Fitzgerald starting & Deng on the bench. Fitzgerald has just turned 35. Wonder if he will go around in 2024. He's only started 17 of 29 J League games, so that must help keep him going.
Edit - a 1-1 draw. Full game & yellow for Fitzgerald.
over 2 years ago· edited over 2 years ago· History
Deng turn to start in a 0-0 draw. Seems that him & Fitzgerald rotate. The Kiwi did come on at 82 mins for a midfielder.
Looks like both clubs are safe from relegation with 4 rounds left. I doubt Woud has a future at Kyoto Sanga, but they will most likely be a J1 club again in 2024.
over 2 years ago· edited over 2 years ago· History
2nd last game of the J1 season. Niigata (10th) travel to Kevin Muscat's Yokohama Marinos (2nd). Marinos with it all to play for, 2 pts behind 1st placed Vissel Kobbe.
over 2 years ago· edited over 2 years ago· History
Last round of the J League season. Niigata (10th) host Cerezo Osaka (8th). Deng starts for Niigata, but no Fitzgerald. The 35 yr old Kiwi to retire? Otherwise he'd be a possible handy pick up for the new Auckland team, if he could somehow keep his Japanese citzenship. Made 24 match days squads (over 34 J1 games) with 18 starts.
J League is 3 games in and 35 yr old Michael Fitzgerald (36 in September) is still running around. He and recalled Socceroo Thomas Deng full games on the weekend as Niigata (5th) beat Nagoya Grampus 1-0. Retired Socceroo Mitch Langerak in goal for Grampus (last).
Fitzgerald played 2 of the 3 games to date.
Arnie favourite 33 yr old Mitch Duke at Machida Zelvia, is back in the J1 for the first time since 2018. Yet to score this season.
almost 2 years ago· edited almost 2 years ago· History
Fitzgerald (yellow) and Thomas Deng full games in an upset 3-1 win at Machida Zelvia.
Mitch Duke off the bench for Machida Zelvia at 73 mins (1-3), who were only promoted from J2 last season, but are currently top of the J League. Duke made latest Soceroos selection for upcoming AFC qualifiers. He has 2 goals this J1 season. Deng missed out
Harry Kewell's Yokohama F. Marinos who lost the recent AFC Champions League final, with some controversy (dodgy pen given against them, keeper sent off etc) are down in 13th currently.
Fitzgerald (yellow) and Thomas Deng full games in an upset 3-1 win at Machida Zelvia.
Mitch Duke off the bench for Machida Zelvia at 73 mins (1-3), who were only promoted from J2 last season, but are currently top of the J League. Duke made latest Soceroos selection for upcoming AFC qualifiers. He has 2 goals this J1 season. Deng missed out
Harry Kewell's Yokohama F. Marinos who lost the recent AFC Champions League final, with some controversy (dodgy pen given against them, keeper sent off etc) are down in 13th currently.
Lol. Probably put the mockers on Zelvia by posting about it. This match up has been a J2 match up in recent years and now is deciding the current top of the J1.
What's the story behind this guy not playing more for the AWs? Regular starter in Japan's top division. Seems odd he's been left out, or is it by his own choice?
almost 2 years ago· edited almost 2 years ago· History
Ninja
What's the story behind this guy not playing more for the AWs? Regular starter in Japan's top division. Seems odd he's been left out, or is it by his own choice?
Took Japanese citizenship so can play as a local non visa player in the J League.
Japan only allows you to hold 1 passport so he decided to forgo his NZ citizenship, meaning he became ineligible for the AWs. Was capped a few times prior
Basically he’s made the decision that Japan is his home and playing as a local has given him a 10 year plus pro career. Has been as much if not more in J1, than J2
Shame from an AWs perspective as he would have been a handy addition at different times. But I don’t think you can blame him for choosing the road he has
What's the story behind this guy not playing more for the AWs? Regular starter in Japan's top division. Seems odd he's been left out, or is it by his own choice?
Took Japanese citizenship so can play as a local non visa player in the J League.
Japan only allows you to hold 1 passport so he forgo his NZ citizenship then ineligible for AWs. Was capped a few times prior
Basically he’s made the decision that Japan is his home and playing as a local has given him a 10 year plus pro career. Has been as much if not more in J1, than J2
Shame from an AWs perspective as he would have been a handy addition at different times. But I don’t think you can blame for choosing the road he has
almost 2 years ago· edited over 1 year ago· History
Not only is 35yo Michael Fitzgerald still going strong for Albirex Niigata in the Japanese top division but he’s even chipped in with a couple assists over the past few weeks ✌️ #FlyingKiwispic.twitter.com/YAAJ0MXbSK
Fitzgerald’s current contract runs until next January so fingers crossed this ain’t his last campaign. He’s made 129 appearances in J1 over the years, mostly with Albirex Niigata though he did have those injury-plagued years with Kawasaki Frontale (during which time he also made six Asian Champions League appearances).
Only ever made three appearances for the All Whites because he had to renounce his citizenship in order to qualify as a local player and secure his club future over there. Fair enough. He’s definitely made a career out of it.
Mitch Duke's Machida Zelvia are having a brilliant season, their first back in the J League after being promoted from J2. They sit atop the league, 3 pts clear of Kashima Antlers. Duke with 4 goals in 20 games.
Niche Cache. What could have been for the AWs. Lining up against Mitch Duke the last few weeks who plays for Machida Zelvia. J League a place for ANZAC veterans
Albirex Niigata took on the J-League leaders Machida Zelvia and claimed a point via a 0-0 draw. Michael Fitzgerald played the whole thing. He’s still going strong at age 35. What’s more, Niigata have kept three clean sheets in a row and it was Fitzy who set up the winner against Avispa Fukuoka last week.
