Shunsuke Nakamura swarmed at Glasgow Airport as Celtic hero arrives in Scotland

Add as preferred source on Google

Shunsuke Nakamura has been filmed arriving in Glasgow to a swarm of Celtic fans.

The Parkhead hero is on media duty to work as a commentator in Japan’s friendly against Scotland at Hampden on Saturday.

It’s his first visit to Scotland since 2014, when he was paraded on the pitch at Celtic Park for a Scottish Premiership game against St Mirren.

Japanese media were with Nakamura as he arrived at Glasgow Airport to a group of fans.

Celtic hero Shunsuke Nakamura arrives in Glasgow for Scotland vs Japan

The game kicks off at 5PM and will serve as a good test for both sides ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Via U-NEXT football, Naka is seen giving signatures at Glasgow Airport here:

READ MORE: Callum McGregor’s ‘five or six wins’ comment was correct, whether Celtic fans like it or not

Regarded as one of Celtic’s finest players of the 21st century, Nakamura made 166 appearances for the Hoops, every one of them under Gordon Strachan.

As well as being named Scotland’s Player of the Year in 2007, he was nominated for the 2007 Ballon D’Or, establishing himself as a superstar in Glasgow.

That campaign saw him score free-kicks both home and away against Manchester United in the Champions League as Celtic progressed to the knockout stages.

The following season, he scored his first goal against Rangers, an outrageous half-volley from 30 yards as Strachan’s men won a third consecutive league title in a late season turnaround.

A 98-time Japan international, Nakamura played at two World Cups with the Samurai Blue, also winning two Asian Cups.

He paved the way for Celtic’s recent wave of Japanese players which has seen Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate all become fan favourites at Celtic Park.

Now making his first steps in coaching, he has worked on the staff of Yokohama FC and Jubilo Iwata.

Shunsuke Nakamura on Celtic’s wave of Japanese players

Speaking to the Celtic View about his countrymen making their mark in Glasgow in 2022, Nakamura said: “Their success is a genuine pleasure for me and I’m very glad to see Ange Postecoglou take charge and take four Japanese players over who are all playing well.

“I think Celtic have four really good players. Reo is only getting better by the day and won two league titles in Japan. Daizen is very quick and has all the ability required for modern football and matches the style of the manager.

“I hope more Japanese players will join Celtic in the future and help the club, but I also have my former team-mate Stephen McManus who is now a coach there, and I wish him good luck.

“I am one of the Celtic supporters in the Far East now and I hope they will all carve their name in the history of the club and I wish them all the best luck.”