Maeda Comes Home: Celtic Hero to Bid Farewell to Fans Before Glasgow Derby

# Daizen Maeda to Make Emotional Return to Celtic Park Before Rangers Clash

**The Japan international will finally say goodbye to the Celtic faithful ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.**

Daizen Maeda is set to return to Celtic Park to give supporters the farewell he was unable to deliver when he left the club this summer. The Japan international completed his move to Ipswich Town without the chance to say goodbye, but that will change before the Glasgow Derby against Rangers.

## A Farewell Fit for a Hero

Celtic confirmed the news on their official channels, announcing that Maeda will be back at Celtic Park to bid a fond farewell to the fans before kick-off. The forward will address the supporters on the pitch 10 minutes before the derby begins on Sunday.

The gesture came at Maeda’s own request. Since leaving, he has asked Celtic for the opportunity to express his gratitude to the fans for the backing they gave him throughout his time in Scotland. The club were happy to oblige, and the timing could hardly be better, with the occasion set against one of the biggest fixtures in world football.

## A Decorated Spell in Green and White

Maeda’s four-and-a-half-year stay in Glasgow was a resounding success. He collected 10 major trophies with the club, made 212 appearances and scored 79 goals.

His honours haul includes:

– **Five** Premiership titles

– **Three** Scottish Cups

– **Two** League Cups

His final season was among his best. Maeda played a key role in Celtic’s Premiership and Scottish Cup double, and his form earned him the club’s Player of the Year award. He also picked up the PFA Scotland and SPFL player of the year accolades for the 2024/25 campaign, cementing his status as one of the standout performers in the Scottish game.

 The Perfect Stage

The Glasgow Derby is one of the most intense occasions in football, and Celtic Park will be packed with supporters eager to show their appreciation. For Maeda, it offers a chance to thank the fans in person and say goodbye properly to the club and the people who backed him.

For the supporters, it is an opportunity to salute a player who gave so much to the cause and helped deliver so many memorable moments. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to witness the tribute, as Maeda will take to the pitch a full 10 minutes before kick-off.

## A Fitting Tribute

Player exits do not always allow for a proper goodbye, and that makes this return all the more meaningful. Maeda’s request shows the bond he formed with the Celtic support, and his record shows why they hold him in such high regard.

Whatever happens once the derby gets under way, the build-up promises to be special. A player who won 10 major trophies, scored 79 goals and lifted a host of individual honours will step back onto the turf where he made his name, this time to say thank you.

Sunday’s Glasgow Derby will have plenty of drama, but for many in the stadium, the moments before kick-off may prove the most memorable. Celtic Park is ready to say farewell to one of its modern heroes.

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