Kyogo, icon who made Scotland a better place

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This impact Kyogo made on Celtic is difficult to overestimate.  He cost three times more than any of our other recent players from Japan and established his credentials a week after touching down in Scotland.  In August 2021, Celtic were trophyless and at their lowest point this century.

Kyogo was the spark that ignited the club.  His perpetual motion, enthusiasm, selflessness and his goals, mostly his goals, gave us cause to hope for the future.  He also gave us 8 out of 10 trophies contested during his time in Glasgow.

His first virtuoso performance delivered a hattrick against Dundee.  We thought we were onto something special, but dare not dream of the levels he delivered.  Kyogo enjoys a big game and took special delight in scoring against Newco.  Including an incredible seven goals in 2023.  He terrorised them at Celtic Park, Hampden and Ibrox.

With him on the field, you could be playing badly, but knew something special could happen at any moment.  His hattrick of disallowed goals against Young Boys on Wednesday apparently bookends his time as an active Celtic icon.  His inactive icon status will last decades, though.

Without doubt, he is the best since Henrik Larsson – the only appropriate reference point.  We waited 20 years between the departure of Kenny Dalglish and Larsson’s arrival.  The 17 years between Henrik and Kyogo were filled with some great Celtic strikers, but none possessed the sheer magic of Kyogo.

It wasn’t just his play.  The man picked up litter, comforted injured opponents and wherever he went, made Scotland a better place.  I cannot see someone throw litter away without contrasting them to our hero.  He was an example of how to work hard and live your life.  And there was that smile.

I have been preaching Asset Management here for decades.  ‘Manage your assets or fail to manage your assets’.  Fans like you and I have sporting heroes, but Michael Nicholson’s job (as well as being a fan) is to manage our assets.  A reported fee of £10m for a player who turned 30 this month and had a significantly less effective 2024 than 2023 is Tier One asset management.

I only hope we do not backfill with one of Brendan’s agent pals’ players, or someone he watched a while back but is now out of favour in the English Championship.

Best of luck to Kyogo in France.  Despite his horrendous performance last night Jack Butland will be a happy man today.

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  1. the long wait is over on 24th January 2025 1:04 pm

     

     

    “For me , the question is more “why does he want to go?””

     

     

    Same for me – doesn’t seem like the type to chase the money, for all the difference there will be. Perhaps its as simple as he is not enjoying playing in the team any more and wants to try somewhere new? Or perhaps he is sick fed up of SPFL football and the lack of protection for players that actually try to play football.

     

     

    “most likely, Imho, he thinks it gives him a better chance of making the Japanese national team to be playing in a league which is (at least perceived to be) a higher standard than here.”

     

     

    I’d get that if Maeda was not able to achieve his national team ambitions whilst with us, even though we play him in a different role. For whatever reason the current Japan manager doesn’t rate him or doesn’t think he suits his systems/needs – not sure a change of league would change that perception unless he is going to be playing a different role?!

     

     

    QB

  2. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Very good article Paul.

     

     

    Respect.

     

     

    “Iconic” is overused by ignoramuses and those whose job involves sensationalism without substance.

     

     

    Kyogo Furuhashi is an icon IMHO.

     

     

    Certainly my favourite player since the Ange era began (although CCV is my nod for MVP).

     

     

    Few personalities in sport are electric, generating a buzz when they get involved.

     

     

    Kyogo is one of them.

     

     

    As for your intentional dig at Brendan Rodgers?

     

     

    Personally I have no issue with it. Your blog.

     

     

    Clearly a reference to Adam Idah who, so far, has not been VFM.

     

     

    Eventually he’ll get fit, score goals and change games … after which his price tag largely will be forgotten.

     

     

    As for Kyogo’s replacement?

     

     

    Brendan is on a hiding to nothing.

     

     

    No one will fill that hole fully.

     

     

    No one he signs this window will be as effective immediately.

     

     

    Brendan knows this.

     

     

    Regardless, he is accelerating the dismantling of the Postecoglou model .. as he knows it is not fit for purpose for where Brendan wants to reach.

     

    (He put the dismantle on hold last year to get the league won – excellent management IMHO).

     

     

    In truth he’s never loved Kyogo.

