Celtic’s Matt O’Riley has expressed his astonishment at the global reach of the club’s fanbase, particularly during their pre-season tour in Japan.
The midfielder, who signed for £1.5 million 18 months ago, was taken aback by the sheer number of Celtic supporters in Japan.
O’Riley said post-match on Celtic TV: “It’s really cool. Before our first game, we were on a team walk by the river, and we saw a ferry full of Celtic fans just singing. I was so shocked to see that, but at the same time, I wasn’t because I’m at Celtic, so it’s what you get here.”
Celtic’s fanbase in Japan has grown significantly since the club began recruiting players from the J-League. The club’s Japanese Twitter account has nearly 90,000 followers, reflecting the growing interest in Celtic in Japan.
O’Riley, who has proven to be a valuable asset for Celtic, is expected to elevate his game under the guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers. Fans are hopeful that his performance will continue to improve and contribute to the team’s success.
The Danish under-21 player added: “I think it’s really cool that we get this amount of fans worldwide, and we can’t underestimate the size of our club. It really shows when we come to places literally on the other side of the world, and we’ve still got an amazing support.”
No matter where you go on holiday, what sport you watch or where it’s being held, Celtic will always be represented in some way or another, there are not many clubs you can say that about.
