It was recently announced that Celtic will travel to Japan this summer with one already confirmed opponent being Yokohama F. Marinos.
The current Japanese champions were the club from which the Hoops got the influential Ange Postecoglou, mercurial winger Daizen Maeda and stalwart midfielder Tomoki Iwata.
There is obviously a relationship between the clubs due to these moves and said connection will be furthered when the sides face off against each other on July the 19th.
Upon the announcement of the friendly match, Maeda told official Celtic club media:
“I’m really looking forward to our pre-season visit to Japan and in particular, returning to play against Yokohama F. Marinos.
“It is a club which has played a major role in my career and, of course, it will be a pleasure to return home with Celtic and see my friends at the club and the Marinos supporters.”
For Celtic’s Japanese fans and players alike, the pre season trip to the land of the rising sun is an exciting prospect.
It gives the likes of Kyogo, Maeda, Reo Hatate and Tomoki Iwata the opportunity to play with their team in their homeland, something they well cherish and relish at the same time.
