Where is shunsuke nakamura now

I learnt a lot from him. Manager Strachan understood that I was the type of player who played by instinct and feeling. The fans did, too. It is noticeable when watching games in Japan that the organised hardcore never stop singing, waving flags and banging drums — in normal times at least.

In Scotland, the support ebbs and flows with the action and there was always a special buzz when Nakamura got the ball. On the other hand, Scottish and overseas supporters clearly react to each play, which directly affects the motivation of the players. When we played away from home, we felt timid and sometimes lost confidence. Now he is home and still playing as his 43rd birthday draws near but he is not the oldest player at Yokohama — far from it.

The year-old hit 49 goals and 18 assists in 11 games for Vissel Kobe, becoming a hero since his move from FC Gifu. Furuhashi was able to make his Celtic debut against Hearts last weekend, and he has now opened up on his move to Parkhead.

Nakamura hit 34 goals in games for Celtic, and Furuhashi has told The Herald that he spoke to Nakamura before the move, and he talked up Celtic Park and the atmosphere Bhoys fans create, whilst telling him to be himself in Glasgow.

He has given the supporters lot of memories over the years at all of the clubs he has been. While his free-kicks were spectacular, in open play his skills and touches are more subtle but equally effective and he was capable of splitting open a defence with just one or two touches. It was just reward for an immense contribution to a superb season. A trademark free-kick against St Mirren gave Celtic a late winner at Love Street but it was his superlative strike against Rangers at Celtic Park which will be remembered for eternity.

Showing excellent touch to bring a Gary Caldwell through ball under control Naka hit an unstoppable swerving and dipping half volley from 35 yards which rocketed past a bewitched Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal.

It was unquestionably one of the greatestCelticgoals v Rangers of all time. Naka was inspirational that night as Celtic grabbed a vital victory to put them back in contention in the championship race and sent shivers down the spineless backs of Rangers.

In effect, he scored just one free-kick during that season, and his corner kicks were so poor that many believed he should have been retired from the role. He stuck out as best he could, and played a competent role but was little use at many a time in what was a poor season for the squad as much as himself. His final season was overshadowed by stories that it was to be his last, and he stuck out for the whole season despite overtures from Japanese clubs.

In June , Naka signed for Espanyol, for a last hurrah before going back to Japan but his time there petered out, and the injury just lost him the edge there as it did at the end with Celtic. He soon returned back to Japan. It may be true that Nakamura was not as an explosive talent as the great Lubomir Moravcik and there were games when his influence was snuffed out usually due to being constantly hacked down.

But his genius was a joy to behold, and many believe that if Celtic had a better manager WGS had many detractors then Celtic could have gained more from playing him in a central midfield role and building the team around Naka more rather than sticking him out on the wings and possibly the wrong wing as well!

With three titles in his three years at Parkhead there is no doubting that Shunsuke Nakamura earned a place among the great Celts for the decade, however he has been under-rated and unappreciated by some sections. Not every player can be the greatest, but Nakamura gave his all and was heavily involved in the play on field.

Some critics point out that he was a poor traveller even within Scotland but that is excessive, and we can all point to evidence to show otherwise. The general involvement that Nakamura had in play was something that those more knowledgeable about the game would understand and respect. Being on the wing sadly limited his role at times. Regardless, he was a great player for Celtic and was missed in later seasons, especially for his work at the set-pieces.

The support all missed him for his good character and professionalism, as much as for his moments of genius. Also were to be missed were the multitudes of Japanese fans the Scottish support had the good fortune to meet both in Glasgow and in Europe who followed Celtic whilst Naka was at the club. They added further colour and culture to the club, and were made very welcome. That boy. It would mean even more to me given the time I spent in Italy as a player. If you are talking a pure, pure footballer, he is as good as there is.

It was asking too much of him, but he did it. He has looked physically and mentally tired recently, but he still managed to produce when it mattered. He is the most technically gifted player I have ever been involved with in the game. Paddy McCourt: I played on the pitch how I learned to play on the street.

A celebration of Hidetoshi Nakata, Serie A cult hero and fashionista icon. Can you name every team to play in the Champions League knockout stages? He was also keen to try new things off the pitch. The never-ending victory lap Of course, all good things come to an end, and during the season Nakamura suggested he would leave Celtic at the end of his contract in order to return to Japan, having left his country of birth some seven years prior.

It had been a brilliant journey. Ten years later, however, ultra-critical Bhoys might feel just the slightest bit miffed. But the midfielder is still playing.