Celtics physical beast Maeda makes mark yet again in Scottish Cup win

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Daizen Maeda pounces to give Celtic lead over Hibs

A quick scan of Celtic forward Daizen Maedas social media accounts tells you two things about him. He loves football. And he loves his family. Thats it.

His endearingly short interviews in English, and even his native Japanese, give the impression he is a quiet, understated man.

Those who know the 27-year-old best might say differently, but to the outside world thats how it seems.

His compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi often took the headlines at Celtic, before his January departure for Rennes, due his knack of scoring big goals, and lots of them.

But coaches have described Maeda as a "machine" and a "physical beast" for his seemingly unlimited stamina, and now he is having the best season of his Celtic career, scoring 27 goals so far and 13 in his last 13 games.

Five of those have come in the Scottish Cup, with the latest in Sundays quarter-final win over Hibernian.

"That goal just sums up his whole season," said former Celtic midfielder John Collins on Sportsound. "Hes electric, off the mark, hungry in and around the six-yard box."

After Celtic opened their Champions League campaign with a thumping 5-1 win against Slovan Bratislava, manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on Maeda.

Former Celtic and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart had used a clip of the 27-year-old thwarting a Slovan counter-attack on BBC Sports Champions League highlights programme.

Maeda hounded Slovans right-back and centre-back, winning possession.

Rodgers cited that moment and said he doubted "theres anyone better in world football" at setting the tone from the front.

There are numerous examples of the Celtic forward doing just that.

In the League Cup final this season, he ran down Rangers defender Leon Balogun, stole the ball and ran through to score.

Strangely, the moment which sums up his attitude and speed came near the end of a 6-0 drubbing of St Johnstone in September, when Celtic lost the ball in the final third and he sprinted the length of the pitch to win it back with the game long won.

At the time, Rodgers applauded it on the touchline as much as any goal.

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His former coach at Yokohama F Marinos John Hutchinson knew exactly what was coming when Ange Postecoglou recruited him from his old club.

"I have never seen a more physical player, in terms of speed and repeat sprinting, than Daizen," he said in 2022, external.

"Daizen is a physical beast. Youd have no issues sending him anywhere in Europe because it wont be a problem to him. Hes a machine."

Rodgers was equally complimentary after yet another critical contribution, one which drew the danger from a potentially tricky cup tie with an in-form Hibs.

"Daizen is so honest. His anticipation and the ground he makes up... hes an amazing role model for young players with his work and his intensity," the manager said.

"He frightens opponents and they cant relax against him. With confidence has come calmness when it comes to finishing. Hes not a traditional target man but hes a goalscorer."

Maedas close-range effort against Hibs took his tally to 24 in 41 games this term, his most productive in Scotland to date.

Not bad for a player who played out wide for much of the season until Kyogo left.

Four of those goals have come in the Champions League, including a brilliant curling effort to snatch a critical point against Club Brugge and one in Munich against Bayern.

Finishing was always a criticism of Maeda. Not that he lacked the ability to score good goals, but that he was guilty of some glaring misses.

But this season his shot conversion rate has gone up significantly, and his strikes have come in all different forms.

"Not only is he working really hard and using his energy and pace - but it looks as though any chance that comes to him he could put it in the back of the net," former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner said on BBC Scotlands Sportsound.

It was perhaps with that in mind that Rodgers has often opted to play Maeda through the middle in 2025 in preference to Adam Idah.

And the Irish striker, who came on himself to score the late second against Hibs, was unsparing in his praise of his team-mate.

"I dont know how many games that is in a row that hes scored," he told Premier Sports.

"Its not just his goals, his performance on the pitch is amazing. Hes the first name on the teamsheet, I dont know where wed be without him."

After his kick out late on against Young Boys earned him a red card in Celtics penultimate Champions League group match, Maeda apologised to fans.

"Im really sorry for causing trouble to the team in such a wonderful atmosphere," he posted on X.

There were plenty of responses which were along the lines of: Do whatever you like, pal, which suggests how plenty feel about him and his performances.

Likewise, rare glimpses of him away from playing endear him to supporters and are making him a much-loved figure.

Whether it was having his young children as mascots, or recent cameo appearances in interviews alongside team-mates.

Even ditching his previous routine of shaving his head before matches to grow his hair - apparently to appease his daughter who said she did not like him being bald - has added to the hero status.

Maeda is now front and centre at Celtic and again proved the difference on Sunday.

A version of this piece first appeared in February