Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)

Another win for Niigata (1st), this time 1-0 over Zweigen Kanazawa (4th).
Full & yellow Fitzgerald.

Niigata grab a 92nd goal, for a 2-2 draw at Tochigi (11th).
They stay unbeaten & top of the table.
Full game Fitzgerald.

Unused sub as Niigata (unbeaten still & first) win 2-0 at Ehime (19th).

Full game in a 2-0 win over JEF United (15th).
Niigata remain top of the table, and still unbeaten.

Unused sub in a 3-2 win at bottom placed Omiya Ardija. 
Niigata remain top of the table, and still unbeaten.

Full game in a 0-0 draw with Matsumoto Yamaga (11th).
Niigata (1st) still unbeaten and 3 points clear at the top of J2.

Full game & a yellow as Niigata unfortunately lose their unbeaten record with a 2-1 loss at Machida Zelvia (6th).

Niigata stay top on GD.

Unfortunately consecutive losses for Niigata. Go down 0-1 at home to Kyoto Sanga (1st).
Kyoto go top (were 3rd) and Niigata go 2nd in J2, on GD from Ryūkyū (3rd)
Full game Fitzgerald.

 
Full game in a 2-1 win over Ryūkyū (3rd).
Niigata go top on GD from Kyoto Sanga (2nd). 

Full game in a 2-2 draw at Ventforet Kofu (5th).
Niigata stay top but have played one game more than Kyoto Sanga (2nd & 1 pt behind).

Not in match day squad as Niigata beat fellow J2 side Zweigen Kanazawa 4-1 in the Emperor Cup.

Full game and a yellow as Niigata are upset at home 0-1 by Fagiano Okayama (14th).

Niigata slip to 3rd in J2. Still 24 games to go.

Not in match day squad as Niigata (3rd) win 2-0 at the exotically named Blaublitz Akita (14th).

Full game in a 0-0 draw with Mito Hollyhock (10th).
Niigata 2nd on GD.

Full game as Niigata lose 3-2 at promotion rivals Júbilo Iwata.
Iwata (were 2nd) go top of the league, and Niigata (were 3rd) slip to 4th.

Subbed off at 70 mins (score 3-0) in a 3-0 win over Tochigi (17th).
Niigata go 2nd. But Kyoto Sanga who are playing now, will overtake them with a W or D. Tight for the top spots at half way point of the J2 season. Niigata travel to Kyoto Sanga next.

Wonder if Fitzgerald will try and watch an Oly Whites training or anything? Was actually in the same 2011 AWs squad as M Boxall & Wood, for all 3 of his AWs appearances, 10 years ago.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2011/06/05/world/friendlies/australia/new-zealand/1109491/

Full game and a yellow in a 1-1 draw at Kyoto Sanga (1st).

Niigata 3rd.

After an Olympics hiatus, J2 resumes today. 
FYI - Mitch Duke has signed for 13th placed Fagiano Okayama.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/aussies-abroad-duke-secures-japan-move

coochiee

After an Olympics hiatus, J2 resumes today. 
FYI - Mitch Duke has signed for 13th placed Fagiano Okayama.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/aussies-abroad-duke-secures-japan-move

That seems like a strange move for Duke?

Full game in a 2-2 draw with Omiya Ardija (19th). Both teams with a goal each post 94 mins.

Niigata 3rd.

Full game in a 0-0 draw at JEF United (10th).
Niigata 4th, 3 points off promotion spots.

Full game in a 2-1 win over Sagamihara (21st or 2nd last).
Niigata 3rd, 4 points off promotion spots.

Full game in a 4-0 loss at Mito Hollyhock (11th).
Niigata 4th, 5 points off the promotion spots.

Full game in a 0-0 draw with Giravanz Kitakyushu (18th).
Niigata 3rd, 6 points off the promotion spots.

Full game in a 1-2 home loss to Montedio Yamagata (now 5th).
Niigata (3rd) now 10 points off 2nd spot (top 2 teams promoted) with 13 rounds left.

