Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)

After 13 games Niigata are 3rd in J2. Fitzgerald with 12 starts.

Thomas Deng yet to feature in a game.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/japan/albirex-niigata/1333/

After 19 games (of 42 games) Niigata are 2nd in J2. Fitzgerald with 15 starts & 1 goal.

Thomas Deng still yet to feature in a match.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/japan/albirex-niigata/1333/

22 rounds in (half way point is 21 rounds) and Niigata are top of the table in J2. Fitzgerald with 16 starts & 1 goal.

Niigata are 5 points clear of Vegalta Sendai (3rd). Top 2 teams automatically promoted.

Thomas Deng still yet to feature in a match.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/japan/albirex-niigata/1333/

Elsewhere Mitch Duke, who was a surprise choice to start the Socceroos playoff against Peru (subbed off for Mabil at 69 mins), has scored 3 goals from 18 games with Fagiano Okayama. Duke I thought caused the Peruvians a few problems in the first half especially. Wonder if Arnold started him, based on how Wood (who was pretty quiet to be fair) went against Peru in our warmup game.

Okayama are 4th in J2. But yeah perhaps proves the level you are playing at, doesn't always matter so much re doing the job in international football.

11 rounds to go and Niigata are still 2nd, 1 point off 1st placed Yokohama in J2.
Top 2 teams get promoted to J1.

Fitzgerald has played 22 of 31 (one goal) J2 games to date. Thomas Deng finally made his starting debut last week for Niigata.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/japan/j2-league/2022/regular-season/r67023/

Mitch Duke's (5 goals) Fagiano Okayama are 4th (8th points behind Niigata). 

Stefan Mauk (3 goals) also plays for Fagiano Okayama

2 rounds to go in J2, and promotion is confirmed for Niigata. They lead the league and are 9 points clear of Fagiano Okayama in 3rd. Top 2 sides automatically go up.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/japan/j2-league/2022/regular-season/r67023/

34 yr old Fitzgerald has played 26 of 40 J2 games (1 goal).  He has already spent a good chunk of his career playing in J1, but not since 2019. Hopefully Niigata retain him with promotion.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/michael-james-fitzgerald/182901/

Socceroo team mate Thomas Deng, who belted into Chris Wood's ribs at Eden Park, has only played 6 games the whole season. He took a long time to recover from an injury he picked up at J1 club Urawa Reds.

Shame the All Whites train has come and gone. I always rated him quite highly. Sounds like he made the best decision for his life and career though. Living in Japan has plenty of upsides, not much point putting that at risk for the sake of playing a few friendlies and a bunch of qualifiers vs Island teams. Had we gone to the WC again, he might have reconsidered, but as things stand I think he's done the right thing. 

So Niigata ended up J2 champions! With that comes promotion to J1.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/japan/j2-league/2022/regular-season/r67023/

Fitzgerald played 27 of 42 games, with the 1 goal.
Socceroo Thomas Yeng with 8 games, after joining the club injured.

Hopefully 34 yr old Fitzgerald is retained by Niigata.

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Well one Kiwi gets a start as the J League season kicks off. 34 yr old Fitzgerald starting for promoted Niigata as they visit Cerezo Osaka. Picked ahead of Qatar WC Socceroo Thomas Deng, who sits on the pine.

https://au.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/18/japan/j1-league/cerezo-osaka/albirex-niigata/4009185/

Edit - A 2-2 draw. Full game Fitzgerald. Deng on in the 86th min

Niigata travel to Sanfrecce Hiroshima

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/26/japan/j1-league/sanfrecce-hiroshima/albirex-niigata/4025372/

Fitzgerald relegated to the bench as Qatar WC Socceroo Thomas Deng starts in a 2-1 win at Sanfreece Hiroshima.

Niigata (6th) host Consadole Sapporo (15th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/04/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/consadole-sapporo/4025377/

Fitzgerald & Deng rotate. This time the Kiwi starts.

He must still be playing good footbal at 34, if sharing games with a Qatar WC Socceroo. Real bastard Japan doesn't allow dual passports to be held. He would have held a good 10 yr AWs career by now.

Ironic thing is even though Niigata have 3 other foreigners listed in their squad, only Fitzgerald & Deng are listed in the match day squad. So presumably the Kiwi could actually play as a 'Visa' player, if he still had his NZ passport.

Kiss of death. Fitzgerald credited with an Oggie to have Sapporo up 1-0 after 17 mins.

Now 2-1 Niigata after 70 mins. Deng was subbed on at 42 mins (1-1) for Fitzgerald's starting CB partner.

