{"id":264529,"date":"2026-09-26T06:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T06:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/26\/replacing-maeda-2m-celtic-star-has-quietly-become-oneills-best-player\/"},"modified":"2026-09-26T06:40:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T06:40:11","slug":"replacing-maeda-2m-celtic-star-has-quietly-become-oneills-best-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/26\/replacing-maeda-2m-celtic-star-has-quietly-become-oneills-best-player\/","title":{"rendered":"Replacing Maeda: \u00a32m Celtic star has quietly become O’Neill’s best player"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Daizen Maeda<\/a> waved goodbye to Celtic<\/a> for one last time on Sunday afternoon, the Japanese speedster keen to receive a proper farewell following his prior move to Ipswich Town.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Those inside Parkhead may well have hoped he’d brought his shin pads, in truth, the 28-year-old watching on as his former club limply fell to yet another derby defeat.<\/p>\n

It was only a matter of months ago that Maeda, amid his stunning end-of-season revival, dealt a crushing blow to Rangers’ own title hopes with that<\/em> overhead kick, having also been the difference-maker again on the final day against Hearts.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He’s a simply unique, cult figure of a footballer, the like of whom Celtic won’t see again. It’s no surprise that Martin O’Neill<\/a>‘s side have struggled in his absence.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Maeda’s start to life at Ipswich has gone<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

2025\/26 wasn’t a vintage season for Maeda in a Celtic shirt, although he came good when it mattered, scoring seven times in just five post-split games to almost single-handedly drag the Bhoys to the title.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Maeda – Celtic record<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Club<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Games (Assists)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

25\/26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

54<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17 (10)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

24\/25<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33 (12)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

23\/24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 (4)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22\/23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11 (7)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

21\/22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8 (5)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

212<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

79 (38)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

The previous campaign had been where he’d truly cemented talismanic status, however, scoring 33 goals in all competitions amid his dual role off the left and through the middle.<\/p>\n

A relentless, pressing machine, at his best he was a terror for Premiership defences, making up for the odd wayward attempt or pass by providing the decisive moment when it mattered.<\/p>\n

Losing him has been a significant blow, with there likely to be some frustration too at the sight of the flying forward struggling to make his mark south of the border, following a slow start at Portmand Road.<\/p>\n

The \u00a310m man<\/a> has only come off the bench in each of Ipswich’s last two Premier League games, with Maeda revealing that he’s finding it tough to adjust to the increased “intensity” of English football.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\u201cI’m playing at an intensity I’ve never experienced before. First of all, it’s important to get used to it,\u201d he told Japanese media.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIn Scotland, my strengths were speed and high pressing, but the intensity is completely different, so I\u2019m trying to figure out how to bring out my strengths in this environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

For his sake, let’s hope he’s not another high-profile figure to toil away from Celtic Park, while more pressingly for O’Neill’s side, can they ever replace him?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why \u00a32m Celtic star may be starting to fill Maeda’s void<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

A fine start to the season has swiftly gone awry following the debacle away in Linz, the Scottish champions also notably losing each of their last three games in all competitions.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Celtic\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Jason Cairnduff<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

O’Neill’s own future has been called into question, with Football FanCast exclusively reporting<\/a> that Kieran McKenna remains a leading target, while the club’s recruitment is again under scrutiny, having seen just two summer signings line up from the start at the weekend.<\/p>\n

It’s all become a little bit toxic heading into the international break, with the Hoops needing to figure out quite what has gone wrong over the past week or so.<\/p>\n