Reo Hatate’s Celtic Legacy: Cult Hero or Unfulfilled Potential?
From the moment Reo Hatate stepped onto the pitch for his debut at Celtic Park, there was something about him that captured the attention of fans.
Whether it was his trademark curtains or the arrogance he seemed to play with, there was an aura about him that was impossible not to be drawn into. His fine performance that day no doubt contributed to this feeling, earning him the Man of the Match award on his debut in a comfortable 2-0 win over Hibernian.
Those opening few weeks in a Celtic shirt created a cult following for Reo which has stood by his side ever since, whilst also perhaps creating almost unreachable expectations for his performances on the field. We all remember that wonder strike at Tynecastle that flew past Craig Gordon, and the double on that glorious Wednesday night drubbing of Rangers, where everything came together for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Reo would only score once more in the sixteen games to follow that season, but he already had his own chant by the time Celtic's 2022/23 Champions League campaign arrived. It was a campaign that promised so much. With a feeling amongst the support - driven by Postecoglou's cult of charisma - that this team could compete with anyone, they were ultimately proven wrong on the field. Celtic picked up just two points from their six group games, shipping a negative goal difference of nine.
These struggles brought up the question on Celtic social media: was Reo Hatate good enough for the top level of the Champions League?
There were certainly glimpses that he could do it at that level; that spectacular, first-time volleyed pass against Real Madrid comes to mind. It could even be argued that Reo was actually more suited to playing in Europe, where sides pressed Celtic more, allowing him to thrive by progressing the ball under pressure and expertly finding his teammates in space.
This question failed to be answered in 2023/24. Brendan Rodgers' return to the club saw a change in playing style, moving from one built around relentlessness to one built around control - a shift that left Hatate and his risky, at times frustrating style out of favour. Reo would eventually win over Rodgers, but injuries curtailed his season.
The 2024/25 season was arguably when we saw peak Reo Hatate. Appearing in all but two of Celtic's games, Hatate statistically had his best season yet, scoring eleven times and providing 10 assists in 55 appearances. His performances in the Champions League in particular caught the eye, picking up three goal contributions but, most importantly, delivering that all-important pass to set up Adam Idah's deflected winner against Young Boys, which put Celtic through to the knockout stages.
That summer in 2025 should have been when Reo got his desired move to a top-five league, but that did not materialise as numerous Celtic players, including Daizen Maeda, were prevented from leaving the club. Last season and the start of this one have perhaps lowered his perception among many Celtic fans, amid rumours of disgruntlement at not getting a move away from Parkhead.
With five league titles, four domestic cups, two PFA Team of the Year inclusions, and 33 European appearances, where does Reo Hatate rank in modern Celtic history?
The quality was always there, but unfortunately, the consistency at times was not. He is a modern Celtic cult hero no doubt, and someone who, on his day, could be the best player on the park.
Comments