Edit - finished a 2-2 draw

A Kiwi-Aus CB pairing. Deng & Fitzgerald with full games as Niigata (3rd) beat Kawasaki Frontale (14th), 1-0

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/11/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/kawasaki-frontale/4025383/

And up to the giddy heights of 3rd in J1 after having spent a lot of time in the division below!
This didn’t pop up in the active topics feed for some reason…

Niigata (7th) lose 2-1 at Urawa Reds (5th).
Full games Fitzgerald & Deng.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/18/japan/j1-league/urawa-red-diamonds/albirex-niigata/4025395/

J League Cup tie tomorrow, Niigata host Kashima Antlers.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/26/japan/j-league-cup/albirex-niigata/kashima-antlers/4024849/

Fitzgerald on the bench. Thomas Deng in Aussie with the Socceroos.

Edit - comes on at 87 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 win

Albirex Niigata (8th) host Nagoya Grampus (3rd).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/01/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/nagoya-grampus-eight/4025403/

Fitzgerald starting for Niigata. No Thomas Deng. Sounds like Deng had a bit of a shocker for Socceroos in their game 2 loss to Ecuador.

Mitch Langerak in goal for Nagoya.

Disappointing outing for Fitzgerald (playing as a CB). Straight red at 39 mins. Niigata were up 1-0 & go on to lose 1-3.

J League Cup, Niigata host Kashiwa Reysol

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/05/japan/j-league-cup/albirex-niigata/kashiwa-reysol/4024852/

Niigata a 2-0 win. Full game 34 yr old Fitzgerald.
No Thomas Deng.

I've said it before but it's a real shame Japan don't allow people to hold dual citizenship. I guess Fitzgerald will never give up his Japanese passport, but a starting CB in the J League, is definitely good enough to be a starting AWs CB.

Niigata (12th) visit Vissel Kobe (1st)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/09/japan/j1-league/vissel-kobe/albirex-niigata/4025412/

I wonder- he’s been such a servant to the club. 

If NZ football thought he might be in the squad for the WC, you’d wonder, if he wanted to, if they’d look at fitting him in their foreigner allowance. If he wants to, and if he can get the passport and if NZ football gets a coach who see him in the frame. Many, many ifs in that thought, but if you don’t ask you don’t receive and going to a WC could be an amazing way to bookend a career…

He certainly has been a servant for Niigata, over 2 spells there.
Age is probably against him, the AWs already having Boxall & Smith well past 30.  

Yes lots of ifs, main one likely being if he gave up his Japanese passport now (even if Niigata agreed to have him as a foreigner), what would that mean for his post football life living in Japan. My limited knowledge is that foreigners in Nippon have a lot less rights, than Japanese citizens.

A creditable 0-0 draw for Niigata at top of the table Vissel Kobe.

Thomas Deng a full game for Niigata but no Fitzgerald.

Edit - no Fitzgerald (suspended) as yes was sent off in the prior J League game. Courtesy of Flying Kiwis, below is why he got his deserved red!

 

 

Niigata (11th) host Avispa Fukuoka (4th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/15/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/avispa-fukuoka/4025420/

coochiee

He certainly has been a servant for Niigata, over 2 spells there.
Age is probably against him, the AWs already having Boxall & Smith well past 30.  

Yes lots of ifs, main one likely being if he gave up his Japanese passport now (even if Niigata agreed to have him as a foreigner), what would that mean for his post football life living in Japan. My limited knowledge is that foreigners in Nippon have a lot less rights, than Japanese citizens.

I think it depends if he gets pr when giving up his citizenship.  I have pr and some things are more difficult and i dont get to vote but there isnt much change.   If you dont get pr it would be a pain in the ass always having to apply for visas.  

An ANZAC, CB pairing. Fitzgerald back from suspension partners Deng, as Niigata host Fukuoka

Edit - Niigata losing 0-2 at HT

Bit of a dramatic finish. A lad called Ryotaro Ito son, with a 2nd half hat trick as Niigata win 3-2. His last 2 goals at 93 & 97 mins!

Ito was in J2 last season with Niigata. Full games Fitzgerald & Deng.

Niigata (9th) host Kashima Antlers (15th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/23/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/kashima-antlers/4025431/

Both Fitzgerald (a yellow) & Deng with full games in a 0-2 loss.

Niigata (10th) travel to FC Tokyo (8th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/04/29/japan/j1-league/fc-tokyo/albirex-niigata/4025441/

Fitzgerald starts. No Deng.

Niigata lose 2-1.

Niigata (13th) travel to Yokohama FC (18th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/03/japan/j1-league/yokohama-fc/albirex-niigata/4025452/

This time Deng is starting and Fitzgerald not in the match day squad.

Edit - Niigata lose 1-0.

Niigata (13th) host Kashiwa Reysol (16th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/05/07/japan/j1-league/albirex-niigata/kashiwa-reysol/4025457/

Deng & Fitzgerald continue to rotate. This time the Kiwi plays in a 0-0 draw.