CELTIC
Just a year ago, the Celtic was personified by the fierce John Hartson, whose brutal image could very well frighten the Japanese, who were just starting to master the journey from Tokyo to Glasgow. Today, at every Celtic match, whether visiting or at home, there are at least a dozen tourists and as many journalists from the Land of the Rising Sun. The reason for this is the man who, according to the impressive part of humanity, performs the best free-kick with his left foot - Shunsuke Nakamura.
After the success of the Japanese national team at the 1998 and 2002 world championships, many European middle-hand clubs did not fail to acquire a Japanese football player. True, only Hidetoshi Nakata was able to convince Europe that the purpose of these transfers was not only a sober calculation to earn extra money by selling T-shirts in the promising Asian market.
The brilliant debut of Nakamura in the Japanese championship and national team at the turn of the century gave way for a talented midfielder the main disappointment in life. Philippe Trussier deprived Nakamura of the home world championship with a killer characteristic - "physically too weak to play with world teams." Upset Nakamura immediately signed a contract with Regina, hoping to prove that he deserves more than the teddy bears of Yokohama fans. At first, it seemed that Shunsuke's choice was correct - he quickly became the leader of a provincial club. However, Italy also broke much stronger football players - a series of injuries led to the fact that Nakamura had to leave the Apennines. Surprisingly, he again went against fate, preferring Scotland to a possible Spain. British journalists were confident that Shunsuke did little to succeed in the league, where bone strength and fearlessness in horse riding were much more valuable than a technical game. It took him only two years to get critics to shut up. Nakamura was the first Asian footballer to be named Scotland's best player.
Nakamura, the soul and the main star of the current Celtic, prefers to play either on the edge or in the center of midfield. A fast and excellent long pass midfielder is a great help for the rest of the Celtic players playing in the classic British style. But Nakamura's hallmark is free kicks. A fantastic goal against Manchester United (in the video) will most likely enter the Champions League gold fund.
The Japanese have changed the mentality of Celtic fans so much that now they only talk about how the bloodthirsty defenders of the rivals rush after Nakamura to break it. But only a year ago they admired John Hartson, who, before scoring, trampled a couple of rivals into the lawn.
RANGERS
Few people can understand why one of the most interesting coaches in Europe, Paul Le Guin, did not succeed in the Rangers. To the failures in the championship was added the defeat in the Scottish League Cup from the club from the lower division. Conflicts with club leaders Fernando Rixen and Barry Ferguson led the Frenchman to leave the Rangers and leave for PSG. Le Guén's resignation has little to do with his professional qualities - this story is more likely that the Scottish club with its many years of tradition was not ready for modern working methods. Le Guen’s tough discipline was not to the liking of local players, accustomed to the fun of Glasgow night. Now the task to restore the reputation of the most winning club in Scotland went to the veteran of the coaching workshop Walter Smith. It was under his leadership in 1993 that the Rangers argued with Marcel for reaching the Champions League final, and in the 90s repeated the record series Celtic in the national championship - 9 titles in a row. Smith slowly led the Rangers out of the losing streak of the beginning and mid-season, bypassing the feverish Hearts.
HARTS
Last season, Hearts became the first club in 15 years to break the eternal rivalry of the Celtic and the Rangers in the Scottish Championship, taking second place. Harts fans began to buy earflaps in honor of the club owner - Lithuanian businessman Vladimir Romanov, who, with his behavior, personified the long-awaited appearance of something truly new in Scottish football that has long been stagnating. But love did not last long. A promising and interesting club has turned into a real booth, which runs the not quite adequate nouveau riche. Five coaching resignations over the past two years, the expulsion of the best players from the team, many dubious transfers - all this made the Hearts a favorite club of news agencies. This year, “Hearts” almost lost the chance to cling even to bronze, which automatically forced Vladimir Romanov to look for another coach in the post-Soviet space. Rumor has it that Alexei Mikhaylichenko will replace Anatoly Korobochka.
RESULTS
The main achievement of Scottish football in recent years is the successful game of Celtic in the Champions League. This year, the club of Gordon Strakan did not have quite a bit to defeat Milan in the 1/8 finals. Next season, Celtic will be at least as dangerous. And the club is well aware that success will be repeated only with further implantation in the team of legionnaires. Including Asian ...
Ivan MAKAROV