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Name: Kyogo Furuhashi
aka: Furuhashi Kyogo, Kyogo
Born: 20 January 1995
Birthplace: Nara, Japan
Signed: 16 July 2021 (est £3.5m)
Left: […]
Position: Winger, Forward
Debut: 2021-07-31: Hearts 2-1 Celtic, SP
Squad No.: 8
Internationals: Japan
International Caps: [TBC at end of career]
International Goals: [TBC at end of career]
Biog
New Celtic manager Ange Postecoglu pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this surprise signing as there was no heads up prior to Kyogo’s arrival in July 2021. This was clearly entirely an Ange Postecoglu signing, and Kyogo had some weight on his shoulders as the move was seen as possibly demonstrating the new manager’s philosophy.
Kyogo was an exciting talent arriving at a peak age, and was the top scorer in Japan. He could play across the front three, was highly mobile and technical, and so the initial opinion on him was positive, but Scottish football was a new challenge as was the new culture with all that goes with it. He arrived at a Celtic in transition and at a low ebb, so a lot to work on. He’d been well schooled by playing alongside Spanish footballing great Iniesta in Japan, so he had some learning pedigree.
Debut season
He incredibly hit the ground at lightning speed at Celtic, after a delay for international quarantine for covid travel restrictions. He scored his first goal in a 4-2 win over FK Jablonec in the Uefa cup and then incredibly scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Dundee in his home league debut match, the same day as the Tokyo Olympics ended in a gold medal laden tournament for the Japanese, but Kyogo stole many headlines with his performance.
From there he was pulling Celtic forward in the new era under Ange especially in the difficult first few months which saw some admittedly concerning performances as Sevco pulled ahead in the league. Kyogo scored class goals and often was seen as being the one to keep Celtic afloat.
The greatest highlight was effectively winning Celtic the league cup final v Hibs. After Celtic went behind he equalised with some slick ball play just a minute later, and then went on to seal the victory with a sublime World class chip over the goalkeeper to grab the winning goal.
Kyogo is literally always in space. He’s a few yards out and not a defender near him. Such an intelligent player using his pace and skill to win the advantage and play the pass too when needed. Admittedly a little lightweight physically meaning he could be pushed off the ball too easily but he made up for that with his other assets.
Disaster struck when he was lost due to injury in December 2021 which extended for months (after being played in a match he should have been left out of). However Celtic were spurred on by the arrival of the Japanese contingent, who likely would never have had the opportunity if wasn’t for Kyogo’s success.
His tally despite missing half the season was still an excellent 20 goals in 33 games! For some he was the one who most revitalised Celtic’s league title challenge, and helped get the supporters off their seats.
Second Season
“Thank you for this amazing season and your awesome support!! This one is for you, Celts ”
Kyogo Furahashi (June 2023)
When everyone expected him to push on in the next season, he admittedly had quite a stop start set of performances early on. What was needed was to see Kyogo make a mark on the bigger platforms, most notably against Sevco and in the Champions League. Yet, firstly in the Champions League he was seen to be overawed by the occasions in a Celtic side that soon was to flatter to deceive. He left little good impression which admittedly was sore to see.
As a player, the pace and skill was there but arguably little advancement since his early days with some even arguing that Giakoumakis should be ahead for the first team spot place. Kyogo’s off-ball movement was still top class, just needed the confidence to do it at the top level to bang them in, and consistently.
Domestically, once he did get his form back, his domestic scoring record was phenomenal, yet a big step up was craved by all. He finally scored v Sevco to get that monkey off his back, a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw in the Ne’er Day Derby (Jan 2023) which effectively ended their league title challenge. His response after that goal is what stood out most demonstrating a winner’s mentality. After equalising, he went straight for the ball, to hasten the restart and to get the win rather than just celebrate his goal.
Having found his form, he scored consistently (34 in total for the season) and was a key player in the league title and both of the two cup finals (scoring in both) that helped Celtic to the domestic treble. He had this knack from out of nowhere to find space, a burst of pace, and then to nip in and score a wonderful goal. He scared defenders despite his lack of physical size! A truly class player.
One of the humorous points was that Sevco fans after the first season used that chide that he was vastly over-rated, and referenced that Kyogo had failed to score against him in the first season. They were to regret that in this second season, with Kyogo scoring five goals against them, including two including two doubles, one of which was in the 2-1 league cup final victory. All done with a lovable smile on his face.
