Latest news with #Celts
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Welsh speakers develop Celtic connections in exchange
The Celtic Exchange programme, developed by the British-Irish Council, united young creative professionals to learn new media skills and co-create multilingual content. They also explored their common cultural roots. As part of the programme, participants travelled through the Western Isles, meeting filmmakers, content creators, and musicians, to learn how these ancient languages are part of their modern creative work. They discovered more about the similarities between their languages and cultures, building a network to develop ideas and multilingual content in the future. Ifan Prys, who works at Rondo Media and took part in the exchange, said: 'The trip was a unique opportunity to meet other Celtic language content creators, to share ideas and strengthen the networks between the linguistic communities. 'The programme was full of varied and rich activities. We had the opportunity to network with MG ALBA and BBC Alba and with local producers, discussing our opportunities, challenges and ambitions. 'The opportunity to learn, share and inspire alongside creative people from diverse linguistic backgrounds was invaluable. It has really reinforced the importance of continuing to work creatively in our languages.' Bethan Campbell from Boom Cymru was inspired by collaborating with fellow Celts. "The trip to Scotland was a very special experience," she said. "The activities were valuable and very diverse." The young creatives gained hands-on experience by producing multilingual content, which premiered at the 2025 Celtic Media Festival in Newquay, Cornwall. Welsh language secretary, Mark Drakeford, said: "The Celtic Exchange programme celebrates our living languages and supports young people to build creative careers using their indigenous languages, wherever they choose to live and work. "We're proud to work with our partners across the nations to grow our languages, strengthen our cultural connections and help people develop opportunities and careers in their indigenous languages.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
The remarkable Hayato Inamura story from J League rookie to Celtic transfer recognition
The Hoops have done some superb business in the Far East over the years with more hits than misses The best defenders have an almost sixth sense when it comes to reading danger. Sometimes they can even predict the future. Not many would have expected Celtic to dip back into the Japanese market that proved so successful under Ange Postecoglou. The Aussie knew the scene out there but once he left, it was assumed the Hoops would return to transfer zones closer to home. But clearly the Parkhead side have retained an interest in the Far East with Niigata defender Hayato Inamura popping up as a potential target. Perhaps the 23-year-old saw it coming. After all, the youngster has previous for prophecy. A promising kid in the Japanese high school soccer set up, Inamura was snapped up by Yoto University and he was soon playing in the senior side when he was still in his first year. His coach, Takuya Inoue, got the centre back to write down his goals for the next few years. It's a management tactic Brendan Rodgers uses as well and Inamura scribbled down his grand plan. He said: 'I will get a job offer from a club in my third year and make my debut in my fourth year.' Sure enough, mystic Inamura was spot on. Niigate came in during his third year and he was a designated rookie for the J-League outfit just 12 months later. Another year on and he's a man in demand – and Celtic are in the hunt. When he broke through, Inamura said: 'It was the most exciting opening game of my life. It is a given I am going to make every effort to make an even bigger impact than last season. 'Last year was the first step for me as a player. This year, I want to be known as the best in the J-League." Inamura's talent was recognised early on but it was the physical side that needed work. He said: "Isao Homma (Niigata strength coach) told me that one of the reasons I was accepted early was to improve my physique and I have worked hard to do so.' Inamura has bulked up having shifted from left back to the centre of defence, but it might be a different issue dealing with the rugged nature of Scottish football. It's not something that should faze him, however, and it's also not something that show put off fans. Celtic's Japanese odyssey in recent seasons proved to be successful. Kyogo, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have become modern day heroes at the club and played major roles during these trophy laden times and it goes way back to trailblazer Shinsuke Nakamura. Kyogo departed to Rennes for £10m last January, Maeda is the reigning player of the year and won't be allowed to leave for less than £20m and Hatate remains one of the top assets at the club. Not every signing from Japan has cracked it though. Tomoki Iwata arrived as the player of the year in his homeland but struggled to nail down a regular role. It didn't help being up against Callum McGregor though. There's still an argument Celts were too hasty in letting him go, however. Iwata wasn't as quick-footed as the captain in the middle – but not many are – yet he was still solid enough and more than capable of also slotting in at centre back, where he played in the Scottish Cup Final win against Inverness a couple of years ago. He's since been a smash hit under former Hoops no.2 Chris Davies at Birmingham City, albeit in romping to the title in the English third tier. Then there was Yuki Kobayashi. There were not too many Celtic fans protesting when he was punted to the Portuguese second division after a season or so. Kobayashi had a neat left peg but it was the physical side in Scotland that proved to be too much of a challenge and the writing was on the wall when he got ragged dolled in the end of season dead rubber 3-0 defeat to Rangers. Some Hoops fans will be concerned there are some similarities between Inamura and Kobayashi. Both are left sided centre backs, who can do a job at left back, but have question marks over the rough and tumble side of the game. Inamura has put in the gym hours already, however, in a bid to build himself up. It might take a few more square sausages at Lennoxtown to prepare him for the Premiership mind you. He only needs to look to the likes of Hatate, Maeda and Iwata for inspiration though. Kyogo was less than 10st soaking wet but his nimble frame was used to his advantage when it came to leaving defenders for dead. But no one can throw any misguided national stereotypes at the other Far East imports. Iwata was a tank while Hatate has highs that wouldn't look out of place hanging from a butcher's hook. Maeda isn't the biggest but he's tough as old boots with a locomotive engine. The old tired cliches about Japanese players not handling the brute force of the European game is right out of the window these days. There are now more than 100 stars scattered across the continent – which is up 90 percent in just five years. The likes of Liverpool's Wataru Endo, Hatate's pal Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton and Bayern Munich's Hiroki Ito are right at the top level. Inamura – whose hero is Johan Cruyff – is just starting out and still has a lot to prove. Celtic have had more hits than misses in the market with their Japanese Bhoys but even he couldn't predict how he'd get on at Parkhead.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic Park is no retirement home as Premier League royalty hit with brutal reality check
Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel have been tempted north of the border at the twilight of the careers Celtic may have lured two Premier League legends north late in their careers. But Shay Given is adamant Parkhead is no retirement home for goalkeeping royalty. Veterans Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel both conquered English football but couldn't resist the pull of Paradise. Man City favourite Hart rediscovered his love for the game during three trophy-laden years before hanging up the gloves last summer. His successor might be 38, but Schmeichel isn't done yet. The Leicester City title-winner has signed up for a second season with the Double-winners and still looks hungry for more. While Celts continue to unearth hidden gems from across the continent, in recent years, there has been a clear strategy of choosing an experienced head between the sticks. However, Republic of Ireland icon Given has rejected the idea that Celtic Park is a graveyard for big names to wind down. Promoting next month's glamour friendly between Celtic and Newcastle United, he said: "I wouldn't say it's a place for goalkeepers at the end of their careers. "What I would say about their mindsets to come to Celtic, it's such a big club and the expectation levels are really high on the goalkeeper. "Especially with the Old Firm, I think the mindset of the goalkeeper has to be really strong because you know going over there is going to be spicy with the fans, and even here if you make a mistake, the crowd will probably let you know. "It's a position that's high-profile and it's a position where you need to have rhino skin and a strong mentality. I wouldn't say it's end-of-your-career stuff coming here, I wouldn't think that at all. "Chris Sutton came up here after winning the league with Blackburn and did some good things, it's not just goalkeepers." Schmeichel proved more than a safe pair of hands in his debut campaign. The Denmark captain's pinpoint distribution has added a new dimension to Brendan Rodgers' side, with the gaffer demanding the champions play out from the back. But there's no escaping the sting of Hampden. An uncharacteristic blunder from Schmeichel gifted Aberdeen the Scottish Cup – and ripped the Treble from the Hoops' grasp in heartbreaking fashion. Still, Given insists the battle-hardened Dane will be back stronger after a well-earned summer break. Given said: "He'll be disappointed with the final and the goal because it's a mistake, there's no point trying to dress it up any other way. "He knows himself he probably should have done better with it. It's a disappointing end to a brilliant season, because he's still won the double. "I suppose the icing on the cake would have been to get their hands on the Treble but it wasn't to be. The journey his whole career has been on, he's had knock-backs as a kid and had to go right down to Notts County and play. "He built his way back up and won the Premier League with Leicester. There's so much more positives than negatives. When you're a goalkeeper, you are either brilliant or rubbish - that's probably the mentality of some people. "We've all been there before. You have to have a strong mentality and mindset to bounce back from that. "Brendan knows him inside out and knows how to get the best out of him, get him back to peak fitness after a break in the summer, which he deserves. Sometimes it's a mental break as much as anything that the players need. "I'm sure Kasper will go away and switch off mentally as much as anything and come back refreshed." Behind every keeper, there's a goalkeeping coach. Celtic have one of the very best in Stevie Woods - even if the credit rarely comes his way. Given, 49, knows just how crucial Woods' voice will be behind the scenes, especially during a difficult patch. "He's been here a good few years and got the pedigree and experience", Given said. "He'll have seen it all, Woodsy. "He'll do brilliant sessions but sometimes it's the wee talks as a goalkeeping coach. If you do make a mistake, how do you bounce back? "Just going for a walk with a coach like Woodsy and having a chat about things is as good as diving about and making loads of saves. "It's such a specialised position. I think someone of that calibre overseeing the whole goalkeeping department is great for the club as well. "I'm sure him and Kasper will have a chat, even in the close season, so he bounces back for pre-season. These guys are in the background and they probably don't get the credit they deserve sometimes. "The manager is front and foremost but there's a team behind him as well. They deserve great credit, the unsung heroes behind the scenes. "Again, his job will be to speak to Kasper and get the best out of him, but also to say to Viljami Sinisalo, 'You've got an opportunity to play this season, you've got to push yourself to the max and compete with Kasper'. "It's all about that voice and messaging." Third-choice keeper Scott Bain packed his bags for Falkirk after seven years at Celtic Park. From the outside looking in, being paid to sit on the bench while picking up trophy after trophy might seem like a dream gig. But Given pointed out: "It's a nice job but it's not an easy job either. You're training every single day and not getting a great chance of playing. But things can happen really quickly, look at the Scottish set-up at the minute. "Goalkeepers were dropping like flies and before you know it, the kid Cieran Slicker is making his debut at Hampden Park. "At Newcastle, Loris Karius' first game was a cup final - sometimes it happens overnight. A third-choice keeper has to be training like he's playing on a Saturday, but has the disappointment of not playing. "When you don't play, it's tough mentally, it can be draining. If it was me, I wouldn't really fancy it, to be honest." A lifelong fan, Given came through the ranks at Celtic but never made a senior appearance before upping sticks for Blackburn Rovers in 1994. Asked if he was ever close to coming back to his boyhood club, he added: "I don't think I was, no. I was a bit old-school back in the day, I used to have a solicitor look after me. "I didn't really have an agent. There were different articles in newspapers but I was never really privy to it."
