Latest news with #PFAScotlandPlayeroftheYear
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
European club ‘plan talks with Celtic and Daizen Maeda's agent as they plot multi-million pound swoop'
FENERBAHCE will reportedly sit down with Celtic officials next week as they look to thrash out a deal to sign Japanese star Daizen Maeda. Speculation in Turkey suggests the Istanbul club's representatives are ready to meet Celtic and the player's agent. 3 Daizen Maeda, Celtic Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 Daizen Maeda celebrates Premiership title Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 Celtic's Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring Credit: PA Media outlet Fotomac believes the Turkish giants managed by Jose Mourinho will make a bid of "more than €10 million (£8.5m)" to capture the 27-year-old. The attacker scored 33 goals in 51 games for Celtic last season, and claimed both the William Hill Premiership Player of the Year and the PFA Scotland Player of the Year. Maeda, who has two years left on his contract, initially signed on loan before joining on a permanent deal from Yokohama Marinos in the summer of 2022. SunSport revealed in March the Hoops had began talks over a new deal in a bid to keep the 27-year-old in Glasgow. He spoke at the start of the month but refused to get drawn into talk about his future. Maeda said: 'Yes, the gaffer spoke to me about it. But there are still some games to be played this season, so I just want to focus on them. 'I know this number of goals is not easy to achieve, so I don't want to think too much about this being the objective for next season. 'I would like to focus on everything, including goals, and then in the end maybe I can achieve something.' And in an end-of-season video with Celtic, which was posted on the club's instagram, Maeda revealed how he felt about being in Glasgow. He said: "Since I've joined Celtic, I've been playing football with joy. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has STRONGER transfer case after final defeat "There is no difference between now and the past. I still enjoy playing here." Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers will look to bolster his attacking options this summer, but it seems they could miss out on £12 million Brondby rated striker Mathias Kvistgaarden. It's reported West Ham, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bologna are interested in signing the 23-year-old, who has had a prolific season in Denmark with 23 goals in 38 games. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Celtic's prized guy shuns speculation on future and explains why he'll be happy when season ends
Japanese hitman welcomes new arrival as he eyes more glory Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Daizen Maeda may have enjoyed the best season of his career, but the Celtic forward can't wait for it to end - and with good reason. The Japanese international spent the first week of May back in his homeland anticipating the birth of his third child, only to dash back to Glasgow for the 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ibrox when his wife went overdue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad His son, Raikou, has since been born and now Maeda, who has completed an awards double by being named the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year, is desperate to get back home to meet the new arrival. Daizen Maeda has been in excellent form for Celtic this season. | SNS Group "Yes, I have a baby boy," Maeda confirmed. "I've seen him on video calls. I haven't seen him face-to-face yet so I just want to go into the off-season and see him." Asked whether he found it difficult returning for the Old Firm game, Meada replied: "Well, that's only an excuse for me. It's always the case when I go back from international duty. I will have to focus on performance and do my best." Maeda lands award His football writers recognition followed on from Maeda scooping the PFA Scotland Player of the Year prize last week. He becomes the third Japanese winner after Kyogo Furuhashi and Shunsuke Nakamura. "I'm very happy to receive the award," he stated. "I think my 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." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In truth, it was the only logical choice to be made. The 27-year-old has been the clear standout performer across the 2024-25 campaign with his 33 goals and 12 assists playing a major role in his club remaining on course for a treble while his move into a central striking role mitigated the sale of Kyogo to Rennes in January. Daizen Maeda and Celtic are chasing a treble. | SNS Group "Yeah, it was beyond expectations," Maeda said. "But I've experienced several times in my career where things I've been doing will pay off in the end and that's what I was hoping for, and thankfully it happened this season. Definitely, it's been the best season of my career." The main concern for Celtic fans will be holding onto their star man this summer. Manager Brendan Rodgers has stated his desire to hold talks over a contract extension for the player. Maeda, however, remained coy when asked about his future. "This is a world where you never know what's going to happen next," he said. "This is a good team but I need to think about what comes next with my family and the gaffers and everything. Now my focus is on this team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Maeda's Celtic future "I'm not thinking a lot right now because there's still a game to play. I'm thinking about how I will spend my day off so we'll just get the games done then let's see what happens." Should Maeda remain at Parkhead beyond the summer, then the aim will be to further improve upon the current season. That might seem difficult, given Celtic reached the Champions League knockout stages and will complete a domestic treble if they defeat Aberdeen in next weekend's Scottish Cup final. But Maeda insists there is room for improvement.