He deservedly won the player of the season across various awards, even though there was very strong competition from fellow Celts (e.g. Hatate & CCV). World Soccer magazine (Apr 2023)was pinpointed as one “of the stars of the season from outside of Europe’s top 5 leagues”.
He was a pivotal player for Postecoglu, arguably the most important. When things were rocky at the start, it was Kyogo’s form that helped to turn the sceptics round, and led to the confidence to bring in further players from the East Asian markets. He did this without being necessarily the biggest or strongest, he just got on with his job. To play the way Postecoglu wanted to play, the team needed exciting new forwards to make it work, and Furahashi was the man handpicked by Postecoglu to fill in that role.
Third Season (2023/24)
[…]
Quotes
“As a striker, I pay a lot of attention to the way I attack, combine, define in front of goal, and I can keep learning”
Kyogo Furuhashi
“If you end up in arguments with ignorant people, you eventually become one of them.”
Ange on critics of Kyogo claiming he’s a serial diver & cheat on the field (Dec 2021)
“Kyogo’s the size of a jockey, playing against guys almost a foot taller than him and all these brave warriors on the outside are casting aspersions”. Ange Postecoglou hits back at people accusing Kyogo of diving.
“We are delighted to bring Kyogo Furuhashi to Celtic. He is a player of real quality and clearly someone I know well. I think he will add something special to our squad and I am sure the way he plays will excite our supporters. We look forward to welcoming him.”
Postecoglou (July 2021)
“Celtic fans will love Kyogo. The thing about him is that he possesses what I call a football brain. Any player as fast as him is a threat and for a midfielder like me, he was a dream because he always seemed to find space. I know he will be a huge success”.
A Iniesta (Jul 2021)
“Kyogo is the first player in history to be better than his YouTube highlights, much better.”
Graham A (Twitter Witt)
“This football club and him were a match made in heaven.”
Ange Postecoglou on Kyogo (Dec 2021)
Furuhashi: [The atmosphere at Celtic Park] is really amazing. It’s hard to describe with words. The people here are different. They’re passionate, very passionate. From the security guards, the cashier, they’ll stop their work to take a picture with you. Celtic via DAZN media
“Talented players of his ability don’t come around too often. He has great skill and vision. He scores and picks a pass. He lights up a football pitch. He is a matchwinner.”
Lubo Moravcik on Kyogo
“Winning the League Cup! Thanks to the fans, the staff and my teammates I was able to score two goals to help the team. I’ll never forget the happiness I had in that moment! We play football to feel that emotion.”
Kyogo (2022)
“A lot of teammates mentioned about my “mushroom” hairstyle so it has become my trademark celebration!”
Kyogo
“He’s always one step ahead of the defenders for these kind of cutbacks…whether it’s luck or whether he’s mastered the art of it, I dunno!”
Ex-Celt Kenny Miller’s bizarre comment on Kyogo which had co-host Jackie McNamara stumped too on Sportscene (Sep 2022)
“If you put the ball in the box, you just know he’s always going to be ready to score. He’s quite amazing, really. You wonder where he is and then, all of a sudden, he’s there. His movement is amazing and defenders just don’t know which way he’s going to go. He must be a nightmare to play against. He’s one of the very best I’ve seen. And he’s quite a short guy, so to get on the end of so many crosses, it shows you what a player he is.”
Aaron Mooy on Kyogo (Feb 2023)
“I’m a striker, it’s my duty to score as many goals as possible and take advantage of as many chances as I can. I had chances before I scored which I missed, so I was happy to go on and score two goals in this game.”
Kyogo (Feb 2023)
Nakamura: “You’ve already scored a couple of goals [against Rangers], haven’t you?”
Kyogo: “Five this year”
Nakamura: “Excellent”.
Japan Tour prematch joint conference/interview (Jul 2023)
“I don’t know how many minutes it was, but I’ve lost my memory, and I don’t remember anything about my teammates worrying about me and walking out of the pitch by myself. At the hospital, the doctor told me that you’re fine without any problems, and I felt that the god of football protected me. I will continue to do my best with keeping my gratitude in mind.”
