Nakamura: How the original man from Japan made way for countrymen at Parkhead

Twenty years on from his signing, Caldwell and McDonald recall playmaker’s time at Celtic

It was a great team to be a part of, but Naka had that bit of stardust and genuine quality which won us many games

22 Jul 2025 - Glasgow Times

Anthony Haggerty Football writer

IT has been 20 years since Celtic signed Shunsuke Nakamura. Then Celtic manager Gordon Strachan signed the midfielder from Italian side Reggina for £ 2.5million in July 2005 after watching him play whilst he was on a sabbatical from football management.

The original man from Japan turned out to be mesmerising, mercurial, and magnificent. In his four years in Scotland, he won three SPL titles, one Scottish Cup, and two Scottish League Cups, gaining a cult following.

Strachan labelled the playmaker a genius. Scott McDonald insists that ‘Naka’, as he was affectionately known in Glasgow, was the best player he has ever played alongside.

Two decades on from his arrival in Scotland, The Celtic Way spoke to Nakamura’s former team-mate, Gary Caldwell, to reassess the player who arrived on these shores as an unknown quantity and left a footballing demigod and icon whose popularity in the East End of Glasgow still endures today.

Naka the football genius

Shunsuke Nakamura was a special and gifted player. He possessed a sort of generational talent, and those who were lucky to see him in action felt privileged, honoured and blessed.

The Japanese international playmaker had great vision, a range of passing ability that few could equal, and a wonderful left foot. His trademark specialist set-pieces saw him score many spectacular free-kicks for Celtic.

“If I’m lucky to be here in 25 or 30 years, I will still be thinking about Shunsuke Nakamura.”

Those were the words of Naka’s Celtic manager, Strachan.

Former team-mate Scott McDonald insisted that Nakamura was a perfectionist.

The Aussie said: “Nakamura is by far the best footballer I have ever played with. The hours he used to put in, what a professional he was.

“He used to go out for hours and hours on end, hitting free kicks after training. His little interpreter would be in the goal, trying to replicate the top corner; it was hilarious.

“It would be -2 °C outside, and Naka would be there saying, ‘ Let me just hit another one, just one more’.

“I think the thing with Nakamura is he didn’t speak a lot of English, but he was such a perfectionist. If he came off the training field and just felt it was not happening for him, he’d be in such a mood the whole day.

“You would ask the question, and he’d just mumble a bit, and you just knew that was the guy he was. He was just a top, top professional.”

Caldwell concurs wholeheartedly and admits that the Japan internationalist was the closest thing you could get to a superstar on Strachan’s side.

The former Celtic and Scotland defender and now Exeter City boss said: “Shunsuke Nakamura was a brilliant footballer. He was technically incredible. It wasn’t just his free kicks and set-piece deliveries; he had a brilliant first touch and great awareness.

“Naka was a superemely talented footballer. It was always amazing how his team-mates passed the ball to him because he was always in space.

“He was always in a position to receive, even though he never shouted for the ball. He was just such a brilliant player, and he won many a game for Celtic with his magical free kicks.

“I can’t believe that it’s been 20 years since Naka signed for Celtic. That makes me feel old! It is scary when you think about where the time goes.

“Playing in that team alongside the likes of Naka was probably some of the best moments of my career at club level. Celtic had so many good footballers back then, but Naka was a cut above. He was one of many talented footballers, and we were a really successful team because of that

“Gordon Strachan’s team was made up of hard-working footballers. We all had a real work ethic, and we had a fantastic team spirit. It was a great team to be a part of, but Naka had that little bit of stardust and genuine quality which won us many games.

“It was Strachan who labelled Nakamura a genius. I can’t argue with that.”

Nakamura did speak English!

Contrary to popular belief, Nakamura did speak English, or at least he knew more than he let on inside the Celtic dressing room.

The club assigned Nakamura an interpreter, who comically went by the name of Macca, and he shadowed the player everywhere.

Macca was a constant presence in the dressing room and on the team bus, translating the message from Strachan and Naka’s team-mates’ banter.

During an interview for FourFourTwo magazine in 2010, Nakamura let slip that he did know a few words but failed to understand the Glasgow vernacular.

He said: “I do know some English, but I could not understand what people spoke in Glasgow. They were friendly and very helpful, but it was very difficult for me. I needed a translator.”

Caldwell joked that Naka was at it at times. He cited a match against Falkirk as a prime example.

He said: “Naka had an interpreter, provided to him by the club, who was called Macca and to this day, I still don’t know if that was a wind-up – Macca and Naka, you couldn’t make it up, could you?

“I think I spoke to Macca more than I spoke to Naka because he was, he was a really nice guy, Macca, would literally come everywhere with us. He was on the training pitch and in hotels. At team meetings, everything, he would be there. They were like a little double act.

“I know for a fact that Naka’s English was far better than he made out. I played behind him a couple of times as a full-back, which, if anyone’s seen me play full-back, they would know it wasn’t a great sight.

“I needed my midfield player to help me in 1v1s, and one day at Falkirk, Naka was doing his own thing, and I screamed at him for probably the umpteenth time to keep me covered

“He just put his hands to his ear, and I said in no uncertain terms, ‘Aye, I know you f*** ing understand me!’ He just laughed, but I knew then he had a basic grasp of English, especially some expletives, and he knew exactly what I was talking about.”

The trademark free-kicks and that goal against Rangers

Nakamura is rightfully regarded as a footballing deity in G40.

He made 166 appearances for Celtic and scored 34 goals. Twenty of them were trademark free-kicks.

Three goals in particular stand out and are the Celtic fans’ go- to moments when they think of Nakamura’s greenandwhite career in a microcosm.

