“Maeda Is Celtic’s Maradona”, Chris Sutton Triggers Boyd | OneFootball

Daizen Maeda was absolutely pivotal to Celtic’s success last season. In the derby games he is known for dominating Tavernier, stopping him getting forward and creating goals against him at the other end. In Europe his tireless work ethic and speed are invaluable. Meanwhile, he can also cover up front and scores plenty of goals.

Early in his Celtic career, the Japanese international was erratic with his crossing and finishing, but year on year he has improved to the point where he is much more refined now.

Maeda has been the subject of interest from Brentford in the English Premier League, but Chris Sutton discussed the player’s importance to Celtic on the SNN podcast. Speaking to Charlie Adam and Kris Boyd, the former Celtic striker joked “Maeda is like Maradona to Celtic.”

Boyd, ever present with a bite to the bait, responded with a scorned look on his face – “he’s like who?” Sutton reacted straight faced “like Maradona to Celtic, he was last season. Unbelievable Daizen Maeda was.”  Cogs began to turn and Boyd realised the comment may have been a joke. As such, a semblance of a grin appeared as he replied “Maeda and Maradona in the same sentence?” Sutton hit back “Exactly, both begin with M.”

On a more serious note, Chris Sutton continued: “But he’s that important to Celtic. If anything happens to him…” Boyd interjected at that stage by informing the Englishman that there’s been rumours of interest from Brentford. “Oh come on!” The Celtic hero responded.

Charlie Adam entered the conversation: “It would have to be a massive one (bid) for Celtic. However, Sutton replied with the view held by most fans “What would be the point if Celtic sold Maeda?”

Other than more money in a bank at bursting point, which would be less than the £40-50m we could more likely accrue from the Champions League with Maeda in the team – there would be no point at all!

Liam Kelly

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CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies still available, although they are selling very quickly.

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And there’s another great benefit for readers who pre-order their copy of Celtic in the Eighties. You will also receive a copy of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you pre-order with Celtic in the Eighties. So you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Click on the image below to order. (Just order Celtic in the Eighties and we’ll automatically add a copy of the Alec McNair book).

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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