Kyogo on Social Media, referring to a serious head collision in a 6-0 win over Aberdeen (Nov 2023)
Playing Career
[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2021-22 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 33 |
| Goals | 12 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 50 |
| Goals | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
| 2023-24 | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Goals | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Goals |
Honours with Celtic
(Honours are marked below in which the player has played in at least one of the matches in the campaign.)
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
Pictures
Forums
Notes
- Kyogo is his first name but the custom for names in Far East Asia is the surname first, so you may see his name sometimes written in some articles as Furuhashi Kyogo.
- Became the first Celtic player to scored 7 goals in a calendar year v Sevco, or even against any side from Ibrox.
Articles
Celtic delighted to sign Japanese internationalist, Kyogo Furuhashi
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/july/Celtic-delighted-to-sign-Japanese-internationalist-Kyogo-Furuhashi/
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement to sign Japanese internationalist, Kyogo Furuhashi, from J1-League club Vissel Kobe, subject to the satisfaction of usual conditions and international clearance.
The 26-year-old forward is regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Japanese football and will join Celtic on a four-year deal.
He is the current top scorer in the J1 League – the top division in Japan – with 14 goals in 20 games, and he is a team-mate of Spanish football legend, Andres Iniesta, who captains the side.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou said: “We are delighted to bring Kyogo Furuhashi to Celtic. He is a player of real quality and clearly someone I know well.
“I think he will add something special to our squad and I am sure the way he plays will excite our supporters. We look forward to welcoming him to Celtic.”
Kyogo Furuhashi has helped Vissel Kobe win the only two trophies in the club’s history so far – the Emperor’s Cup, when they beat Kashima Antlers 2-0 in the final on New Year’s Day 2020, and the subsequent Japanese Super Cup.
That match against the J1 league champions, Yokohama F Marinos, who were then managed by Ange Postecoglou, saw Kyogo Furuhashi score in the 3-3 draw, with Vissel Kobe winning the penalty shoot-out.
Now, having faced Ange Postecoglou’s side in Japan, Kyogo Furuhashi will now play under the Australian manager at Celtic
Kyogo Furuhashi, who made his international debut against Venezuela in November 2019, has scored three goals in six appearances for Japan.
Celtic fire back at Kyogo diving critics as Ange Postecoglou blasts: ‘Who are these brave soldiers?’
Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou has hit back at Kyogo Furuhashi’s diving critics after stating he will not get drawn into a debate with “ignorant people”.
By Matthew Elder
Wednesday, 8th December 2021, 2:22 pm
Updated
4 hours ago
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-fire-back-at-kyogo-diving-critics-as-ange-postecoglou-blasts-who-are-these-brave-soldiers-3487374
The Japanese striker has been accused of going down too easily by certain quarters after recent incidents involving Hearts defender John Souttar and Livingston’s Ayo Obileye, which earned Celtic a last-minute penalty.
Kyogo has scored 14 goals and claimed five assists since arriving from the J-League and Postecoglou launched a strong defence of his summer signing as he blasted his critics.
“Who are these brave people, these warriors, who are accusing people, who are out there?” he asked.
“Kyogo is the size of a jockey. He’s playing against guys almost a foot taller than him.
“All these brave warriors on the outside casting aspersions, are they?”
Former Rangers players Barry Ferguson and Alex Rae are among those who have criticised Kyogo for supposed play-acting, while former Premier League referee Keith Hackett suggested the striker should face punishment by the Scottish FA should he continue to ‘exaggerate’.
“I haven’t read it. I won’t read it,” Postecoglou added. “You end up in arguments with ignorant people you’ll eventually become one of them so I kind of ignore those kind of narratives as you painted it.
“I think Kyogo has been great for our football club and I think he’s been great for Scottish football. I’ll be surprised if anyone wouldn’t want someone of his character and playing ability in their club or their league.
“Who are all these brave soldiers sitting in their studios or lounge rooms or wherever they are, throwing these narratives across the way?”
Kyogo Furuhashi lifts lid on Celtic conversations with Shunsuke Nakamura and Andres Iniesta
Kyogo Furuhashi has revealed he is tapping into personal advice from former Celtic idol Shunsuke Nakamura as he looks to emulate his compatriot’s success with the club.
By Stephen Halliday
Tuesday, 3rd August 2021, 6:00 am
Japanese winger Furuhashi, who made his Celtic debut as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership defeat at Hearts, has been backed by Nakamura to shine in Scottish football.
