Celtic to play Maeda and Postecoglou's former club on tour of Japan

Postecoglou says he is delighted to be taking Celtic to play against his former club.

Celtic to play Maeda and Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos on tour of Japan and South Korea SNS Group

Celtic will play Ange Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos during their tour of Asia this summer.

The Hoops announced the J-League champions as their first opponents in Japan in a game that will take place on July 19.

Former Marinos players Daizen Maeda and Tomoki Iwata will also be coming up against their former teammates at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.

It will also be a homecoming for countrymen Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Yuki Kobayashi who left the J-League to join Celtic.

Celtic revealed the matchup on Tuesday, just days after clinching the Premiership league title with a 2-0 win at Hearts on Sunday.

Postecoglou said: “I’m delighted to be taking Celtic to Japan this summer and it’s a tour made even more special by the prospect of facing my old team, Yokohama F. Marinos.

“It’s a great club that holds some special memories for me and I look forward to meeting up with friends there in July.”

The game will also be a special one for Daizen Maeda, who is returning to his former club having spent 18 months there before moving to Scotland.

The Celtic attacker, who has enjoyed an impressive season in the green and white Hoops, said: “I’m really looking forward to our pre-season visit to Japan and in particular, returning to play against Yokohama F. Marinos.

“It is a club which has played a major role in my career and, of course, it will be a pleasure to return home with Celtic and see my friends at the club and the Marinos supporters.”

Ex-Rangers player, and Postecoglou’s fellow Australian, Kevin Muscat is currently in the dugout at Marinos.

The former defender played 22 games for the Ibrox side in their treble winning season of 2002/03.

A game against English Premier League side Wolves in South Korea was announced last week.

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