There are some names that instantly take Celtic fans back to a different time, and Shunsuke Nakamura is right at the top of that list.
The Japanese icon is back in Glasgow, a city he has always described as his second home, and his return has already delivered a moment that fans will love. A special reunion with Kieran Tierney has added an extra layer of nostalgia to what already feels like a proper homecoming.
After linking up with Tierney, Nakamura is in town to take on a new role. He will be on co commentary duties for Japanese television as Scotland face Japan at Hampden in a World Cup warm up clash. It is a different kind of stage for him, but one that still keeps him right at the heart of the game.
Welcome back to Glasgow Naka, a true Celtic icon.
For anyone who watched him during his time at Celtic Park, Nakamura is not just remembered, he is felt. The kind of player who could change a game in a single moment, often with a touch that did not seem possible.
Over four unforgettable years in the East End of Glasgow, he produced moment after moment that still lives vividly in the minds of supporters across the world.
His story has even been captured in print. Majic, Stan and the King of Japan tells the tale of how Gordon Strachan brought Nakamura to the club and how he made an instant impact. It is the kind of story that only adds to the legend.
Now he is back in the city where he built so many of those memories. Glasgow is not just a place he played football. It is part of his life story, even the birthplace of his son, which makes this visit feel even more personal.
This time, he returns as a pundit, watching on as the Samurai Blue prepare for the upcoming World Cup in the United States. But for Celtic fans, it is impossible not to look back rather than forward.
Nakamura was not just one of the best players in Scotland during his time. He was one of the most gifted to ever wear the shirt.
His ability from dead ball situations became the stuff of legend. Free kicks were not just chances, they felt like goals waiting to happen.
The playmaker from Yokohama, who earned 98 caps for Japan, carved his name into Celtic folklore with a series of unforgettable moments during a trophy filled spell at the club. The fee paid to bring him in quickly looked like one of the best pieces of business the club had ever done.
Some moments need no build up.
The free kick against Manchester United.
The last gasp strike against Kilmarnock that sealed the title.
The stunning effort against Rangers.
These are not just highlights. They are part of Celtic history.
But what made Nakamura special was not just the big moments. It was the consistency, the elegance, the way he controlled games and delivered time and time again. Thirty four goals and countless assists in 166 appearances only tell part of the story.
The rest is written in the memories of those who watched him.
And now, for a short time at least, he is back where it all happened.
Welcome home Naka.