He’s started 22 out of 28 games and they’ve only taken one point from the six matches he’s not been involved in. It’s Fitzgerald and Australia’s Thomas Deng who are forming quite a formidable partnership at the back for Niigata. The club are also into the quarter finals of the J-League Cup where they’ll get a rematch with Machida Zelvia over two legs. Here’s some shaky sideline footage of his long-ball assist from the Fukuoka win...
Possibly. Hard to argue that it was the wrong decision when he’s had more than a decade of consistent employment across 3 teams. And now he’s back in the top flight.
I might be out of the loop here, but how is it Ricki's fault?
IIRC, Fitzgerald wanted to stay playing in Japan, but wanted to be considered as a Japanese citizen meaning he couldn't play for the All Whites due to dual citizenship laws over there?
I might be out of the loop here, but how is it Ricki's fault?
IIRC, Fitzgerald wanted to stay playing in Japan, but wanted to be considered as a Japanese citizen meaning he couldn't play for the All Whites due to dual citizenship laws over there?
I guess the argument is that if we wanted/selected/pushed for him more he might have retained his passport? Or at least for longer?
But I think we couldn’t offer much with the international football.
Niigata are 6 pts above the relegation spots with 2 games left. So win or draw against Osaka and they are safe from the drop. Osaka trying to secure an AFC comp spot for 2025 (top 4 J League teams).
Mitch Duke's Machida Zelvia who were leading the league for a long time, after being promoted from J2, now sit 3rd.
Be interesting to see if 36 yr old Fitzgerald San looks to play again next year, or is it time to hang up those boots. Japan more than anywhere in the world does have guys play on into their late 30s (even 40s). He's started a highly respectable 30 of 36 league games this season. He's played 259 J1 & J2 games for Niigata. More obviously with Cup games. So one more season & 300 club games may be a target??
His time at Niigata split by 3 seasons at Kawasaki Frontale (2017-2019), but he barely played there (3 games total).
Fitzgerald full game in a 0-1 loss. One round left. Niigata (41 pts, -15 GD) could still be overtaken by Júbilo Iwata (38 pts, -18 GD) and then relegated.
I see your reasoning, but for him to play as a non visa player in the ALM, would likely mean giving up his Japanese passport, and reapplying for his Kiwi one.
A few years ago before the emergence of Surman and Bindon, it might have made some sense reaching out to Fitzgerald, this 2026 WC cycle. Now it doesn't. We already have a 36 yr old CB in Boxall who is going to be touch and go for the big dance in Nth America.
Q&A with Fitzgerald & Deng. 'What do you like about your wife'?!
In English but right at the end Fitgerald demonstrates his Japanese language skills. As you'd hope after 10+ years in Nippon. https://youtu.be/_UujWWJjGdU
New season but same old Fitzy. He was there hanging out at the back for Albirex Niigata in a 1-1 draw away against Yokohama Marinos like nothing has changed. MF is 36 years old now but the 32 appearances that he made in the J1-League last year were the most he’s ever managed in a single season of Japanese top flight footy. Aging like a fine wine, that’s why they re-signed him. His next game will be his 150th in J1 footy (to go with 117 in the second tier and plenty more in cup and lower-league competitions around that). Stoked to see him picking up where he left off as the main man at the back for Alby Niigata.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
coochiee
Q&A with Fitzgerald & Deng. 'What do you like about your wife'?!
In English but right at the end Fitgerald demonstrates his Japanese language skills. As you'd hope after 10+ years in Nippon. https://youtu.be/_UujWWJjGdU
Man, that Kiwi accent is still waaaay strong. ‘I dunno,eh’ I wonder if they signed Deng because they wanted to play him but needed a CB partner who’d understand him! Though he did a decent bit of te reo Nihon there.
I nearly got to a couple of games they played within 50 minutes on the train of me when they were in J2, but they couldn’t be the priority at the time.
But the Japanese like being told how great they are by foreigners, just like Kiwis do!
They’ve got a show where they catch folk at the airport and they say I only had 48 hours leave, but I flew here to eat this ramen or some such. Sometimes genuinely weird or interesting stuff- French guys going to a hornet eating festival in the country. But very much in that goofy style… pop up lettering on the screen, shots repeated several times, meeting people foreshadowed with their faces blurred or hidden, a studio audience reacting with you ‘eeeh?’…
I wish I could understand more Japanese TV. The variety of tones amazes me sometimes. Then they have these dramas where everyone gets sick or has to perform CPR and is traumatised by it. Or these dark as af cop shows where there’s a bad guy with all these bombs getting revenge because of some middle school cliquey something. But I don’t watch much TV any more. Let alone know three generations of celebrities and all their stories which helps understanding their appearances on talk shows, comedy, light ent. etc.
Those kids’ supporter questions were kawaii. And that kid halfway through asked which of his teammates he would like to marry! Snuck that in. And all the crazy fan gear. Looks like an amazing stadium, again in the middle of a large park, with a river and other things…probably missed my chance for an away day there, but I’ll sneak a look at the schedule…
Looks like the local fans are kinda grateful and chill. Some of the clubs their fans seem really organised with flags and chants and I’d be worried about letting them down. Do think they’re right- if you’re a Kiwi odds are you’ll appreciate the countryside a bit more and not be distracted or overwhelmed so much.
He doesn’t look over 30 does he? But at least I felt better listening to the full time recovery work they do in order to play! If you’re old and huffing and puffing and all your muscles are killing you- these guys are full time accupuncturing, cupping, doing hot and cold baths, saunas, physio and massage sessions and they can do that cos it’s their job! Not and do any job using that broken down body in between games…
Nice find Cooch, for some reason didn’t cross my radar earlier.