Scotsman
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs v Celtic tactical analysis as Gray looks to outsmart all-conquering Rodgers
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Easter Road victory should inspire hope ahead of Celtic Park trip Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It is, without a doubt, the toughest challenge in Scottish football. Celtic's all-conquering dominance on the domestic front, not to mention their improvement in European competition, is built on collective excellence, individual talent and – just as importantly – the organisational brilliance of Brendan Rodgers. Asking Hibs to go and get a result at Celtic Park, then? Sure thing, boss. Just give us five minutes to come up with a plan so cunning … fill in your own Blackadder punchline here. Not forgetting to send Richard Curtis a royalty cheque for the set-up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In all seriousness, though, how is David Gray to pick up even a single point at the home of a side gunning for yet another Treble? Well, it can be done. It HAS been done even in this stroll of a season for the Hoops. If Hibs are as brave as they were – with and without the ball – the last time the sides met at Easter Road, with the hosts running out 2-1 winners, they'll give themselves a chance. Even then, they'll need absolutely every single Hibs player to perform at peak levels. And a bit of luck. So let's get started … Celtic boast threats from all angles – and that's just Daizen Maeda You can't just focus on one Celtic danger man, of course. Even if it is Daizen Maeda, who has just been named PFA Scotland Player of the Year by his fellow professionals. Maeda is the first to admit that he's enjoying a brilliant season because of his team-mates and the coaching staff at Celtic, who have found new and interesting ways to create space for a livewire attacker capable of playing anywhere across the front three. With 33 club goals in all competitions this season, he's taking advantage of Rodgers using width, movement and a willingness to counter quickly as ways of keeping his team at the top of the pile. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Take a look at Photo 1, from Celtic's recent 5-0 stuffing of Dundee United at Tannadice, and the first threat is obvious. The United defender is in all sorts of bother as soon as Celtic create possession without pressure on the ball. Defenders can't give Hoops wide man space Photo 1 - such an obvious danger out wide | Wyscout Either he has to go tighter on Maeda or drop into space to anticipate the pass over the top. A slight misjudgement of the starting position is all it takes – and Celtic end up scoring from this move. When Maeda moves through the middle, of course, he's just as deadly. As Hearts discovered in their recent 3-0 rout at Celtic Park, with Photo 2 coming AFTER the home side had played their way out of defence and beyond the visiting midfield; from here, it's just a straight ball and a sharp run to create a goal. Hearts completely carved open by direct play Photo 2 - Maeda through the middle | Wyscout With Jota out of action after sustaining a knee injury, and Nicolas Kuhn missing the 1-1 draw with Rangers last weekend, Celtic have tweaked and tinkered with things a little. Adam Idah's strength and nose for goal have become increasingly important, while James Forrest has enough experience to offset, just about, any loss of pace at this advanced stage of his career. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But it all starts with the way Rodgers has them drilled. The front three stretch the game, the central defenders are encouraged to play – sometimes straight up the gut of an opposition press, if the opportunity presents - and the midfielders are in constant motion. Celtic's midfield rotations on display against Rangers Photo 3 - even the space is a decoy | Wyscout Photo 3 shows how simple this can be at times, as Callum McGregor dropping all the way into the back line creates a huge gap in the centre of the park against Rangers. But even that is just a dummy, as midfielders cross and the ball is played through into an area vacated by markers, leading to a chance. The Easter Road plan – can it work at Celtic Park? Fortunately for Hibs, they can draw on their own experience of beating Celtic as a source of confidence. Maybe even a guide to what might work again? Gray knows that exactly the same game plan is unlikely to catch Rodgers out twice. Indeed, Hibs have lost at Celtic Park – in a Scottish Cup quarter-final – since that 2-1 home win back in February. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the principles remain the same when it comes to containing a Celtic side who rarely stray from a 4-3-3 shape designed to exert maximum pressure on the opposition. And it starts with being brave enough to deploy that high line that worked so well at Easter Road (see Photo 4). Hibernian's high line at home was key to success Photo 4 - Celtic were caught offside repeatedly at Easter Road | Wyscout Now, naturally, they're going to be forced into sitting deep at times. As Photo 5 shows, what matters is how aggressively you make this defence. Without players jumping out of the line to put pressure on the ball, you might as well just invite Celtic's creative players to do their worst. Strength in depth - and attacking the art of defending Photo 5 - Hibs can't just sit in and hope for the best | Wyscout And when Hibs get a chance to counter, an inevitability against opponents who regularly camp well inside the opposition half when in possession? They need two things – sureness of touch on the ball and runners able to exploit space. As Photo 6 showed, Hibs had just that for the first of Josh Campbell's two goals on home soil back in February, with Kieron Bowie holding the ball in tight and Nectar Triantis spotting all of that lovely green grass just waiting for a burst from midfield. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs need quality and wiling runners to counter at Celtic Park Photo 6 - Bowie's link play opened up counter chance | Wyscout From there, well, Campbell's energy and ability to go box to box make him possibly the ideal Hibs player for this sort of a test. Because Martin Boyle's pace forces defenders to shift their weight ever so slightly onto t he back foot, there will be room (see Photo 7) for an attacking midfielder to exploit. Josh Campbell demonstrated energy and appetite for goal Photo 7 - Boyle's pace opened up the gap for Campbell ... and Triantis provided the assist. | Wyscout If they can win the ball. If they can use it well. And if they shut down the multiple threats from a team with a fairly decent track record of making visitors regret ever setting foot inside Celtic Park.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