Nakamura enjoyed a memorable four-year stint with Celtic from 2005 to 2009 which saw him win six major domestic honours and be named Scotland’s Player of the Year in 2007.
“Shunsuke is a legend, not only in Japan but here at Celtic,” said Furuhashi. “He’s a great player – and he’s still playing now (at the age of 43) for Yokohama FC.
“He has given the supporters a lot of memories over the years at all of the clubs he has been at.
“It’s a huge motivation of mine to work hard here but he told me I can be as successful as he was at Celtic.
“I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to him a couple of times since I signed. He just told me to be myself. A lot of things will happen but he said, ‘you can do it’. I have confidence in myself that I can achieve a lot here.”
Furuhashi was also encouraged to make his £4.6 million move to Celtic from Vissel Kobe by Spanish midfield icon Andres Iniesta, a team-mate at the J-League club.
“Iniesta is a teacher, a big brother and family to me,” added the 26-year-old. “I have great respect for him. We played a lot together at Kobe.
“He’s a quiet person but I learned a lot from him. I feel a special connection with him and really enjoyed playing alongside him.
“He played at Celtic Park with Barcelona and he told me the power of the supporters was huge. For him, Celtic Park was a tough stadium but for me being on their side and being part of Celtic makes me excited.”
Furuhashi admits the frenetic nature of Scottish football was an eye opener for him at Tynecastle.
“This was my first time playing in a foreign league and it was different,” he said. “My first impression was it’s a tough, physical contest with a lot of speed.
“It’s very physical compared to the J-League and the contact is hard. You certainly feel the difference, not only in the game but even in the training.
“It’s really interesting for me to adapt and play my game. I am sure I can cope with the physical side.”
Furuhashi is relishing the prospect of playing under Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, having previously scored for Vissel Kobe against the Greek coach’s Yokohama F Marinos side in a Japanese Super Cup victory last year.
“Thankfully, he did not hold a grudge!,” smiled Furuhashi. “The manager created a very interesting style of football with Marinos and of course he won the league.
“It was always a tough club to play against. I’m just excited I’m now in his team and I get to be part of his style.
“He brought me over here and he believes I can be part of it. The manager has brought me here to play in the wide areas but I am always thinking about scoring goals.”
Celtic condemn ‘sickening’ racist abuse of Kyogo Furuhashi by Rangers fans
Mark Dobson
@kellysheroesmd
Sun 22 Aug 2021 22.36 BST
Celtic have described racist social media footage – featuring travelling Rangers fans mocking the Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi – as “sickening and pathetic”.
Rangers have launched an investigation after the video, from a supporters’ bus, emerged on Sunday afternoon, when Steven Gerrard’s side were in Dingwall for a 4-2 win over Ross County. Fans were seen singing racist songs and making offensive eye gestures to mobile phones.
Celtic said in a statement on Sunday evening: “If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation.
“Unfortunately, a number of Celtic players in recent years have suffered similar racist abuse. As a club open to all, we stand firmly against racism in all its forms and we will give Kyogo our full support.
“All stakeholders must work together in tackling all forms of bigotry.”
The latest chapter in this depressing story is unlikely to calm tensions as Celtic visit Rangers next Sunday in the opening Old Firm clash of the Scottish Premiership season.
In response to the video, a Rangers club spokesperson said: “Rangers condemns all forms of racism and discrimination. Those who partake in such behaviour are not representative of our club or the loyal support who have stood by us through thick and thin.
“We are currently investigating to identify the individuals involved.”
Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
Furuhashi, 26, joined Celtic from Vissel Kobe this summer and has become an immediate favourite at Parkhead with six goals in seven games.
Celtic release statement condemning abuse of Kyogo Furuhashi on Rangers supporters bus
Celtic have condemned racist abuse directed at their Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi on bus to Dingwall carrying Rangers supporters.
By Peter Wales
Sunday, 22nd August 2021, 9:38 pm
Footage from social media emerged on Sunday appearing to show a group of fans on a bus ahead of Rangers’ match against Ross County chanting a racist song about the Japanese striker and making offensive gestures.
The Ibrox club has now launched an investigation to identify who is involved in the video.
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And a statement from Celtic this evening on the abuse read: “If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation.
