NON-STOP NAKA
Celtic icon Shunsuke Nakamura takes tips in coaching career on trip to old league opponents
He returned to his previous playing haunts and met an old opponent for a full-on fortnight
SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA was a Celtic pioneer for his fellow countryman.
Where Nakamura has gone in Scotland, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda followed.
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Now as the Japanese trio win over a new legion of Celtic fans, the free-kick expert is preparing to pass on his expertise to the next generation of players as a coach.
And he's looking to his old stomping ground in Europe for help too.
Gordon Strachan signed the maverick midfielder from Italian outfit Reggina in 2005 before he twice put Manchester United to the sword and Rangers and the rest with some special set-pieces.
He headed home to Yokohama F Marinos after four seasons in Scotland and a short stint in Spain, ending his career at city neighbours Yokohama FC by scoring a hat-trick of free-kicks on his farewell match.
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But the 46-year-old went behind the scenes in the same Serie A league set-up he strutted his stuff in two decades ago, picking up dugout tips for his ongoing coaching career.
He's now working at his hometown side but rather than head back to Reggina, he picked the brains of Parma coach Fabio Pecchia - a former opponent - earlier this month.
They faced one another four times during Nakamura's stay in Italyt with much travelled Pecchia then on the books of Como and Bologna.
He welcomed the midfield ace for "two non-stop weeks" learning at the team's training base and the former Hoops hero spoke fondly of his mentor.
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He said: "Pecchia knows Japanese football well, having coached Avispa Fukuoka.
"During my time at Collecchio, be it with him or the technical staff, there have been constant discussions to understand the training methods, the tactics, strategies, types of training and the entire Parma organisation.
Celtic hero Shunsuke Nakamura given emotional send-off as Japanese legend plays his last game at the age of 44
"I'd like to thank the club, and above all Pecchia, who has always been available.
"I posed him a lot of questions and he's always come back with the answers I wanted. This has helped me a lot to understand.
"I won't forget this."
Parma welcomed the Japanese legend to the club and said: "It wasn't simply a refresher course for Nakamura, but a chance to deeply understand the way of work in Europe and to learn some precious tips to apply in his future coaching career.
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"Another reason for Nakamura choosing to spend his refresher period at the Mutti Training Centre in Collechio to watch Parma closely was to understand the secrets behind the work of the head coach.
"Nakamura has observed every details of the activities that Pecchia and his staff have put the team through, with particular attention being paid to the way in which the training sessions are led and the tactical approach of the team. However, he is not just limited to watching.
"The ex-midfielder has been discussing different topics everyday with both Pecchia and his staff."
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