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Benjamin Nygren takes huge step towards £2million Celtic transfer as Sweden star holds positive talks with Hoops
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENJAMIN NYGREN is closing in on a move to Celtic. The Swedish sensation, 23, has seemingly turned down other clubs in favour of joining Brendan Rodgers' side. 1 Benjamin Nygren is on the verge of completing a move to Celtic Credit: Getty SunSport were first to reveal the Scottish champions were lining up a deal for the Nordsjaelland ace who is out of contract in six months time. It's understood the Hoops could land the versatile playmaker for a cut-price fee of around £2million. Nygren, who can play anywhere across the frontline, has several clubs on his trail -and Celts are at the front of the queue. Copenhagen and Anderlecht were keen on him and Nordsjaelland also fielded calls from MLS and Bundesliga clubs. But SunSport understands Nygren would prefer a move to Scotland and talks with the Hoops are progressing well. The latest developments come as reports in Belgium state the player has already REJECTED an approach from Anderlecht. The Belgian giants have now pulled out of the running for Nygren - and believe he has chosen to join Celtic. It not looks like a matter of time before Rodgers lands his second summer signing. The Celts gaffer has already snapped up Kieran Tierney from Arsenal and is looking to add further quality to his side. It's unclear if Rodgers wants to play Nygren as a winger, No10 or a striker, but his versatility will give the manager options. The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up Former IFK Gothenburg sporting director Mats Gren reckons Nygren is better operating as a No10 and believes that is where Rodgers would get the best out of him. He told SunSport: 'When Benjamin plays on the right wing or as a No9, he can be effective. 'However, he is best as a No10. That is where all his qualities can be on show. 'Benjamin is an intelligent attacker. His left foot is fantastic and he can score goals and assist. 'His final ball is always very good and he can finish when he gets a chance. He has the lot! 'He is not slow but he's maybe not super fast, and that's the only thing you can say that he lacks. 'However, he is quick enough to get away from opponents and has very good vision and passing.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Benjamin Nygren to Celtic transfer fee revealed as Brendan Rodgers closes in on man who was once hotter than Zlatan
The Hoops are in talks with the Swedish winger as they look set to beat a number of clubs to his signature Celtic are closing in on Swedish ace Benjamin Nygren – who was once tipped as a hotter prospect than superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Hoops are set for talks with the 23-year-old Nordsjaelland attacker and could seal the deal for just £1.7million with the youngster's current deal up at the end of the year. Danish big guns Copenhagen are also in the hunt, along with Anderlecht and sides in the MLS. But boss Brendan Rodgers and Celts have already stolen a march having been granted permission to open discussions. Nygren has admitted he's keen for a new challenge this summer after his career sparked back to life in Denmark. The wide man – who can also play as a no.10 – was a sensation when he broke into the IFK Goteborg side at just 17-year-old with pundits suggesting he was ahead of Swedish legend Zlatan at the same age. Then Goteborg boss Poya Asbaghi said: 'I've worked with him for over a year, so now it's no longer surprising. But I haven't worked with anyone like him before, to be honest. 'He is much further along than the guys I have met his age. I have highlighted Nygren as a great talent many times. 'Then I can't highlight him as often as I want because I also know the pressure it brings. 'Here we have a player who has extremely high potential. The expectations for Benja are very, very high. 'When he hasn't scored two goals after two training matches, people start to wonder, 'What's going on with Benja?' 'But he's 17 years old. What did Zlatan do when he was 17? He barely played football then. Nygren does and he plays in the Allsvenskan. 'That alone is big. But the expectations can't be as high on him as they have been. 'Benjamin if anyone is good at handling pressure – but he also has to have a coach who comes to him and says that the pressure is disproportionate if it is.' Nygren was snapped up by Belgians Genk for £4.5m after less than 20 top team appearances but the move didn't go to plan and landed in Denmark following a loan spell in Holland. He's roared back to form with Nordsjaelland though and has emerged as one of the top players in Denmark in the last 12 months, landing a pick in the team of the season after notching 16 goals. Nygren also blasted his way into the Sweden national side and he has hit the net in the last two of his three appearances, with goals against Northern Ireland and Hungary. Celts are hoping to push a deal over the line early but also remain in the hunt for several attacking options, including Sarpsborg's Sondre Orjasaeter and Royal Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
