logo
Daizen Maeda scoops another Celtic award as he drops future hint with trophy cabinet running out of space

Daizen Maeda scoops another Celtic award as he drops future hint with trophy cabinet running out of space

Daily Record16-05-2025

Maeda has been named the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in the latest addition to his collection
Daizen Maeda says he's putting contract talks on the back burner to concentrate on winning another Treble with Celtic, after being named the SFWA Player of the Year.
The Japanese sensation has been in explosive form this term, scoring 33 goals and hoovering up every top individual award including the SFWA gong which he was unsurprisingly handed tonight.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants to extend the fans' favourite's current deal beyond 2027.

But with the Hoops also braced for big-money offers, Maeda hinted that he'll wait and see what the summer brings before committing to a new contract.
Maeda said: "This is a world where you never know what's going to happen next.
"This a good team but I need to think about what comes next with my family and everything. Now my focus is on this team.
"I'm not thinking a lot right now because there's still a game to play. I'm thinking about how I spend my day off, so we'll just get the games done, then let's see what happens."
Maeda has lifted an astonishing eight trophies in just three-and-a-half seasons since his bargain £1.7million move from Yokohama F. Marinos.
He also wrote his name in the club's history books by bagging four Champions League goals this campaign—the most since Joe Craig in 1977/78.

Maeda had Bayern Munich's superstars raving about him after terrorising the Bundesliga giants' defence in February's agonising playoff defeat.
And if the 27-year-old decides to stay in Glasgow, Maeda believes the Parkhead side can progress even further in Europe next term.

He said: "Everyone said we did a great performance in the Champions League but we didn't go through to the next stage. I think there's something missing in our team. So for the next seasons, I think we should try to go to the next stage."
Privately, Maeda well have ambitions to play in one of Europe's top five leagues.
He's already had a taste of Portuguese football after a season-long stint at Marítimo in 2019-20.

Maeda scored four in 24 appearances and believes he wouldn't have returned to his homeland had the Covid pandemic not brought the world to a halt.
He said: "I don't think it didn't work well because I was playing for the club. It's just the timing of that club was before and during covid and I had to make a decision for the family.
"It all came to an end, there was a decision to go back. If there hadn't been covid I would have stayed in Europe. It is what it is."
Maeda must be running out of space on his mantlepiece after adding the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year prize to his ever-growing collection.
He added: "I'm very happy to receive the award. I think teammates come first and it's because of them I have received this award.
"After that it's managers, coaches, staff, and also of course my parents. I'm really pleased to receive this award for them."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'
Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'

Scottish Sun

time25 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'

Rasmus Hojlund broke silence on his United future over the weekend GYO-ING FOR IT Man Utd 'make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer' MANCHESTER UNITED have made an initial approach for Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports. The striker scored 66 goals for Ruben Amorim when the pair worked together at Sporting. 2 Manchester United have approached Sporting over Viktor Gyokeres Credit: Getty 2 Ruben Amorim is desperate to be reunited with the striker at Old Trafford Credit: PA In total, he boasts a staggering record of 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese giants. Gyokeres, 27, has an £84million release clause in his contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. However, Sky Sports News report United contacted Sporting to enquire about the Swedish international. But as revealed by SunSport, it is understood Gyokeres had a gentlemen's agreement with Sporting that he can leave for around £58-60m. READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS FERD DEGREE Rio Ferdinand gets new job 6,000 miles away after TNT Sports exit And Amorim is desperate to be reunited with the striker - with his current No9s Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling for goals. United cannot offer any European football next season - let alone Champions League football. But Amorim will hope his personal connection can entice Gyokeres, who is also wanted by Arsenal. Amorim has already completed his £62.5m transfer from Wolves. And the Red Devils also remain keen on landing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. However, that deal has hit complications with Tottenham set to appoint Thomas Frank as their new manager. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'
Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'

The Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Man Utd ‘make first Viktor Gyokeres approach as Ruben Amorim looks to beat Arsenal to huge £60m transfer'

