[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-maeda-s-celtic-exit-what-his-larssonesque-farewell-means":61,"news-related-maeda-s-celtic-exit-what-his-larssonesque-farewell-means-en":95,"news-related-match-maeda-s-celtic-exit-what-his-larssonesque-farewell-means-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-37,-20,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":63,"category":64,"excerpt":65,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":66,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":70,"slug":71,"sourceName":72,"sourceURL":73,"teamId":74,"teamName":75,"teamIds":76,"teamNames":85,"title":94},"The Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park felt like the end of an era for Celtic, and perhaps no player embodied that sentiment more than Daizen Maeda. The Japanese forward’s clever lobbed opener against Dunfermline set the tone for a 3-1 victory and sealed a domestic double, but it also carried all the hallmarks of a farewell goal. With his contract winding down and a summer departure widely anticipated, Maeda’s contribution in green and white may have reached its final, resonant chapter.\n\nCeltic’s season had been anything but straightforward. The abrupt exit of Brendan Rodgers, the ill-fated interim of Wilfried Nancy, and fierce fan protests against the board created a chaotic backdrop. Martin O’Neill’s appointment as manager steadied the ship, eventually guiding the team to glory. Throughout the turmoil, Maeda was a constant, if at times a frustrating one. He endured a 17-game scoring drought that saw his work rate questioned, yet he never hid. His relentless pressing and lung-bursting runs remained, even when the goals didn’t come.\n\nThen, something clicked. In the crucial run-in, Maeda transformed into Celtic’s most lethal weapon. He scored nine goals in his final seven appearances, including a stunning double against Rangers and the vital opener at Hampden. His finishing, long considered the weakest part of his game, became clinical. On cup final day, he needed just one shot on target to find the net—a pattern repeated from recent weeks, where he converted almost every clear chance.\n\nO’Neill, never one for hyperbole, reached for the ultimate Celtic compliment. He described Maeda’s late-season form as “absolutely Larssonesque,” invoking the memory of Henrik Larsson, the club’s iconic Swedish striker. The comparison carries immense weight at Celtic Park, but Maeda’s blend of relentless energy and decisive goals made it hard to dispute. Like Larsson in his prime, Maeda dragged his team over the line when it mattered most.\n\nBehind the scenes, however, friction had grown. Maeda revealed earlier this year that he had expected to leave in the previous summer transfer window. A move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg was reportedly agreed in principle, but Celtic blocked it after failing to secure adequate reinforcements up front. “I had an offer and had consistently communicated to my club that I wanted to take the next step in my career,” he said. “Celtic ultimately couldn’t secure the necessary reinforcements and told me they couldn’t let me go.” The decision was a bitter pill, and while Maeda’s professionalism never wavered, the desire for a new challenge remained.\n\nNow, with his contract expiring, that challenge appears imminent. For a player who cost just £1.3 million after a successful loan from Yokohama F. Marinos, Maeda has delivered extraordinary value. In over 150 appearances, he has notched crucial goals, tormented defenders with his pace, and filled the void left by Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure. His versatility—equally capable on the wing or through the middle—and his defensive work rate make him irreplaceable in many respects.\n\nCeltic now face the daunting task of rebuilding their attack. If O’Neill also moves on, the club will enter a period of significant transition. Finding a forward who combines Maeda’s graft with a similar goal threat will be extremely difficult in the current market. The recruitment department, often criticized, must act decisively to avoid leaving the next manager with a depleted squad.\n\nAs the celebrations continued at Hampden, Maeda lifted the Scottish Cup, a broad smile on his face and a scarf around his neck. It felt like a goodbye, and if it was, he leaves as a double-winner and a player who gave everything for the cause. His story is one of resilience, from an unheralded J-League scorer to a Celtic folk hero who, for a few glorious months, channeled the spirit of Larsson. The club will miss him profoundly.\n\nBased on reporting from BBC Sport.","news","Maeda's likely Celtic farewell: goal in cup final, O'Neill hails 'Larssonesque' run. Club blocked Wolfsburg move; he's set to depart. What it means.","333692941258199041","326135627642834944","League","0","2026-05-23T16:46:07Z","maeda-s-celtic-exit-what-his-larssonesque-farewell-means","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcr7p1ney5j7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257567011442688","Celtic",[74,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84],"326257660192100352","326257660145963008","326222712429088768","326222712076767232","326257567044997120","326257660225654784","326257572183019520","326257580546461696",[75,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93],"Dunfermline","Motherwell","Scotland","Germany","Rangers","Falkirk","Nancy","Yokohama F. 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in short careers.","326257545712766976","Manchester United","337883373844303873","326324144780087296","Manchester United vs Liverpool","2026-06-04T07:00:29Z","katie-mccabe-to-chelsea-why-wsl-rival-transfers-happen","The Guardian","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fjun\u002F04\u002Fkatie-mccabe-chelsea-arsenal-wsl-transfer-move-controversy-abuse","326257546220277760","Chelsea",[147,138,135,150,151,117,152,153,154,155,156],"326257545968619520","326257546258026496","326222711682502656","326257546052505600","326257535919067136","326257546094448640","326257812931874816",[148,139,136,158,159,128,160,161,162,163,164],"Arsenal","Manchester City","England","Everton","Lyon","Tottenham","Stamford","Katie McCabe to Chelsea: Why WSL Rival Transfers Happen",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":167,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":168,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":169,"slug":170,"sourceName":171,"sourceURL":172,"teamId":118,"teamName":129,"teamIds":173,"teamNames":185,"title":197},"Florentino Pérez pledges to sign Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté if re-elected Real Madrid president, with more defensive arrivals promised to revamp the 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Means",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":64,"excerpt":199,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":200,"leagueId":67,"leagueName":68,"matchId":69,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":201,"slug":202,"sourceName":203,"sourceURL":204,"teamId":205,"teamName":206,"teamIds":207,"teamNames":218,"title":229},"Patrick Wimmer leaves relegated VfL Wolfsburg for TSG Hoffenheim, swapping the Bundesliga drop for Europa League football after playoff disappointment.","337668028407746561","2026-06-03T16:52:19Z","why-patrick-wimmer-is-at-hoffenheim-relegation-to-europe","Kicker","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kicker.de\u002Feuropa-league-nach-abstieg-wimmer-landet-in-hoffenheim-1224518\u002Fartikel#omrss","326257534237151232","VfL 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