Moravcik goes to Dr Jo

Lubo Moravcik has a good relationship with Dr Venglos

Lubomir Moravcik is to reunite with the man who brought him to Celtic when he joins Japanese J-League outfit JEF United Ichihara next season.

Dr Jozef Venglos, Ichihara's former Czech national coach, brought the talented Slovak to Parkhead three-and-a-half years ago.

And the 36-year-old playmaker enjoyed a successful time in Scotland, helping his side to back-to-back title wins for the first time in 20 years.

Moravcik also has two CIS Insurance Cup winners' medals to his name but only one Scottish Cup triumph to go with two losers' gongs in the same competition.

The most recent of those came on Saturday when Rangers sealed a dramatic 3-2 win at Hampden with a last-minute goal from Peter Lovenkrands.

It's a completely different culture and a new challenge for me

Lubomir Moravcik

However, Moravcik did not get a taste of the action as manager Martin O'Neill elected to keep him on the bench.

Newspaper reports suggest that Moravcik was angry that he was not given a chance to influence the final, but when he spoke to BBC Scotland he wanted only to concentrate on the future.

"I'm really excited to continue playing," said Moravcik.

"Because it's a completely different culture and a new challenge for me.

"I'm looking forward to working with Mr Venglos again because he has been very important in my career."

Unheralded after his £330,000 transfer from second division German football, Moravcik soon won over the Parkhead faithful with his repertoire of tricks and spectacular goals.

The wily midfielder has signed a six-month contract with JEF United and he expects that to bring down the curtain on his playing career.

"I think it's definitley my last deal," Moravcik continued.

"I will take some time off when it comes to January and then maybe in the following summer I will try to start again with something to do in football."