It has been reported that former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura is set to call time on his football career [Sponichi].
The former Celtic midfielder has been in the game for 26 years with him enjoying a magnificent four-year spell in Glasgow under Gordon Strachan who brought him to the club in 2005.
Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura has a shot saved by Spartak Moscow’s Stipe Pletikosa
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee Smith
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Incredibly, Nakamura is still featuring for Yokohama FC in the second tier of Japanese football at the age of 44 which is testament to the way he has looked after himself over the years.
The Celtic story for many who have passed through Parkhead’s gates always tends to have a link to someone else who has featured or made an impact at the club with Nakamura being no different.
He began his career off with Yokohama F Marinos which is of course the club which current Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou won the J1 League with.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates winning the Scottish Premiership REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Daizen Maeda made an impact with the club and made the transfer initially on loan to Celtic in January before completing a permanent move to Glasgow in the summer.
It could be said that Celtic’s former number 25 was a trailblazer for those to follow years later with some of Celtic’s Japanese contingent speaking of the influence which he had with their fondest memory being his wonder strike against Manchester United in the Champions League.
He will be given a send-off on the final day of the season with his side having secured promotion to the top flight.
Former Celtic player Shunsuke Nakamura in the stands
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Graham Stuart
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Everyone at Celts Are Here wishes Shunsuke all the very best in his retirement.
