The Man From Japan

The man from Japan

From my seat in the north stand I could see Nakamura got to ground after another heavy challenge in the midfield. He landed close to that most cynical of players, Lee McCulloch, a man known to Celtic fans as ‘elbows; for his habit of clattering opponents with them. The Rangers midfielder seeing Nakamura fall beside him feigned losing his own balance and brought his body weight down on the unfortunate player’s head. It was a sore one but after suitable treatment he was on his feet and ready to receive the ball again. Nakamura’s slight frame and almost polite manner on the field disguised a tough and determined footballer.

When he was 12 he had joined Nissan Motors FC, the forerunner of Yokohama Marinos and his coaches would watch him spend hours of his time practicing his skills and honing his ability with free kicks long after other players had left the training field. However he was physically underdeveloped for his age and struggled in youth football before dropping out of the team altogether. He was a determined teenager though and changed schools in order to further his football ambitions. He enrolled at Toko Gakuen School, a decision that meant a two and a half hour commute each way on a daily basis. He flourished there and as his gym work improved his physique, the regular game time improved his game. He helped the school team qualify for the Japanese national high school tournament in 1995 and to the final in 1996. His performances saw the young Nakamura called up for the Japanese under 20 side and later he represented Japan at the 1997 FIFA World youth Championships.

Nakamura’s arrival at Celtic via Japan and Italy was a major coup for Gordon Strachan who still counts him as the best he has worked with in his varied managerial career. The former Celtic boss said…

‘He’s the best I’ve worked with and when he walks away I’ll be on bended knee thanking him because he’s terrific. He loves it in Scotland and made the game here more enjoyable. He will go down as the most kicked player in the SPL by a million miles but nothing fazes him.’

Nakamura joined Celtic early in Strachan’s reign and arrived at a club going through a mini-crisis. They had lost 5-0 to Artmedia Bratislava in a Champions League qualifier and only a last minute equaliser by Craig Beatie had salvaged a 4-4 draw at Motherwell. In what was surely a record for a Celtic Manager Strachan’s side conceded 9 goals in his first two competitive games. Nakamura was immediately drafted into the team in the aftermath of the Motherwell game and showed some excellent touches in a 2-0 win over Dundee United. Celtic’s recovery from that poor start to 2005-06 season would see them win the title and the league cup and Nakamura was the stand out player in what turned out to be a very good season. Stephen McManus, one of his team mates that season said of Nakamura…

‘I think the big factor that season was when Nakamura signed for us. That was the defining moment as he just suited how we played, he drifted off the right hand side but just had absolute class and quality. Henrik was the best I played with but Nakamura was incredible as well. The best left foot I’ve ever seen.’

Winning that 2005-06 title set Celtic up for a crack at the Champions League again and this time they didn’t disappoint. Scotland’s champions qualified directly for the Group stages that season and when the draw saw Celtic up against Manchester United, Benfica and FC Copenhagen the smart money was on them doing well to get third spot in such a strong group. However with Nakamura in good form Celtic surprised many that season. Manchester United were fortunate to beat Celtic 3-2 at Old Trafford in a game decided by a dubious penalty won by a shameless dive from Ryan Giggs. Celtic’s goals came from Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and a typically brilliant free kick from Nakamura.

Two home games followed with Celtic beating Copenhagen 1-0 and thumping much fancied Benfica 3-0. Clearly their home form was going to be pivotal in deciding their fate in the tournament. After a depressingly predictable poor display in Lisbon in which Benfica avenged their loss at Celtic Park Celtic faced Manchester United in a stadium rocking to its foundations. In a tight, tense game Celtic fought tooth and nail to contain an English side containing the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes. As the match drifted into those frantic last ten minutes Celtic won a soft looking free kick about 30 yards from the United goal. Nakamura set the ball up as 60,000 fans watched in expectation. If anyone could thread the ball through the eye of a needle it was Nakamura.

In memories view I can see him stride forward to strike the ball with that precision and power we had come to expect. The ball flashed through the November air, a white streak, as United’s wall jumped in unison and their huge goalkeeper Van Der Saar threw himself to his left. For the huge Celtic support that moment is seared into their collective memory. The ball crashed into the net as Celtic Park erupted in a roar which has seldom been matched in the history of the stadium. It would be the seminal moment in Nakamura’s Celtic career. He would stay at Celtic for a further three years and would win three Scottish titles, sealing one of them with a trade mark free kick at Kilmarnock, but when most think of him it is that sublime free kick which defeated Manchester United which comes to mind.

His goal against Rangers in the spring of 2008 is still considered by many to be the best they have seen in the derby fixture. He struck the ball from fully 30 yards out and it swerved first right then left to completely fool Alan McGregor in the Rangers goal. It was vital Celtic won that match as they fought their way back into title contention when all seemed lost just a few weeks earlier. In the end they prevailed and won the title on a memorable night at Tannadice. Nakamura said of his time at Celtic…

‘I cannot name the one thing that is my best memory of Scotland because there were a few. I played with some good players and the fans were amazing. Gordon Strachan was also very good to me and I liked Parkhead as well. I will miss the stadium. Celtic will always have a special place in my heart.’

As Strachan departed and Tony Mowbray arrived at Celtic Park it was also time for Nakamura to move on. Celtic offered him new terms to stay but he was determined to seek a new challenge elsewhere. Celtic fans will always look back fondly on him and his time at Celtic Park. He was a model professional who always looked to improve his game and he gave Celtic supporters some of the most iconic moments in their time watching football.

Thanks for the memories Shunsuke, we at Celtic remember the players who fought for the team and you did that with grace and skill.

ありがとう俊輔

Arigatō Shunsuke.