     

     

    Praise which was routinely gushing for Daizen was tempered for his countryman.

     

     

    Brendan likes students and disciples. The wee man was just too much of a maverick.

     

     

    All the best Kyogo.

     

     

    We’ll love you forever.

  3. boondock saint on

    Have to agree with the many on here about the dig at our manager. Great article on Kyogo, but absolutely no need for the comment. Pretty sure we could go back over the last 30 years and find many players brought in by managers that never fitted our team. Get over it and either support our manager and team or continue to let it fester . I think most of us were not happy with Brendan leaving and the manner in which he left, but he has come back and has us playing the Celtic way, and I for one am very proud of watching my team. You are much better than that comment Paul.

     

    Hail Hail

     

    Sean

  4. I’m sad to see Kyogo go. He was brilliant for us. I remember in his early days he complained about the lack of Japanese restaurants in Glasgow. Maybe Rennes is well served in that respect? I’m kidding of course, I’ve no idea why he’s going, but I wish him all the very best.

  5. the long wait is over on 24th January 2025 1:04 pm

     

    Fritz song

     

     

     

     

     

     

    So, that begs the question: why are we letting him go?

     

     

     

     

    ——-

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Isn’t the answer simply that he wants to go?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It isn’t a bond of slavery (any more) at a club.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It’s not as if we’ve transfer listed him. If he wants to go we really can’t stop him.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    For me , the question is more “why does he want to go?”

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I suspect we may never know but most likely, Imho, he thinks it gives him a better chance of making the Japanese national team to be playing in a league which is (at least perceived to be) a higher standard than

     

     

     

     

    here.

     

     

    ———————

     

     

    he was already playting in a higher league, the champions league, anf in my opinion had several good performances.

     

     

    rennes for goodness sake,

  6. onenightinlisbon on

    Kyogo has won everything he can domestically and it seemed clear that the manager was not his biggest fan.

     

     

    No need to debate, he wanted to be elsewhere and the manager was happy to let him go. End of story.

     

     

    All the best to him, Rennes or not…

  7. spikeysauldman on

    yep eventually bug Idah will score important goals in the league, maybe even high pressure penalties, and maybe even at Ibrox, cup finals and assist in our euro campaign……..then again

  8. the long wait is over on

    QUADBHOY on 24TH JANUARY 2025 1:46 PM

     

     

    I take your point about Maeda but , in my view, at least he’s such a unique player that the league he plays in is less relevant.

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    SAINT STIVS on 24TH JANUARY 2025 2:04 PM

     

     

    Agree re the CL point but, of course, those games are few and far between.

     

     

    I can help but think that the reason it’s Rennes is as much to do with Jota as anything else.

     

     

    That we are looking to take Jota in a swap deal , even if we’re being told that isn’t what it is , seems incredibly coincidental otherwise.

  9. Sad that Kyogo is going. A true icon. Sadder still, imo, that our manager doesn’t seem to have rated him. Sheer class and always a joy to watch. Can’t see how we can replace him in the short term. Hope it doesn’t rebound to our detriment.

  10. what real evidence is there for “brendan didnt really rate kyogo” narrative ?

     

     

    he picked him an awful lot as first choice centre, and a few times on the right.

  11. BOONDOCK SAINT on 24TH JANUARY 2025 1:53 PM

     

     

    Pretty sure we could go back over the last 30 years and find many players brought in by managers that never fitted our team.

     

    —————-/

     

    Agree 100%.

     

     

    The club is where it is today because of all the judgements and decisions made prior to and since 2012 . We set our own path when the Ibrox ‘house of cards’ collapsed. We stayed out of all the kerfuffle, ignored all the noise, got on with our own business, and became ultra-successful on and off the field.

     

     

    Of course given the benefit of hindsight there are probably many things the club could have done differently, but I believe all was carried out with Celtic’s best interests at heart.

     

     

    That we are now the most successful Scottish club in history in both sporting and financial terms, with a platform to keep progressing, says it all – we obviously got much more right than wrong. HH

  12. Can you imagine Paul67 doing your eulogy ?

     

    Ol Fred Colon was a good guy but his pals were wee fanny’s 🤪

  13. Hopefully,Brendan tries Maeda at CF.I always said,I thought his best position.You can see he has improved his finishing no end,and his positional sense.Never really suited to the wing.Hemmed in,and not tricky enough.Brendan,since he has him coming inside a lot,has improved him no end.Worth a go.One thing,he will get plenty of chance,if Jota and Khun are supplying.

