Nakamura makes awards history

By Kenny MacDonald

GLASGOW (Reuters) - Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura became the first Japanese winner of the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award on Sunday.

The news was announced just hours after Nakamura clinched the club's 41st league title. He swept in a magnificent stoppage time free kick to earn Celtic a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock to seal the championship.

The Japanese collected the SPFA award at a Glasgow hotel where he also scooped a goal of the season award.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan won the Manager of the Year vote and both are widely tipped to pick up the Scottish Football Writers' Association awards next month.

Strachan hailed Nakamura following their title success at Kilmarnock, telling Setanta TV: "The man is a genius, but we also have statistics that say he covers more ground than anybody in our team, so he has got all that."

Celtic captain Neil Lennon said of Sunday's winning goal: "It was impeccable timing from him (scoring in stoppage time) and it doesn't matter how often you see it, it is an unbelievable skill...a God-given talent."