Celtic’s three best players of 2024, with Daizen Maeda making the cut

Add as preferred source on Google

It has been another memorable and trophy-winning calendar year for Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic last summer, and won the double, including that incredible late Scottish Cup final win over Rangers in May.

Celtic put Rangers to the sword again in December, this time in the most dramatic of fashions as they clinched the League Cup final via a penalty shootout at Hampden.

There have been many top performers in 2024, but here at 67 Hail Hail, we will name our top three.

Nicolas Kuhn

You just have to put him in and what a turnaround it has been!

When the previous campaign concluded, Celtic fans were unsure of Nicolas Kuhn, but he has looked and played like a different animal this season.

Yes, those opening six or so months were difficult, but he is hitting incredible levels now, from his brace against RB Leipzig, stunning driving run effort against Kilmarnock and goal in the cup final.

It has all resulted in Kuhn being involved in 23 goals for this campaign alone and it’s not even the New Year yet.

Competition		Apps	Goals	Assists	Minutes
	Premiership	13	5	6	865′
	UEFA Champions League	6	2	1	467′
	League Cup	4	5	4	287
Total 24/25:		23	12	11	1.619′

Daizen Maeda

Is there a more popular player than Daizen Maeda at Celtic? The Japanese star was the hero in the final. Scoring in normal time and then the trophy-winning goal in the shootout.

But he has had an incredible 2024 and has just grown and grown as a player, including improving on his end product.

Go back to Maeda’s opening goal inside seconds during that 3-3 thriller at Ibrox in April, being the tormentor again when Celtic won 3-0 at Parkhead at the start of the season and then the final heroics.

Not forgetting his three goals in Europe, including that stunner against Club Brugge, as Celtic push towards the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Then you add in how Maeda is an infectious player on the field, talk about playing for the shirt and the fans, this man runs like he is always on charge.

Callum McGregor

Captain fantastic. A big game player and the man who is at the heart of Celtic’s success.

Callum McGregor’s biggest strength is taking that ball under pressure, dictating the game, sticking by Rodgers’ principles and building up play.

He never stops, even if things are topsy and turvy, as they were against Rangers in the League Cup, he didn’t stop scrapping and got the team over the line.

Go back to Celtic’s win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League – one of the best displays you will see from the Bhoys in Europe – McGregor was the one pulling the strings in the second half and proving that, at 31, he is still at the top of his game.

Then include that, in 2024, he has seven goals to his name, including six in the Premiership this season – after scoring just seven from the last three league campaigns.