  14. Paul67

     

     

    You capture the way of our warrior striker,his respect and etiquette playing,his culture,his game intelligence,his name will be revered among Celtic fans in the future,and he will always be welcomed back.

     

     

    However you soil your tribute with your jibe at Brendan,that is a disrespect,contrasted with the asset we have just lost.nae need.It augments the view of you being Petes puppet and remote from whats a happening.

     

    Is it agent envy Paul? You used to dip your elbow in,did you not? It certainly comes across as that,as there was no need for you to mention our manager at all today,the article could have been a homage to our japanese warrior.

     

    Nae need and a wee reminder of why i dont pay heed ti yir headers.the days of itk have came and went.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  15. “You can see things will happen in this last week or so. That’s always the aim.

     

    “We certainly didn’t plan to sell Kyogo and then be any weaker.

     

    “Our idea is to be stronger coming out of January.”

     

    “It’s not finalised yet, but he’s a player that clearly would be an absolutely incredible addition to our squad given what he’s done here before and his qualities.

     

    “Hopefully we can confirm that in the next 24 hours.”

     

    “We were reluctant to sell. He’s one of our top players and someone who fits perfectly into how we play.

     

    “But Kyogo expressed an interest to leave a number of months back.

     

    “That expression becomes stronger until we get to this stage where he’s getting ready to leave.

     

    “Sadly, we then have to do a deal and look to finalise that for him.

     

    “Listen, he’s been an incredible player for the club for three and a half years.

     

    “Like I said, he’s not someone that we wanted to lose, but we have to accept where he’s at.

     

    “And after the work that he’s done to give to Celtic at his age and where he’s at, then we have to respect that.”

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om1161d6Ixs

  16. An Tearmann on 24th January 2025 2:43 pm

     

    Paul67

     

     

    You capture the way of our warrior striker,his respect and etiquette playing,his culture,his game intelligence,his name will be revered among Celtic fans in the future,and he will always be welcomed back.

     

     

    However you soil your tribute with your jibe at Brendan,that is a disrespect,contrasted with the asset we have just lost.nae need.It augments the view of you being Petes puppet and remote from whats a happening.

     

     

    Is it agent envy Paul? You used to dip your elbow in,did you not? It certainly comes across as that,as there was no need for you to mention our manager at all today,the article could have been a homage to our japanese warrior.

     

     

    Nae need and a wee reminder of why i dont pay heed ti yir headers.the days of itk have came and went.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

    =================================

     

    Well said , totally agree with your post

  17. Looking forward to a massive task tomorrow against a re energised Dundee who see to have enjoyed a very positive transfer window with some good talent well harnessed by Tony Doc.

     

     

    It is inevitable we will have a post CL game challenge to raise ourselves after the physical and emotional drain of Wednesday.

     

     

    Add to that the niggles / injuries / sales and ongoing contract issues for some players plus one eye on next Wednesday and it will be great to just get any win we can in my view.

     

     

    Ideally a fresh team and hopefully a really big support backing them can get the job done kinda like we did v Ross Co.

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    That awkward moment when Martin O’Neill invited Rivaldo for a trial.

     

     

    Top strategists at Celtic CSC

  19. Its going to be interesting to what sort of Celtic we see in the next six months. Kyogo, like all great Celtic strikers was so central to how we played, he played in a pretty unique way, he offered some things that I think Brendan didnt necessarily value as highly as Ange did, which isnt to say Brendan didnt value him and what he gave to the team.

     

     

    Brendan now has the chance to bring in his own man. He brought in Idah to offer us something different which hasnt worked so far, perhaps down to the tactics and formation, perhaps because he isnt good enough, perhaps both. We’re struggling against teams who have worked out our strategic weakness, we were poor in the second half against a very ordinary team on Wednesday because they changed and played the way that every team that has caused us problems recently did. If Brendan is serious about addressing our flaws this is the prefect time to be doing it.