“Unfortunately, a number of Celtic players in recent years have suffered similar racist abuse.
“As a club open to all, we stand firmly against racism in all its forms and we will give Kyogo our full support.
“All stakeholders must work together in tackling all forms of bigotry.”
Celtic completed a deal to sign striker Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe in his home country’s J-League last month and he has scored five goals in seven games since arriving in Scotland for a £4.6million transfer fee.
The 26-year-old is expected to be in manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans to face Rangers at Ibrox next weekend in the first Old Firm game of the season.
Andres Iniesta ranks Celtic’s Kyogo among Barcelona and Spain greats as best he’s played with
ByBlair MeikleLive Sports Writer
16:10, 21 DEC 2022
Andres Iniesta has paid Kyogo Furuhashi the ultimate compliment by ranking him alongside the likes of Thierry Henry and Luis Suarez.
Having been part of Barcelona and Spain squads widely regarded as some of the best club and international teams of all times, the midfield magician has played alongside some of the world’s biggest superstars. As well has Henry and Suarez, there has been Lionel Messi, David Villa, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o.
But it would seem Celtic star Kyogo has left just as big an impression on the 38-year-old after their time playing together at Vissel Kobe in Japan. The 27-year-old’s form there attracted Ange Postecoglou and the Hoops but it also impressed Iniesta enough to have him mentioned in the same breath as some of the greats of the game.
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“For example, Samuel Eto’o, [Thierry] Henry, Luis Suarez, David Villa, Fernando Torres.
“I had a pretty good connection with Kyogo (Furuhashi) in Japan.
“The important thing is to get to know each other and when to unmark and make a pass, and the forwards strengthen the midfielders.”
Kyogo Furuhashi: From early rejection to Andres Iniesta partnership & Celtic stardom
By Martin WattBBC Scotland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65521453
8 May 20238 May 2023.From the section Celtic
The best of Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi
One phone call changed everything for Kyogo Furuhashi. Racked with self-doubt and frustration, he was contemplating giving up on his dreams of making it as a professional footballer.
Those hopes had been tarnished by a series of trials with J-League clubs which failed to yield a single offer for the young striker in his final year at Chuo University in Japan.
The notion he would be freewheeling alongside Andres Iniesta in a mere couple of years seemed absurd.
Disillusioned, Kyogo phoned home and said to his mother, “maybe I should call it a day”.
The blunt response of “suit yourself” was enough to jolt him back from the brink.
“‘I must be nuts’, I thought,” Kyogo told Fifa earlier this year as he recalled being at a career crossroads.
“My parents had paid for me to get this far, attend university and play all the football I wanted,” he added. “It was the slap in the face I needed to redouble my efforts.”
The rest, as they say, is history for the 28-year-old.
Kyogo is now celebrating a second successive league title with Celtic, where he is idolised and has reached 50 goals in just 77 appearances.
Here, BBC Scotland charts the making of a modern Celtic icon.
The boy from Greece who became Celtic’s main man
Celtic set ‘ridiculous standard’ – Postecoglou
‘Precious’ partnership with Iniesta
When his perseverance was rewarded with a leap into the professional ranks in early 2017 at the age of 22, it was to the second-tier J2 League with FC Gifu.
The circuitous route to the top proved beneficial for a striker regarded as a late developer, giving him significantly more game time than he would have been afforded as a J-League rookie straight out of university.
He made 44 appearances in his debut campaign, scoring six times, before a shift from the flank to centre-forward the following season fast-tracked his progress. A burst of eight goals in eight games signified Kyogo as one of Japan’s brightest prospects.
Vissel Kobe promptly took him to the J-League in summer 2018 and dropped him into a soap opera scenario. Having bought the club in 2014, billionaire business magnate Hiroshi Mikitani wasn’t shy in spending, with ageing European stars Iniesta, David Villa, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Vermaelen all brought in.
A first major trophy was delivered with Emperor’s Cup success in 2019, but the hefty outlay geared towards league glory didn’t pay off.
“Mikitani was trying to buy a couple of stars and make an instant champion – it didn’t work at all,” says Dan Orlowitz, football writer with the Japan Times.
“You have to understand Vissel are the biggest punchline for J-League watchers. Mikitani has no patience – they went through something like 10 managers in four seasons from mid-2017.”
