-joined Valerenga on loan for the Norwegian league season for 2026. With Norway back in for the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1998 with the cliche of a “golden generation” of players, it was doubly disappointing for Holm to be so far in development & progress in his career. He was nowhere near close to even be a look-in at this stage.
[…]
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Quotes
“I talked to the people knowing him best. This is what they said:
“Despite his young age (20), he demonstrates exceptional insight and maturity in the game. He possesses a remarkable level of skill with various types of play.
“He thrives in a deep role, but he has also shown progress as a one-on-one offensive player and has become increasingly adept at bypassing opponents with his improved passing abilities.
“Areas for his development include improving his agility and speed on the field, as well as enhancing his ability to win the ball in tight matches. While he relies heavily on his ability to read plays and anticipate ball movement, he could benefit from strengthening his physical presence in close encounters.
“Moreover, he is a pleasant individual who may come across as slightly sarcastic when interacting with others. However, he is genuinely calm and intelligent”
@JanAageFjortoft : https://twitter.com/JanAageFjortoft/status/1672000419126452224 (June 2023)
“I have spent time already with Odin, he is an ambitious, exciting young player and I know he is delighted to be joining us.”
Brendan Rodgers (June 2023)
[…]
Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2023-24 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Goals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
- 2023-24, 2024-25, […]
Scottish Cup
- 2023-24, […]
Scottish League Cup
- […]
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Articles
Odin Thiago Holm signs for the Hoops on five-year deal
22 Jun 2023, 3:55 pm
Club News
By Celtic Football Club
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Celtic are delighted to announce that Odin Thiago Holm has signed on a five-year deal with the club subject to the satisfaction of usual conditions and international clearance.
The 20-year-old Norwegian central-midfielder joins from Eliteserien club Valerenga and becomes Brendan Rodgers’ first signing of the new campaign.
The manager said: “We are delighted to bring Odin to the club and to secure his signing so early in the window.
“He is a player who has been in the club’s scouting and recruitment system for some time.
“I have looked at him closely and believe he is someone who can make a big impact at the club.
‘I have spent time already with Odin, he is an ambitious, exciting young player and I know he is delighted to be joining us.’
“He is a great addition to the quality squad we already have and we really look forward to working with him.”
From the Guardian
Odin Thiago Holm: Why I still think Celtic is the right place for me to be
The Norwegian midfielder is learning from O’Riley and feels Rodgers is best man to develop him
By Graeme Macpherson
Published 27th Jan 2024, 22:30 GMT
When Atletico Madrid’s interest in Matt O’Riley first became known, it looked like Odin Thiago Holm would be a leading candidate to step into the midfield to replace him.
With Celtic sticking rigidly to their insistence that O’Riley won’t be sold, however, the Norwegian may have to settle for continuing to learn from his fellow midfielder instead. This hasn’t been the easiest of maiden seasons for the 21-year-old, a summer arrival from Valerenga who is yet to play a full 90 minutes and was sent off on his Champions League debut away to Feyenoord.
Among the positives, though, has been the steady influence of O’Riley who is only two years older but blessed with a maturity, both on and off the field, that belies his relative youth. That O’Riley has similarly arrived from a small club – MK Dons –to thrive both domestically and in the Champions League makes him the ideal example for Holm to try to follow.
“Matt plays in the same position as me and he’s a really good player so I try to learn a lot from him,” he confirms. “I couldn’t have a better role model. He’s doing everything right and he’s a top professional away from the pitch as well. I try to watch what he does and learn from him. I wouldn’t say he gives me advice – I just look at him to see what he does and how he does it. I watch how he plays, how he recovers and also the work he does in the gym. That has helped me.
“Matt inspires me because you look at how he came here from a smaller club and what he’s achieved here at Celtic already. You have to be patient in football and take your chance whenever you get it. I’m sure Matt would say he’s done that. Throughout his career so far, he’s done all he can to improve. When you get a chance, you have to be ready. I’m sure all the players here have dreams of reaching their top level.”
O’Riley is not the only one helping to shape Holm’s career. Brendan Rodgers has built a reputation as a manager famed for bringing the best out of youthful prospects and he has fed Holm with plenty of advice, too. “The manager has a reputation for developing young players and making them better so I hope he can do that with me,” he adds. “He started in academy football and managers with that background like to develop players. He’s the right manager for me right now.
“He knows how to deal with each individual player and I really like the relationship we have. He has set goals for me this season. He wants me to bring more of my personality out on the pitch. He wants me to do more, when I have the ball and when I don’t, in terms of intensity in the press. There are a lot of different points I can improve on. The move so far has had ups and downs. I’ve had some good games, so bad ones. And of course, I got a red card in my Champions League debut. But I’m really happy to be here and I still feel this is the right place for me to be.”
Opens up about serious injury
Football pro Odin Thiago Holm (22) breaks his silence in a new VG podcast.
https://www.vg.no/sport/i/LMv4vQ/odin-thiago-holm-avsloerer-alvorlig-skade-i-ny-podkast
Odin Thiago Holm signed a five-year contract with the big club Celtic in 2023.
The short version
Odin Thiago Holm talks about his long-term calf injury in the podcast “They were going to be the best in the world.”
He was diagnosed only after signing with Celtic, and has tried several treatments without lasting effect.
Thiago Holm still hopes for a good future in football, despite the challenges.
