Former Celts nominated for Manager and Player of the Year in England’s League One

The Celtic Star

·16 aprile 2025

Former Celts nominated for Manager and Player of the Year in England’s League One

Former Celtic pair Tomoki Iwata and Chris Davies have been nominated for Player and Manager of the Year in England’s League One following their impressive title winning season with Birmingham City…

Chris Davies, Manager of Birmingham City speaks to their team after promotion to the Sky Bet Championship following the Sky Bet League One match between Peterborough United FC and Birmingham City FC at Weston Homes Stadium on April 08, 2025. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Chris Davies was Brendan Rodgers assistant at Celtic the first time around but left to join the Irishman at Leicester City. After a spell last season as Assistant to Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, Davies was able to fulfil his ambition of getting the top job and unlike the likes of Michael Beale, he’s stood up perfectly to the task and created a fine team at Birmingham pretty much from scratch.

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Michael Beale, Manager of theRangers, reacts during the Cinch Scottish Premiership defeat to at Ibrox Stadium on September 03, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It will be very interesting to see how they get on in the Championship next season but while they might not win that toughest of leagues they will undoubtedly hold their own with perhaps a top half finish. Hopefully the club back Davies in the summer and they have been given every reason to do just that.

Davies at the Invincible Scottish Cup Final

If you look back to the footage of the 2017 Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen just after Tom Rogic scored that incredible winner, Brendan Rodgers’ celebrations were interrupted by Chris Davies grabbing him to whisper in his ear. There was still a minute or so to go and Davies urgently wanted to make a substitution. So Paddy Roberts came off and Erik Sviatchenko came on at 90+4’minutes, and then cleared an Aberdeen corner.

Brendan Rodgers speaks with Tomoki Iwata following during the Premiership match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park: Saturday March 16, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Birmingham City under Davies and with Tomoki Iwata starring have dominated League One this season and are well on course to reach 100 points with 95 already secured and with six matches still to play. Both are strong front-runners in their respective categories.

Tomoki Iwata never let Celtic down

Celtic v Athletic Bilbao – Pre Season Friendly – Celtic Park Celtics Tomoki Iwata has an attempt on goal during the pre-season friendly match Celtic Park, Glasgow. Tuesday August 1, 2023. Photo Robert Perry

Tomoki Iwata never let Celtic down but struggled to get too much game-time as he was basically the back-up for Callum McGregor in that No6 role. He perhaps struggled with the pace of the Scottish game to begin with but gradually got up to speed and always looked a useful squad member who was popular with the Celtic support.

With Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor the mainstays in midfield it was always going to be a challenge for Tomoki Iwata to break into the team as a regular starter. Shortly after Davies took the Birmingham job he signed Iwata, no doubt after chatting to Brendan and it’s certainly worked out well for both the player and the former Celtic Assistant manager.

Tomoki Iwata of Celtic walks into the stadium. Celtic v St Johnstone, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, – 16 March 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Tomoki Iwata made 18 appearances for Celtic during the 2022/23 season including both cup finals, helping the team achieve a historic treble. His debut for Celtic was in January 2023 during a 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Morton at Celtic Park. He was initially on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos during this period.

Celtic v Aberdeen – Premiership – Celtic Park Celtic s Tomoki Iwata and family pose with the trophy after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 27, 2023.Photo Andrew Milligan

In the 2023/24 season, Tomoki Iwata made 19 appearances for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers and helped the club with another title and also the Scottish Cup so he left Celtic with five winners medals and now he’s added a sixth at Birmingham City as League One Champions.

Incredible work. 👊 Congratulations to Chris Davies and Tomoki Iwata on being nominated for Manager and Player of the Season Award. 💙
– mercoledì 16 aprile 2025

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