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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mya Bollan

Shunsuke Nakamura set to retire as Celtic icon calls time on incredible 26 year career

Former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura is set to retire at the end of the season.

With almost 26-years in the game, the 44-year-old is incredibly still playing professional football. He is currently at Yokohama FC in the J. League second division in Japan, but is calling time on his career on the pitch when the campaign draws to an end, according to Sponichi. The midfielder is known for his deadly set-piece deliveries with his lethal left foot.

He arrived at Parkhead in 2005 when Gordon Strachan brought him to the club. The Japanese international spent four years in Glasgow's east end, appearing 166 times and netting 34 goals across all competitions. He became a fan favourite during his time at the club, shining domestically and in the Champions League during his spell. The forward also has 98 caps for his country as well as 24 goals for the Japan national team.

Nakamua began his career with Yokohama F Marinos, the club that current Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou won J1 League with before heading to Glasgow. He made his professional debut in 1997 in the J League before spells in Italy's Serie A before making his way to Scotland to join the Hoops.

Following a half-year stint at Espanyol in Spain’s La Liga, Nakamura returned to Marinos in 2010 before joining Jubilo Iwata in 2017. Nakamura has been with Yokohama FC since 2019. He has played five games this season in J2 and the side won promotion to J1 on Sunday.

The star has voiced his ambition to take up a coaching role as he plans to hang up his boots.

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