It’s been a long time since the Celtic pro left the field. But in the podcast series “They were supposed to be the best in the world,” he talks about the injury that has plagued him for years:
– I try to take one day at a time. But I notice that it’s easy to get bogged down.
From Vålerenga to Celtic
Trøndelag’s Thiago Holm was on an exclusive list of the hundred greatest football talents in Europe in 2023. He has a past as a Vålerenga player, before signing a five-year contract with the major club Celtic in Scotland in June 2023.
He made several appearances for the team in the green and white stripes, and scored at Celtic Park . But in 2024 he struggled with playing time and began to feel pain in his calves. It was an injury he also experienced during his time at Vålerenga, but it was not until he was a Celtic player that he was diagnosed.
– There is a syndrome I have in my legs that makes it a little difficult to play football, unfortunately, he says.
The injury that won’t go away
When he runs continuously during a football match, his calf muscles expand and put pressure on nerves and blood vessels. It’s like blowing up a balloon in a narrow tube. Thiago Holm had problems with a lack of blood supply.
– It’s painful and disgusting. It feels like I’m losing control of my ankle joint. I can’t seem to lift my ankle or my feet when I run. It feels like I’m half paralyzed, he says.
In the podcast “They were supposed to be the world’s best”, Thiago Holm talks about the injury, death threats and the meeting on a southern holiday with former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Last year, Thiago Holm traveled to Wyoming in the USA to test a treatment where the muscle relaxant Botox is injected into the calves.
Thiago Holm explains the treatment of the calves as follows:
Botox is injected into the parts of the muscle that compress blood vessels and nerves. These points in the muscle will be paralyzed, allowing normal blood circulation even during muscle pumping.
On a team with world stars
It took him about three months to shake off the side effects of the treatment. In order to avoid starting in the middle of the season and build up gradually, he was loaned to MLS club Los Angeles FC (LAFC). There, he became teammates with world stars such as Hugo Lloris , Oliver Giroud and Son Heoung-min in the winter .
His legs felt good again, and for about seven months things went well. Thiago Holm came on as a substitute towards the end of several matches. But as playing time increased, the problems returned. The effect of the botox treatment turned out to be temporary – eventually he felt the pain again after just 10–15 minutes of play.
– There are no treatments or surgeries that provide any guarantees, so we have tried a few different things.
In April, he received another Botox injection in his calves. This time with half the dose, to reduce the side effects afterwards. The treatment did not have the desired effect, and in September Thiago Holm therefore traveled to Wyoming for the third time. This time, he received a full dose of Botox, which means three more months on the sidelines and an uncertain future.
– I’m just moving around in uncertainty and hoping for the best. It makes it a little harder, but I still have hope that it will be good.
Uncertain future
Thiago Holm still has a contract with Celtic until mid-2028. The plan is to return to Scotland after the MLS season in the United States is over, no later than December .
– I have a strong desire to make it happen at Celtic. But the primary goal now is to get my body in order.
Three weeks after the injections in September, Thiago Holm is optimistic.
“As of now, I am not experiencing any symptoms during exercises that I have previously experienced symptoms with. A very good sign, but I still need some time before the side effects of the injections wear off,” Thiago Holm wrote in an SMS to VG this week.
Christian Thorkildsen
“It’s been tough. Glasgow is a tough city,” Odin Thiago Holm
“It’s been tough. Glasgow is a tough city,” Odin Thiago Holm
By Conor Spence 7 April, 2026 No Comments
Odin Thiago Holm
ROTTERDAM, 19 Seotember-2023, Stadium Feijenoord / De Kuip , Champions League , season 2023 / 2024, Feyenoord – Celtic , Odin Thiago Holm. Photo Getty ImagesThe Norwegian midfielder moved to Glasgow with high expectations but has found it difficult to make a consistent impact. Over the past three years, opportunities have been limited for Holm and he has been unable to establish himself in the first team.
A loan switch to Los Angeles FC also failed to deliver the regular minutes he was seeking, while injury setbacks – most notably an ankle issue – have further disrupted his progress during spells under Brendan Rodgers and, more recently, Martin O’Neill.
Once regarded as one of Norway’s brightest emerging talents, the 23-year-old has featured just 16 times across all competitions for Celtic, highlighting his struggles to break through.
Holm recently completed a late loan return to his former club Valerenga, where he began his professional career.
Upon rejoining, he was quick to express his enthusiasm for being back in Norway, contrasting it with the challenges he faced both in Glasgow and during his time in Major League Soccer.
Speaking via VG Podcast, Holm said: “I’ve missed being here [Valerenga]. I’ve been really looking forward to coming back. It’s been tough. Glasgow is a tough city. When you don’t have a social network and you end up in a situation where you’re not playing football, it’s hard to find many sources of joy.”
“There wasn’t much joy in football, and that’s natural when you don’t play. My first priority is to enjoy football again. It was really good to get a session here again. The body feels good.”
One of the most memorable moments during his time at Celtic came on his Champions League debut, when he was sent off against Feyenoord. However, he did manage to find the net during a rare start in a deeper midfield role, scoring in a Scottish Cup tie at home to Buckie Thistle in January 2025.
Holm was signed by Celtic in summer 2023 as part of the Mark Lawwell spending spree ahead of the return of Brendan Rodgers where effectively the £25m received from the ‘windfall’ sale of Jota to Saudi Arabia was squandered by some world class recruitment from those insider the Celtic boardroom.
Conor Spence