MANCHESTER UNITED have made an initial approach for Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports. The striker scored 66 goals for Ruben Amorim when the pair worked together at Sporting. 2 2 In total, he boasts a staggering record of 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese giants. Gyokeres, 27, has an £84million release clause in his contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. However, Sky Sports News report United contacted Sporting to enquire about the Swedish international. But as revealed by SunSport, it is understood Gyokeres had a gentlemen's agreement with Sporting that he can leave for around £58-60m. And Amorim is desperate to be reunited with the striker - with his current No9s Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling for goals. United cannot offer any European football next season - let alone Champions League football. But Amorim will hope his personal connection can entice Gyokeres, who is also wanted by Arsenal. Amorim has already completed his £62.5m transfer from Wolves. And the Red Devils also remain keen on landing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. However, that deal has hit complications with Tottenham set to appoint Thomas Frank as their new manager. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Club World Cup Supercomputer predicts shock winner and Chelsea misery
Club World Cup Supercomputer predicts shock winner and Chelsea misery

Metro

time28 minutes ago

  • Metro

Club World Cup Supercomputer predicts shock winner and Chelsea misery

Chelsea and Manchester City will be knocked out of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by the same shock opponent, a Supercomputer has projected. The revamped and expanded tournament kicks-off in the USA on Sunday, with the Premier League represented by the Blues and the Citizens after they won the Champions League in 2021 and 2023. Both English sides won the Club World Cup in its previous format but this will be a very different kettle of fish, with 32 teams hoping to reach the final in New Jersey on July 13. Real Madrid and PSG are the bookies favourites but a Supercomputer conducted by BoyleSports, who offer the latest Club World Cup odds, surprisingly predicts a different European team will emerge victorious. In its prediction, both Premier League sides are predicted to make it through the group stage but not as group winners. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Despite getting a favourable draw in Group D, Chelsea will finish behind African club Esperance de Tunis but ahead of MLS side Los Angeles FC and Flamengo of Brazil. As for City, they will beat Morocco's Wydad AC and Al Ain from the UAE, but finish behind Italian giants Juventus in Group G. Into the knockout stage and City are predicted to navigate an incredibly different run of fixtures to make the final, defeating Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus. But Chelsea's tournament comes to an abrupt end as they after knocked out 3-1 by Benfica and it is the Portuguese side who advance to the final after also beating Porto and Bayern Munich. The Citizens would surely to be favourites to win such a final but the supercomputer predicts a shock upset, with Benfica winning 2-1 to be crowned champions of the world. This projection is a huge surprise given that Benfica have won just one Primeira Liga title in the last five years and their last European trophy came way back in 1962. Bruno Lage's side qualified for the Club World Cup as the seventh-best ranked eligible team in the UEFA four-year ranking. Chelsea vs Los Angeles (June 16, 8pm, Atlanta) Man City vs Wydad (June 18, 5pm, Philadelphia) Flamengo vs Chelsea (June 20, 7pm, Philadelphia) Man City vs Al Ain (June 23, 2am, Atlanta) ES Tunis vs Chelsea (June 25, 2am, Philadelphia) Juventus vs Man City (June 26, 8pm, Orlando) They kick-off their tournament against Boca Juniors on June 16 before taking on Auckland City and Bayern Munich in a tough Group C. More Trending According to BoyleSports: 'The Club World Cup Supercomputer is a probability model, not determined by human predictions or bias. 'What happens is the Supercomputer estimates the outcome of each remaining fixture based on a team's current strength (based on factors such as league position and form) and betting market odds. 'The machine then simulates the remaining games in a season 10,000 times and constructs an average league table from the 10,000 simulations, to rule out anomalous results.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Tottenham urged to sign Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target to replace Son Heung-min MORE: Viktor Gyokeres rejects £55m transfer after Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea talks MORE: Man City target forgotten Chelsea star to replace cult hero Scott Carson

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store