Former Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has joined Japan’s coaching staff ahead of the World Cup.
The 47-year-old, who was well known for his excellent free-kicks during his playing career, will work with head coach Hajime Moriyasu as part of the national team’s backroom staff.
Nakamura won 98 caps for Japan and scored 24 goals. He also played for his country at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
He said he thought carefully about the decision but accepted after receiving encouragement from the head coach. He added that he will do his best to help Japan perform well on the world stage.
Nakamura played for Celtic between 2005 and 2009, where he won three Scottish league titles. He retired from playing in 2022 and later moved into coaching with Yokohama FC.