     

     

    He will have money to spend on a replacement for Kyogo, he’ll have Jota and probably eventually KT to fit in the team. No Maeda and no Kyogo in the front 3 could make us a very different team defensively. Kuhn, an undroppable is also probably the worst in the team without the ball. Does Brendan choose a new striker to fit in a different system, or buy a new one “more” suited to Brendan’s preset system in the hope that that will improve the team?

     

     

    Theres something else that should be in his in tray at the moment – we’re far too over reliant on Calmac. It wouldnt be wise to spend all our budget on a striker when theres a pressing need to get someone in soon to fill the very large hole Calmac will shortly leave in the team – he’s 32 in June, he could slow down tomorrow and we’d be in serious trouble. Maybe a change of formation will help Celtic and Calmac himself

     

     

    Perhaps the solution is to get as many good players in the door as possible and keep playing the way we do, it will win plenty of games but it looks like its being found out by better opposition. The sensible thing would be to look at changing a bit, and taking this opportunity to sign players who might fit in with it. It might be that was Brendan’s plan all along, he didnt think the players he had could play another way, but resigning Jota and KT might suggest that isnt the plan

  20. An Tearmann on 24th January 2025 2:43 pm

     

     

    Paul67

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Excellent post AT.

     

     

    HH

  21. Do P67 & B78 get together and plan this ridiculous attack on our manager.

     

    Utter disgrace ,both should be ashamed of themselves with their continuous

     

    petty comments.HH

  22. Farewell Kyogo, sensation. Seems too to be a nice guy too, the way he shwoed concern for opposition players etc. Really good human being, gutted he’s gone really. I wish him the very best in his future, and thanks a million. Sure BR’s system wasn’t that great for him, but did he complain, no. Brilliant.

     

     

    From another angle, bearing in mind his form and age, if someone had said we’d sell Kyogo, Get Jota and a couple of million, would that have been a problem !!!!

     

     

    KINGLubO

  23. I loved Kyogo and the joy he gave us all. I know he missed some sitters but all strikers do. His strike rate against the huns was right up there with other scalpers. I hope we have an able replacement as there is still a bit to go this season. why not put a bid in for igermane. That would be fun.

     

    Good luck wee man in your new venture and thanks for all the great moments you gave us.

  24. Loads of us got government weather warnings yesterday on smart phones.

     

     

    Many will need to be checking transport information at the game tomorrow.

     

    Celtic take note.

     

     

    HH.

  25. As for as Kyogo’s replacement, on the day we sell Kyogo for twice as much as we paid for him after 3 1/2 years of exceptional service its perfectly reasonable to ask questions about the recruitment process that brought Idah to the club.

     

     

    None of this is his fault. I dont want to add to the pressure that Idah is facing at the moment, he’s obviously doing all he can to break his scoring dry spell and he’s obviously an honest hard working guy, but we broke our transfer record for him, we paid the same fee that we’re receiving for Kyogo who at 30 has given his best years to Celtic. He has almost identical stats to Oh and GG at the same stage of his Celtic career. It looks very unlikely he’s going to be the player to lead Celtics line for years to come.

     

     

    The mistake we made with him while not as obvious as some of the other players we’ve paid less for has been thrown into sharp relief today. We must do better with Kyogo’s replacement, hard, smart work is needed if we are to fill the most important position on the pitch. Use everything we have to find the right guy, not Brendan’s book of contacts or players that “pass over his desk.” Too important for point scoring and ego tripping now.

     

     

    Kyogo was a dream of a signing. We need more of the sort of thinking that brought him to Celtic.

  26. KINGLUBO on 24th January 2025 3:16 pm

     

    Farewell Kyogo, sensation. Seems too to be a nice guy too, the way he shwoed concern for opposition players etc.

     

     

    i always wondered, with that concermed smile on his face, and apologetic hand gesture, as he helps the guys to their feet is he really saying “get ir right up you” in japanese.

     

     

    m\eda on the other hand just fives them the death stare.

  27. “Brendan now has the chance to bring in his own man.”

     

     

    By this I mean his own sort of player. Not a player he has identified himself.

     

     

    Do what you do best Brendan, leave the rest to others

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