THANK YOU NAKA
Celtic hero Shunsuke Nakamura given emotional send-off as Japan legend hangs up his boots at the age of 44
CELTIC hero Shunsuke Nakamura has called time on a remarkable career after playing his final game at the age of 44.
After almost 26 years playing senior football, the former Hoops star was given an emotional send-off by his Yokohama FC teammates as he bowed out.
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Nakamura played the first 60 minutes of his team's final game of the season before being subbed-off.
Having been relegated from the J-League last season, Yokohama came roaring back this term to secure promotion back to the top tier at the first attempt, finishing second.
Having been replaced, Nakamura watched on from the sidelines as his Yokohama side pulled-off a dramatic come from behind victory against Roasso, scoring twice in the last ten minutes as they came from 3-1 down to win 4-3.
A tremendous finish on the park and after the whistle, it was all about the former Celtic man.
All of his teammates wore special T-shirts emblazoned with his shirt number 25 and the words "Thank You Nakamura" on the front.
He was then given the somewhat classic football send-off, as he was thrown up in the air by his pals as he celebrated his superb time in the game.
The influential midfielder enjoyed a fine career that saw him play in Japan, Italy, Scotland and Spain.
And it was in Glasgow that he truly made his mark.
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Signed by Gordon Strachan for £2.5million in the summer transfer window in 2005, Nakamura became a huge hit at Celtic Park.
He'd go on to make 166 appearances, scoring 34 goals during four years in the green and white hoops.
Nakamura won three consecutive SPL titles in his first three seasons at Parkhead, also winning the Scottish Cup once and League Cup twice.
It was his second season with the club in which he truly starred.
Individually, Nakamura was brilliant and was awarded the SPFA, SFWA, SPL and Celtic Player of the Year awards.
He also made his mark on the continental stage, scoring one of the Hoops' most famous Champions League goals.
Having already scored in a narrow 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, he scored a stunning free-kick against Manchester United at Celtic Park to secure a 1-0 win.
It was a memorable moment in a memorable season that saw the Hoops advance to the Champions League knockout stages for the very first time.
Nakamura left Celtic in 2009 for a spell in Spain with Espanyol before returning to his first club, Yokohama F. Marinos, where he'd spend the next seven years.
That was followed by two years at Jubilo Iwata before he joined Yokohama FC in 2019.
He was capped 98 times by Japan between 2000 and 2010, featuring in both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Nakamura was the first Celtic star to come from Japan.
Ange Postecoglou's current squad contains four players from the nation - Kyogo, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi.
The Hoops posted a video to social media showing the players paying their own tributes to the legendary former midfielder.
Hatate, in particular, delivered an emotional tribute.
He said: "Thank you for all the wonderful inspirations you gave us.
"I was personally invited to dinner during the off-season. After talking with you, I felt much better and understood the important of playing for Celtic.
"I've really admired you for a long time.
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"You were my star. You have been inspiring me for a long time and I will do my best to be the next player who can inspire someone else."
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