SFWA awards nominees revealed as NO Rangers players included with Celtic ace lined up for clean sweep
Celtic could extend their lead over Rangers in this winners' category STAR MEN SFWA awards nominees revealed as NO Rangers players included with Celtic ace lined up for clean sweep Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE FINALISTS for this year's Scottish Football Writers' Association awards have been revealed. A total of 12 players and coaches have been shortlisted ahead of the glitzy prize giving that will take place later this month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Daizen Maeda with his PFA Scotland Player of the Year trophy Credit: PA Celtic forward Daizen Maeda scooped the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award at the weekend and Falkirk boss John McGlynn beat Brendan Rodgers to the Manager of the Year gong. Both Maeda and McGlynn are among the nominees for this one too. Maeda is joined on the Player of the Year shortlist by Hoops team mate Callum McGregor, Dundee striker Simon Murray and Hibs defender Nectar Triantis. With 16 goals apiece, Maeda and Murray lead the Premiership scoring charts while McGregor has enjoyed one of his finest individual seasons in the Hoops with eight goals and four assists. Triantis has played a vital part in Hibs' revival under David Gray. It means that despite claiming the Players' Player of the Year and Player of the Year for Rangers, midfielder Nicolas Raskin has been left out of the running. In the Manager of the Year stakes alongside McGlynn are Hoops manager Rodgers, Hibs boss Gray and Jimmy Thelin of Aberdeen. Rodgers has steered Celtic to a Premiership and Premier Sports Cup double, and could make it a treble if his team beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final. Thelin's Dons had a superb start to the season but began to falter around November and it took until February for results to turn in their favour again. Speaking of turnarounds, the job Gray has done at Easter Road hasn't gone unnoticed. Kris Boyd explains why Celtic striker Adam Idah and Rangers' Cyriel Dessers are similar players The former skipper led Hibs on a 17-game unbeaten run - their best since 1948 - before losing to Aberdeen last month, putting them in the driving seat for a Europa League qualifying spot. For the Young Player of the Year, starlets from three different clubs have made the final list. Lennon Miller of Motherwell (who won the PFA Scotland equivalent), Bobby Wales and David Watson of Kilmarnock and recent Scotland cap James Wilson from Hearts are the four men up for the award. The winners will be announced at the annual dinner on May 18. In its history, Celtic players have won the main award 26 times, with Rangers second with 17 winners. SFWA AWARDS NOMINEES: IN FULL Lawrence Shankland of Hearts won the Player of the Year award last year SFWA Player of the Year Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Simon Murray (Dundee), Nectar Triantis (Hibernian) William Hill Manager of the Year David Gray (Hibernian), John McGlynn (Falkirk), Brendan Rodgers (Celtic), Jimmy Thelin (Aberdeen) DoubleTree by Hilton Young Player of the Year Lennon Miller (Motherwell), Bobby Wales (Kilmarnock), David Watson (Kilmarnock), James Wilson (Hearts) Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Courier
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Dundee star Simon Murray backed to finish season with 'a bang'
Simon Murray has been backed to put any Player of the Year disappointment behind him and finish the season with 'an absolute bang'. More goals would certainly help Dundee's Premiership survival bid in the final three matches of the campaign. They sit two points ahead of Ross County in 11th going into the final week. And more goals could well see Murray finish as the top goalscorer across the entire division. The Dundonian is locked level with Celtic's Daizen Maeda – who won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award – on 16 Premiership goals this season. Finishing top of the tree would see Murray become the first Dundee player since Tommy Coyne in 1988 to win the top scorer award in the top flight. Tommy Coyne is the last Dundee player to finish as top flight top scorer, scoring 33 goals in 1987/88. Chasing Top Goalscorer Manager Tony Docherty is backing his frontman to keep the goals coming in the trio of matches left. 'Simon's goal return has been fantastic,' Docherty said. 'Simon has developed as a player this year. Absolutely no doubt about it. 'People talk about his goalscoring, but his all-round play, his link-up and his understanding of the game has improved so much. 'I think he's really developed as a player this year. Dundee striker Simon Murray has been deadly in front of goal this season. Image: Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock 'I'm sure he would recognise that with giving credit to his teammates as well. 'All the boys went down to support Simon in his quest to be Player of the Year, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be. 'Everyone knows what Simon's like. He's just really pleased to be in the running for it and to get recognised by his peers. 'Knowing Simon, he'll want to finish with an absolute bang in these last three games because he's still chasing top goalscorer. 'We'll do all we can to help him try and get that.'