Despite that managerial churn, Kyogo flourished as the attacking fulcrum in tandem with Barcelona and Spain icon Iniesta.
Kyogo’s intelligent movement was the perfect foil for Iniesta, still a master passer in his 30s. Those years sharpened Kyogo’s game and left a big impression.
“Even if Vissel were a joke as a club sometimes, for Furuhashi to play with Iniesta and Villa and Podolski, and to train with them every day, that’s a masterclass,” adds Orlowitz.
“Iniesta was a mentor. He really helped Kyogo develop. They had such a rhythm that when Kyogo left there was a disconnect between Iniesta and the rest of the formation.”
Kyogo remembers it as a “blessed time” and made sure to listen and act upon every morsel of advice as he learned from a legend.
“It was precious, I’ll never forget it,” Kyogo told Fifa. “Every day it was just so much fun to go to training. It was so full of surprises and I could feel how much I was growing. I absorbed a lot.
“Before our season kicked off, Iniesta said to me, ‘just be yourself and all will be well – play with confidence’, and it really inspired me to let my confident side show on the pitch.”
Kyogo Furuhashi spent three years playing alongside Spanish great Andres Iniesta at Vissel Kobe
Kyogo Furuhashi spent three years playing alongside Spanish great Andres Iniesta at Vissel Kobe
Taking Scottish football by storm
Ange Postecoglou, then at the helm of Yokohama Marinos, was among the admirers as Kyogo’s talent rocketed, accumulating 49 goals and 18 assists in 111 appearances for Vissel.
When Postecoglou swapped Japan for Glasgow in June 2021, he was faced with a gargantuan Celtic rebuild. The first piece of the jigsaw – and arguably still the most important – was the £4.6m signing of Kyogo.
Celtic were still reeling from the chaos and calamity of the failed 10-in-a-row season. With Odsonne Edouard soon to depart, the club needed a striker to hang their hopes upon.
Enter Kyogo, who has come to embody the Postecoglou project with his exhaustive work-rate, dynamism, and quality.
The striker ended his debut campaign in Scotland with 20 goals in 33 games, despite missing three-and-a-half months with a hamstring injury.
This term he has kicked on again. In big games, Kyogo comes up with big goals.
He has a knack of scoring against Rangers – there was the last-gasp equaliser at Ibrox in January, the match-winning double in the League Cup final and another two in the 3-2 league win last month.
And it was apt that when Celtic were toiling against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, it was their Japan star who again stepped up, netting his 30th of the season – and reaching a half-century of goals for the club – to secure their second title under Postecoglou.
Celtic’s players and supporters savour clinching another Scottish Premiership title
Kyogo’s stats set him apart.
He is the Premiership’s leading scorer this season on 24 and has the highest shot conversion rate (29.6%) while averaging a goal every 90 minutes, also a league best. His expected goals (xG) is just 18.72, amplifying his ability to convert difficult chances.
The Japanese is the first Celtic player since Moussa Dembele in the treble-winning season of 2016-17 to reach 30 goals, and has even invited debate over whether he is the club’s best striker since Swede Henrik Larsson.
“He’s such a huge figure for Celtic,” says former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart.
“He’s done it since the day he arrived with the energy he brings. He’s been a massive signing for Celtic and will continue to be.”
International travails for a humble hero
Yet while he is the darling of Celtic, Kyogo’s recent international omission causes befuddlement on these shores.
There was a revealing moment in a documentary on Kyogo in his homeland. He sits cross-legged on the couch at his flat in Scotland watching Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu announce his squad on television for last winter’s World Cup in Qatar.
A rueful look and slight shake of the head accompany the realisation he has been left out. At 28, his chance of a World Cup may never come again. The camera lingers on his expression. For fans accustomed to his beaming grin, it’s a jarring sight.
Kyogo’s reaction since has highlighted the strength of character behind the trademark smile as he powers Celtic to the brink of a treble. His manager and team-mates need no convincing of his talent, which comes with no airs and graces.
Midfielder Matt O’Riley describes the humble forward as “genuinely the nicest man I’ve ever met”, while Postecoglou adds: “From the moment this guy arrived he’s been outstanding.
“There’s not much of him out there and he’s up against big strong defenders who get very physical with him at times. But make no mistake, he’s a winner.”