Celtic star Daizen Maeda is relishing the prospect of playing for Japan at Hampden Park against Scotland on Saturday afternoon. And on top of that there’s the prospect of facing his club colleagues with Celtic full-backs Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston both in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad.
“It will be a very happy experience for me to play in my home city at Hampden for my country. I feel incredibly fortunate to get this opportunity,” Daizen Maeda said, via Daily Record.
“I could be playing against some of my own teammates, so in a sense it should be easier because I know their game, but it is also difficult because it will be an unusual experience for me.
“Hampden is a stadium that suits my game well. It reminds me of our National Stadium in Japan. It’s easy to play in. Many Japanese people who have supported me will be there, so I hope to repay them with my performance,” Maeda added.
In Scotland!💚🤍
See you at Hampden Park!🇯🇵🏴@jfa_samuraiblue pic.twitter.com/WFNMG06zf9— 前田 大然 Daizen Maeda (@M_daizen_1020) March 24, 2026
“Although, it will be an unusual experience too because there will be many Celtic fans who usually cheer me on supporting Scotland this time. Normally, they are great allies to me.
“At Celtic, I am not playing as a striker anymore. Playing on the left or as a wing back is a position I am comfortable with and I expect that will be my position against Scotland if I am selected.
“I haven’t spoken to the manager yet, so I don’t know, but I hope to be able to play my best in whatever position I’m given.”
Daizen is the only Celtic player in the Japan squad for the two matches in Britain against both Scotland and England. Despite Reo Hatate’s better recent form, it’s not been enough to convince Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu to select the Celtic midfielder.
You may recall the stories about Kyogo changing agents and moving to the same outfit that handles Hajime Moriyasu with the advice being to the striker that he should seek a move to a top five European league to improve his chances of playing in the World Cup this summer.
Kyogo duly got his move to France Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais but failed to make an impact before being sold to Birmingham City, then newly promoted to the English Championship. Once again things have not gone well for the former Celtic talisman and like Reo Hatate he is on the outside looking in as Japan’s preparations for the World Cup continue at Hampden and Wembley over the next week.
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