The sensational free- kick against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in November 2006, during a 1- 0 Champions League victory at Parkhead, which sent Celtic through to the last 16 of the revamped competition for the first time on an unforgettable European night under the lights in Glasgow

There was also a last- gasp titleclinching set- piece against Kilmarnock in April 2007, at Rugby Park, that sealed the deal in a 2- 1 SPL win.

Naka netted one solitary goal against Rangers, and what a strike it was as he hit an unstoppable swerving and dipping half volley from 35 yards which rocketed past a bewitched Allan McGregor in the Rangers goal in a crucial 2- 1 SPL win at Celtic Park back in April 2008.

It remains one of the greatest Celtic goals against Rangers of all time.

Caldwell is still claiming the assist in that encounter, even though his wayward pass was intended for Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Caldwell said: “You cannot think of Naka without the image of that freekick for Celtic against Manchester United floating past Edwin van der Sar and nestling in the top corner and handing us a memorable Champions League win. It is the free- kick that is remembered most, and the main reason for that is what it meant to Celtic. It was the first time that we had qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League since it was revamped, and that was a big deal for Celtic.

“The set- piece against Man United, and then Artur Boruc saving the penalty in injury time, was amazing. The atmosphere was electric that night, and we didn’t know we’d qualified when we won the game. Everybody was buzzing at winning the game, but it wasn’t until we got back in the dressing room that we realised we’d qualified, so that shows you how caught up in the moment we all were.

“I injured my knee in the league game on the Saturday before, and I missed the Manchester United game. I watched it from the director’s box. It was another amazing night at Celtic Park, lit up by Naka’s incredible free kick. He had scored a beauty in the away game as well at Old Trafford when Celtic lost 3- 2.

“I remember he also scored one at Kilmarnock late on to help Celtic win the league. He bent it low into the bottom corner, and it was another cracker. I nearly got my head on it as well. I’m glad I didn’t!

“Naka’s goal against Rangers is the stuff of legend. I am still claiming the assist as it was a great pass from yours truly to set the goal. It’s the one thing Celtic supporters remember me for, and the pass was actually intended for Jan Vennegoor, so I think that sums me up.

“Fortunately, Naka got his toe out and controlled it. Then he hit an incredible strike that swung and moved unbelievably in the air, and beat Allan McGregor. Any shot from outside the box that could beat McGregor like that had to be a good one. It was an incredible goal.

“That was probably one of the best games I’ve ever played in, in terms of atmosphere, and what went on that night. It was an incredible game of football. We scored a last- minute winner, and I was involved again as I played a chip to the back post for Scott McDonald to head it across, and big Jan was where he always was, in the middle of the goal, and he scored to give Celtic a vital 2- 1 win.

“It all kicked off after the game, and Davie Weir and I ended up getting sent off after the game for being involved in a scuffle. The tensions were just so high in those games, and that one was probably as big as it ever was, as a point for Rangers would probably have won them the league.

“We had to win our last seven games to win the title, and every game was full of pressure and tension. We played Rangers twice in quick succession at home because they were on their great Europa League run to the final.

“We managed to win both games under extreme pressure and showed again what the team were all about. It was a never- say- die group of players who could go to the well and kind of push themselves to the very limits, and even skilful players like Naka bought into it.”

A Ballon d’Or nomination whilst playing in the SPL

Incredibly, Nakamura was nominated for the 2007 Ballon d’Or award while playing for Celtic. He was the first Celtic player to be nominated since Henrik Larsson.

In the same year, Brazilian Kaka won the award, but Nakamura finished in 36th, and was cited alongside notable players such as Raul, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, and Fernando Torres.

His nomination was a significant achievement , as it recognised the impact the player had on both Celtic and European football as he became the first Japanese player to score in the UEFA Champions League.

Caldwell said: “The Ballon d’Or nomination shows you how good Nakamura was and the impact he made in the Champions League.

“It was his free kicks on that stage which propelled him to that kind of level. He wasn’t just a talented footballer, he was an incredibly hard- working footballer.

“He would finish a game at Celtic Park, and then he would be up in the gym, as there used to be a gym in one of the corners of Celtic Park. He would be up there stretching and recovering.

“In terms of recovery and sports science, he was well ahead of his time. It’s a part of football which is evolving so quickly, but Naka did all of these things 20 years ago. He had a strict diet and fitness regime. He was an incredibly hard- working and dedicated footballer, and not just a talented footballer, and because of that, he had great longevity in the game.

“If you’re good at anything, you have to practice. Naka was born with some natural talent, but he had to hone that skill and work at it. He was somebody who practised free kicks, and he practised his setpiece delivery at corners.”

The original Japanese boy and a trailblazer for the rest

Some two decades on from Nakamura, the Japanese influence continues to permeate the Celtic team.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou knew exactly what he was doing when he plucked Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate from the J- League.

Kawasaki Frontale striker Shin Yamada is the latest Japanese player to arrive at the club, with the finishing touches applied to his move over the weekend.

Furuhashi may have moved on to pastures new, but all the Japanese imports have cited Nakamura’s success at Celtic as being a major factor in their decision to join the club.

In a transfer market that had lain relatively untapped for many years, it was Nakamura who was the original Japanese boy and who blazed a trail for others to follow.

Without Nakamura’s incredible success story, there would be no Furuhashi, Maeda or Hatate. Two decades may have elapsed, but the Celtic fans still revere Nakamura.

Caldwell said: “Nakamura was an incredible player and an incredible signing. I think now that I’m a manager myself, I can appreciate that you can sometimes stumble across these signings and pick them up. I’m sure Gordon, over the years, when he reflects, was really happy with how the Nakamura signing turned out.

“Nakamura left a legacy at Celtic, and he blazed a trail and paved the way for the current Japanese stars in the team to follow in his footsteps. He is the original man from Japan, isn’t he, and when you consider what has followed next, it is amazing.”