A Maeda Landslide – Celtic’s going through formalities but there’s only one winner

The Celtic Star

·18 April 2025

A Maeda Landslide – Celtic’s going through formalities but there’s only one winner

Celtic have announced the shortlist for their 2024/25 Player of the Year awards, giving fans the opportunity to vote for their winner ahead of the ceremony on Sunday, 4 May…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 2-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Player of the Year Nominations open

Celtic’s official website has revealed seven nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year award, featuring leading contender Daizen Maeda, the club’s top scorer, alongside winger Nicolas Kuhn, who had a standout first half of the season on the right wing.

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Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Midfielder Reo Hatate is accompanied by captain Callum McGregor, with defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel completing the list of nominees.

in action on Friday 28 March in the SWPL1 match between Celtic FC Women and Glasgow City Emma Lawton at New Douglas Park Hamilton, Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Emma Lawton best choice for Women’s POTY

For the Women’s Player of the Year award, defenders Celya Barclais and Emma Lawton are nominated, alongside Shannon McGregor for her midfield performances and Saoirse Noonan for her contributions in attack.

Maeda joined McGregor and Adam Idah in receiving several nominations for Goal of the Season, with the Japan international leading the charge, scoring three of the ten shortlisted goals.

Some great goals in Goal of the Season category

The remaining entries featured individual goals from Kuhn, Hatate, and Carter-Vickers, showcasing a mix of long-range efforts, crucial European goals, and sensational team goals.

Along with McGregor and Noonan, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford, Mathilde Carstens, Murphy Agnew, and Luana Munoz were also named as nominees for the Women’s Goal of the Season.

Arne Engels celebrates scoring during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

Yang Hyun-jun’s standout performances on the wing during the latter part of the season have earned him a spot on the Young Player of the Year shortlist, joining summer signings Paulo Bernardo, Arne Engels, and Adam Idah.

Hampden on Easter Sunday another step towards The Treble

Celtic’s next outing is this Sunday at Hampden, where they will face St Johnstone. The winner of this weekend’s second semi-final will go on to play either Hearts or Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final, with Celtic aiming to secure another domestic treble.

Yang celebrates. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Fifth versus sixth in SWPL as Celtic FC Women play Motherwell

Celtic FC Women are also in action this Sunday when they take on Motherwell at K-Park in the top Six SWPL contest. Shocking Celtic are down in fifth place in the table and have no chance of defending the title in a trophy-less season that started well but has fallen off a cliff since the turn of the year.

Celtic v Falkirk – Yang, Nicolas Kuhn and Paulo Bernardo after Premier Sports Cup, quarter-final match at Celtic Park on Sunday September 22, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

In contrast Brendan Rodgers’ side needs just one more point to clinch their fourth straight Scottish Premiership title, having already won the League Cup in December. A treble is very much on for the Bhoys. Shame what’s happened to our Ghirls this season.

Conor Spence

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