Barry Ferguson has highlighted Celtic star Daizen Maeda for special praise, having faced the Japanese winger on two occasions during his time in charge of the Ibrox club last season…
Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
After Philippe Clement’s dismissal in February, Ferguson took over at theRangers, meeting Brendan Rodgers’ side twice – securing a 3-2 victory at Celtic Park before the sides settled for a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in May.
The ex-Ibrox skipper noted that Maeda stood out in both of those matches. Now back on his regular slot on Go Radio Football Show after being knocked back for the permanent gig, Ferguson said: “He was the one who stood out for me – just his work ethic.”
“I mean, real good quality. I thought when he first came in, his final product in the final third sometimes let him down. But once you see him close up, you realise he’s a player.”
Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC with Ivan Fresneda of Sporting CP in action during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
“He’s the one, apart from Callum McGregor, who makes them tick, who wins them games. Not just with his quality on the ball, but without the ball too. That’s what jumped out at me.”
Ferguson added: “At times, he was way beyond the left back, helping out. Then there was one moment when the ball went out for a throw, I was standing there, and he’s actually bigger than you’d think. He is built like a brick… I can’t say the rest, but yeah, he impressed me.”
“The energy levels he produces are phenomenal. But it was the quality that surprised me. I was taken aback at how good he was.”
“He was one player we earmarked. You can’t give him any space. You need to be touch tight with him constantly. If you give him a yard, he will destroy you. I’m surprised nobody in the Premier League has been sniffing around him. Could he do it there? Yeah, 100 per cent, he could.”
Conor Spence
Read this – The backstory to Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter
Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.
Bazza’s Broo money must have run out……….doing the rounds again to drum up a job ?
Celtic sites should ignore this bankrupt parasite.
Great…let’s promote Fergiehun’s efforts to turn his head and create some shop window interest. Puke.