Some Aussie called Peter Cklamovski is coach of Montedio Yamagata.

Full game & a yellow in a 3-1 win at Tokyo Verdy (11th).
Niigata (3rd) now 9 points off 2nd spot (top 2 teams promoted) with 12 rounds left.

Full as Niigata (3rd) grab a late 91st min winner to beat Ventforet Kofu (4th) 1-0, in the J2.

Niigata close to within 6 points of Júbilo Iwata (2nd), but Iwata do play later tonight. Top 2 promoted.

Full game as Niigata (4th) lost 1-0 at Zweigen Kanazawa, in the J2. Kanazawa rose from last (22nd) to 18th with the upset win.

Niigata 10 points off 2nd placed Kyoto Sanga, with 10 rounds left. Top 2 teams promoted.

Full game as Niigata (3rd) beat Renofa Yamaguchi (17th) 1-0.

Niigata 7 points off 2nd placed Kyoto Sanga (game in hand), with 9 rounds left. Top 2 teams promoted.

Fitzgerald play Mitch Duke's Fagiano Okayama (13th) in the J2 in 3 weeks. Presumably Duke is only currently in the Socceroos because A League guys like Jamie McLaren are unavailable.

Full game in a 1-1 draw at V-Varen Nagasaki (3rd). Nagasaki down to 10 men, from 34th min.

Niigata 4th, 9 pts behind 3rd placed Kyoto Sanga with 8 games left. Though Sanga have a game in hand. Top 2 teams promoted.

Fitzgerald agruably of all the NZ qualified RBs, playing at the highest level. Not that he's shown any interest in giving up his Japanese citizenship. Plus he might be playing more as a CB these days, having lost some of his speed.

Unfortunately comes up with the winning goal in the wrong net. Credited with a 94th min OG in a 1-2 loss to Blaublitz Akita (13th).

Niigata 5th, have their promotion hopes being pretty slim now. 10 pts behind 2nd placed Kyoto Sanga with 7 games left. And Sanga have a game in hand.

Full game in a 0-1 loss to J2 leaders Júbilo Iwata.

Promotion dreams are over for Niigata (7th, 16 pts off the 2nd promotion spot). 2L & 2D in their last 4 games. 5 league games left.

Full game in a 1-1 draw at bottom team Matsumoto Yamaga.
Niigata (7th), will likely finish 5th-7th, with 4 games left.

Mitch Duke's (3 goals) Fagiano Okayama are a mid table 11th.

Full game in a 2-0 win over Ehime (2nd last).
Niigata 5th, with 3 games left.

Full game in a 0-0 draw at ThespaKusatsu Gunma (16th - 3 pts above drop zone).
Niigata 6th, with 2 games left.

Full game in a 1-1 draw at Ryūkyū (9th).

Niigata 6th, with 1 game left to finish the 42 game J2 season slog. Best they can finish now is 5th.

J2 season finally over in Japan.

Full game Fitzgerald in a 0-2 loss to Machida Zelvia (5th).

Niigata finish 6th.

33 yr old Fitzgerald played 36 of Niigata's 42 games. No goals.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/michael-james-fitzgerald/182901/

Loan spell at the Nix next? 😅

newzealandpower

Loan spell at the Nix next? 😅

If he wasn't a Japanese citizen, I reckon he would be firmly in the AWs right back discussions.

Though at 33 he's probably lost some pace, he's been either playing in J1, or in one of better J2 teams for 8 seasons now.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/michael-james-fitzgerald/182901/

But yeah sounds like his life is well and truly in the Land of the Rising Sun now, and he ain't going to forgo that valued Japanese passport.

Niigata are 9th, after 5 rounds of the 2022 J2 season. 33 yr old Fitzgerald has started all 5 games.

Sometime Socceroo Thomas Deng (ex Victory & ex Urawa Reds), is now at Niigata, though hasn't played a game yet.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/japan/albirex-niigata/1333/