Nakamura: Celtic were a stepping stone

Last updated : 19 December 2008 By Mikbhoy

"I thought that if I could I'd be here for maybe two years and then make the next step up at a different club," said Naka. "But I've absolutely no regrets about staying given what I've managed to achieve while I've been here. We've won the championship for the last three seasons, and got to the Champions League knock-out stages, so being in a team like this has been a good experience."

At the end of his second season at Celtic Park Nakamura was named Player of the Year by his fellow professionals and the highlights of a remarkable season for the Japanese international were scoring goals home and away against Manchester United in the Champions League and clinching the Scottish Premier League title-against Kilmarnock with a trademark free kick in the last minute.

That might have seemed an ideal time to pursue his Spanish dream but Naka was enjoying life with Celtic too much "I felt I was learning here and I'd be able to grow more as a player if I stayed longer." he said "The fans are wonderful and players are great too, so it never really occurred to me to leave."

"Until I met the manager Gordon Strachan and Peter Lawwell the chief executive, I never knew a club called Celtic even existed," he added with a grin "I had a few clubs to choose from but I was struck by Gordon and Peter's enthusiasm. I felt they understood my playing style and thought 'this is the club for me'."

The local cuisine, surprisingly, also impressed the midfield maestro "I like haggis - sheep's insides, right? I don't mind that but I can't eat too much of it or I'll get fat. Now and again's okay though."

And now Japan is calling him home and Yokohama Marinos are gearing up for the return of Japan's most famous player. "I've always intended to go back and finish my career at Marinos where I grew up," said Naka.

"I haven't missed Japan but as I've got older the desire to play there again has grown stronger. Marinos is my local club, it's like home for me, and to want to end my career there feels natural. Some people have moved on since I was there last but there are still a lot of familiar faces working there."

Shunsuke says that fans in Glasgow are subdued when compared to the Japanese fans back home "If I'm out shopping in Glasgow fans might ask for an autograph on a receipt or something. Back home people follow you and take pictures or videos with cameraphones so maybe for that reason it's a bit easier to go out when living abroad." he said "Going out for noodles in Tokyo or Yokohama might prove a bit difficult but as long as my family aren't bothered it's not so bad."

Shunsuke Nakamura was taking part in a BBC Scotland documentary.

Football Far East: Beyond Nakamura is on BBC 2 Scotland at 2200 GMT on 22 December 2008.