Who can say they have inspired more favourable memories among Celtic fans among all the foreign players that have worn the shirt than Shunsuke Nakamura and Henrik Larsson? Both are regarded with a legendary status at the club and it is easy to see why when you look back over their Celtic careers. Which one deserves the top spot among fans’ affections, though? It is a closer run thing than you might think, and many independent online bookmakers agree, with each player deserving praise for their distinctive playing styles. Let’s break down exactly what each player offered the Hoops during their time at the club.
Shunsuke Nakamura: An All-Time Great
The current head coach at Yokohama FC in Japan, Shunsuke Nakamura made 128 appearances for Celtic between 2005 and 2009. His precision as an attacking midfielder meant that the player would generate a tally of 29 goals for the club during his spell with us. For much of this time, Nakamura was also in the Japanese national side with all of the travel that entailed. None of it seemed to bother the midfielder, though, who was a consistently competitive player in the green and white.
This is one of the reasons why Nakamura is still talked of in revered terms among Celtic fans. Let’s face it, the man was a master technician, a free-kick taking genius. However, Nakamura never relied on his reputation as a technical player who could seemingly always pick the right pass at the right time: he was a hard-working midfielder, too.
Who could forget that outstanding free-kick against Manchester United under the lights at Parkhead? Nakamura produced one of the all-time great goals from a standing start for the club. The swerving, dipping strike left Edwin van der Sar rooted to the spot and, what’s more, it led to Celtic entering the Champions League’s last 16. Quite rightly, the goal is still talked about as one of Celtic’s most iconic moments in European football and Nakamura would be loved even if it were just for this one goal.
Henrik Larsson: A Swedish Celtic Legend
Like Nakamura, Larsson was at Celtic during his international career. Although he may not have had to cover the same long distances as the Japanese player, his Swedish footballing duties never seemed to affect his club form. A technically gifted player with an eye for tactics, it is no surprise that Larsson has also turned to coaching, serving as an assistant to Ronald Koeman at Barcelona, no less, for a time.
As a player, Larsson appeared for Celtic 221 times in the Scottish Premier League. His goal tally is understandably higher than Nakamura’s. The Swede ended up with SPL 174 goals to his name before his time at Parkhead was up. Overall, between 1997 and 2004, Larsson netted 242 times for Celtic in all competitions, a staggering strike rate for a man who would make 313 appearances in all competitions for the club. Only Jimmy McGrory and Bobby Lennox scored more goals for the Hoops. When you consider that Larsson is out in front of the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy Quinn and Jimmy McMenemy, among other greats, it is easy to see why he was nicknamed the King of Kings by the club faithful.
Larsson was instrumental in helping Celtic to four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups. Beyond these achievements, however, his connection with the fans goes deeper. Larsson famously turned down offers during his Celtic career, opportunities that less loyal players might have been tempted by. If anyone is picking their all-time Celtic starting XI, then Larsson is often the first name on the virtual teamsheet.
Foreign-Born Fan Favourites
There’s always a debate about players with very different styles. Who can really say who was the best when they played in different positions and performed different roles for the club? When it comes to being favourite, footballing prowess isn’t always the deciding factor, though. Often, it comes down to who fans feel they connect with. In this regard, again, the players differ.
Many would agree that there’s not much to split between the two in terms of their fan connection. Larsson was a serial winner, loyal and a natural goalscorer. What greater connection can you have to a club than bringing it the success it craves? Nakamura’s connection is more to do with his flair, his humility and his jaw-dropping moments of brilliance. Sometimes, these almost went beyond footballing skill into a purer form of sporting excellence. The moments he gave the club and fans are simply priceless. What’s more, he brought an entire generation of new fans to the club thanks to the support he continued to enjoy from Japan during his time with the Hoops.
According to the most recent polling, Larsson just edges it over Nakamura. There again, special mention should be made of Lubomir Moravcik, Stiliyan Petrov and Virgil van Dijk. These players might not be in the same exalted Celtic territory as Nakamura and Larsson but they are also remembered very fondly for their efforts for the club.
