Celtic icon Shunsuke Nakamura will cut his football boots 13 years after leaving the Glasgow giants.
The now 44-year-old midfielder is incredibly still trading for his second-division club Yokohama FC in Japan, but his career will end at the end of this season, according to his Times.
That campaign ends next weekend, and Nakamura bids farewell in style after helping the team get promoted to the J1 League.
Shunsuke Nakamura joined Celtic from Italy’s Reggina for £2.5m after signing for Gordon Strachan in 2005.
In four seasons, the Japanese star he won three SPL titles, a Scottish Cup, two Leagues he Cup and for the club he made 166 appearances and scored 34 goals. . The Japan international is known for his set pieces, scoring two memorable free-kicks for the Glasgow club in the Champions League against Manchester United.
After leaving Celtic in 2009, Nakamura moved to Espanyol before returning home, playing for the Yokohama Mariners and later Jubilo Iwata of the J1 League.
During his 26-year career, he won his 98 caps with the Japan national team, scored 24 goals and was part of the national team at the 2006 World Cup.
Nakamura returned from the national team in 2010 and is looking to finish his international career with Yokohama FC, the club he signed in 2019.
Shunsuke Nakamura regarding the statement of his retirement
Shunsuke Nakamura had mentioned in a statement released by Yokohama FC, “In my long football career I have faced many struggles and setbacks, but there was always someone who supported me and pushed me forward.”
“I was able to fight as a football player because I had a lot of support,” he said.
“It’s been 40 years since I started kicking a soccer ball in kindergarten,” said Nakamura.
“At first I started football just for fun but it became my job and I managed to spend 26 years as a professional player.”
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