Celtic forward Maeda was learning English well before Bhoys approach says former coach

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Daizen Maeda was learning English well before his move to Celtic, according to Yokohama F Marinos assistant Shaun Ontong.

Ontong, part of Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff at YFM, used to practice language skills with the striker, who became a joint-top J League scorer under Ange. Since his move to Celtic, he’s impressed with his pace, attitude and goal-scoring ability, doubling his Hoops tally on Sunday against Motherwell.

Maeda came back to play for Celtic against Rangers last Wednesday, having competed for Japan the day before. He’s impressing his teammates and fans alike with his commitment, while you can tell at full speed, he’s going to be impossible for Scottish defences to handle.

Maeda’s ability to fit in at Celtic, though, is no surprise to Ontong. According to Kevin Muscat’s assistant at Yokohama F Marinos, a move for the striker has been in his plans for some time.

Ontong told Keep Up: “He has a next level in him.

“He always had a hunger to learn. Great character.

“Even before, last year, he was studying English. He would practice with me sometimes. You always knew he had ambitions again to go. You see that a lot with some of the Japanese boys. Which ones are learning English, they are thinking next step for them.”

Daizen Maeda can achieve so much at Celtic under Ange Postecoglou

It’s hard to recall now, but when Ange Postecoglou took over at Celtic, it was more widely expected that Daizen Maeda would come to the club than Kyogo Furuhashi.

Maeda was at Yokohama F Marinos, after all. And able to play on the left or up front, with relentless energy and pressing, he has a similar playing profile to Kyogo. Ultimately, Ange went for Kyogo, and the rest is history. Now Maeda is here, though, it’s tantalising to imagine the possibilites.

With two goals in two starts for Celtic [Transfermarkt], Maeda hasn’t needed time to settle, as such. His finishing ability looks fantastic, while his utter commitment to both winning the ball and doing something with it chimes with the ethos of Ange Postecoglou.

No surprise there, of course, given their shared history.

It’s interesting, though, that Maeda was learning English well in advance. That’s not for a Celtic move specifically – how could he have known his manager at the time would end up here? But it shows the sheer ambition of the striker to once again try his hand in Europe.

So far, so good. There were flashes of his polyglot tendencies when he was first unveiled to the Celtic supporters, being largely able to understand questions in English if not necessarily responding in kind [Celtic FC]. That’s a big step, as anyone who’s learned a second language will tell you.

All in, it’s good stuff; and it absolutely highlights that Maeda is where he wants to be at this point in his career.

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