ANGE POSTECOGLOU HAILS CELTIC ICON AND LABELS DAIZEN MAEDA A ‘FREAK’ FANS CAN’T BELIEVE IT
ANGE POSTECOGLOU HAILS CELTIC ICON AND LABELS DAIZEN MAEDA A ‘FREAK’ FANS CAN’T BELIEVE IT
Ange Postecoglou may have been on World Cup duty as a pundit, but his latest comments quickly turned into a glowing tribute to Celtic star Daizen Maeda and manager Martin O’Neill.
Speaking during ITV’s coverage of Japan’s World Cup clash with the Netherlands, the former Celtic boss could barely contain his admiration for the Japanese forward, describing him as one of the most physically gifted players he has ever worked with.
“Daizen Maeda is just a pressing machine. In terms of physical characteristics, he is absolutely elite. If the Dutch are sleeping on the ball, he’ll close them down,” Postecoglou said.
“He’s an absolute freak of a physical specimen. He’s got a real appetite for closing down, he’s exceptional.”
The comments immediately caught the attention of supporters online, with clips spreading rapidly across social media as fans reacted to the remarkable praise.
“Maeda’s goalscoring towards the end was brilliant,” Postecoglou explained.
“Martin put his arm around him I think and got the best out of him, because he was going through a tough time and at the end of it, he was unbelievable.”
The Australian manager highlighted how O’Neill’s man-management helped transform the player’s confidence, leading to a stunning run of performances as Celtic secured domestic success.
Postecoglou also reflected on Maeda’s unforgettable overhead kick against Rangers, a goal that many supporters consider one of the finest moments of the season.
“He scored an unbelievable overhead kick against Rangers, that’s the freakish ability he has, from a physical perspective, to score goals like that,” he said.
The praise did not stop there. Looking ahead to Japan’s World Cup challenge, Postecoglou backed the Celtic star to thrive on the biggest stage and insisted he would not be intimidated by any opponent.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing him play tonight. He will not be daunted at all. He’s got that sort of nature about him, he doesn’t care who he’s playing against. He knows the physical capacity he has, he’ll match himself against anybody.”
For Celtic supporters, the comments felt like a full-circle moment. Postecoglou was the man who brought Maeda to Glasgow, and his admiration for the winger remains clear years later.
The viral interview sparked a flood of reactions from fans across social media.
@HoopsForever wrote: “Ange calling Maeda a freak is the most accurate football analysis I’ve heard all year.”
@ParadiseNoise posted: “Only Ange truly understands how important Maeda is. What a player.”
@BhoyLoyal67 commented: “World Cup coverage turning into Celtic TV and I’m loving every second of it.”
@DaizenUltra wrote: “Pressing machine. Freak athlete. Cult hero. Every word Ange said is true.”
@GreenBrigade1888 said: “You can tell Ange still watches Celtic closely. He absolutely loves Maeda.”
@TokyoBhoy posted: “His engine is unreal. Ninety minutes means nothing to him.”
@FootballTalkHQ added: “That’s some praise from a manager who has coached elite players.”
@CelticCentral wrote: “When Ange calls someone a freak, you know they are special.”
The reaction was just as strong on football forums, where supporters praised both Postecoglou’s analysis and O’Neill’s role in helping Maeda regain confidence. Many fans pointed to his late-season performances as proof that he remains one of the most important players at Celtic Park.
The viral moment has also highlighted the strong bond between Postecoglou and the club he guided to success. Although he is now working away from Glasgow, every mention of Celtic still generates huge interest among supporters.
For Maeda, meanwhile, the focus remains on helping Japan make an impact at the World Cup. Yet thanks to Postecoglou’s remarkable verdict, the Celtic forward has once again become one of the most talked-about players in football.
And judging by the reaction online, fans agree with the former Celtic boss.
Daizen Maeda may be many things but according to Ange Postecoglou, he is also an “absolute freak of a physical specimen.”
