Shunsuke Nakamura names surprising most memorable Celtic moment

Most players who join Celtic leave as great fans of the club, and Shunsuke Nakamura does not appear to be any different.

He left the club after creating many memorable moments for the fans, though few would be able to guess correctly if asked what his favourite was.

Back in 2005 Gordon Strachan saw Shunsuke Nakamura playing for Japan in the Confederations Cup, especially in the 2-2 draw against Brazil and decided to sign him for the Hoops. What a great signing he turned out to be in his four seasons at the club!

And he is still a fan, following the club, watching the news and games. As reported by The Guardian, he said:

"“I still follow Celtic and watch the news and watch the games.”"

Nakamura’s most memorable Celtic moment

There were many superb moments in his time in Glasgow, but the ones that might stick most in fans’ minds would be the two astonishing free-kicks in the Champions League against Manchester United, home and away. Alongside those was a brilliant goal against Rangers in 2008 and of course the last minute title winning free kick against Kilmarnock in 2007.

But Nakamura’s own most memorable moment at the club is a bit different and surprising to say the least. Perhaps it just shows the respect he has for those who brought him to the club. As reported by The Guardian, he said:

"“Meeting the CEO Peter Lawwell and the manager Gordon Strachan was the most memorable experience for me. Before every match, manager Strachan only said to me to ‘enjoy it’. He trusted me and left me to play the way I wanted to play. I am very grateful to him for taking good care of me and my family as well. I learnt a lot from him. Manager Strachan understood that I was the type of player who played by instinct and feeling.”"

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Strachan used that instinct and feeling of Nakamura for the game very well. Beating a Manchester United team at the peak of its powers and qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League was remarkable. And perhaps it just highlights the club’s struggles in Europe in recent years, as they have failed to even qualify for the group stages of the Champions League in three straight seasons.

Since his time at the club the Hoops haven’t had such a prolific free-kick specialist. Many fans would argue a free-kick was almost as good as a penalty when Nakamura was taking them!

With the club facing a massive rebuild over the course of the summer, it is players like Nakamura that the club needs to identify and sign as they aim to return to the top of Scottish football once again.