Former Celtic coach Harry Kewell has recently been announced as the new manager of J1 League side Yokohama F. Marinos, following in the footsteps of former boss Ange Postecoglou.
This move comes after Kewell’s impactful year-and-a-half tenure at Parkhead, during which he developed a deep appreciation for the talents of Celtic’s Japanese players, particularly Daizen Maeda.
He worked closely with the wingers, therefore he would’ve worked with Maeda on many occasions.
Kewell’s transition to Yokohama F. Marinos is a result of a series of events that began during Celtic’s pre-season trip to Japan. In a friendly match where Celtic faced Yokohama, the team lost 6-4 in a game that was as thrilling as it was instructive for Kewell. It was during this trip that he was first approached about the managerial role, a proposition that became more concrete when Kevin Muscat indicated his departure in November.
A significant factor in Kewell’s decision to accept the role at Yokohama was his experience working with the Japanese players at Celtic, including ex-Yokohama star Daizen Maeda. Kewell praised Maeda, calling him a “flying machine” and lauded his eagerness to learn and improve. He shared insights from his one-on-one sessions with Maeda, highlighting the player’s potential and desire for self-improvement.
He said, “Working with the four or five Japanese players we had at Celtic, the understanding and the willingness for the Japanese players to learn and want to better themselves was phenomenal. Even when I used to sit and do my one-on-ones with Daizen, it was amazing how someone who had a lot of potential still wanted to learn and I found that exciting.
“When I spoke to Ange about his time in Japan, he said I’d absolutely love it because the one thing I’ll get is a willingness from the players to learn and improve. As a coach, that’s the most exciting thing that you could wish for.” [Football Scotland]
Daizen Maeda has been linked with a move to Southampton, though no developments have occurred halfway through the January transfer window. Maeda’s potential and performance have certainly drawn attention, but for now, his future at Celtic remains a topic of speculation.
