Fitzgerald's Albirex Niigata beat Yokohama 2-0 in the weekend, he played a full game. A crowd of 62,632 - if Yokohama had won they would have taken out the league. Fitzgerald's Albirex is now 7th - since he went there they have moved up from 12th place. His last game will be at home playing Josh Kennedy's team Nagoya.
Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)
Got a japanese football reporter friend to see if he can get an answer for us
Won last game of the season last weekend:
"Albirex Niigata (7th) consolidated their fine finish to the season with a 2-0 home win over Nagoya Grampus (11th). That was Niigata's ninth consecutive home league victory. The goals came from Kengo Kawamata, the second top scorer in J1 this season with 23 goals, in the 65th minute and Atomu Tanaka, seven minutes from the end."
Won last game of the season last weekend:
"Albirex Niigata (7th) consolidated their fine finish to the season with a 2-0 home win over Nagoya Grampus (11th). That was Niigata's ninth consecutive home league victory. The goals came from Kengo Kawamata, the second top scorer in J1 this season with 23 goals, in the 65th minute and Atomu Tanaka, seven minutes from the end."
Looks like a very solid season for Michael and Albirex, hope he pushes on there.
Surely he'll get the call up for the March friendly considering it'll be easy travel!
Won last game of the season last weekend:
"Albirex Niigata (7th) consolidated their fine finish to the season with a 2-0 home win over Nagoya Grampus (11th). That was Niigata's ninth consecutive home league victory. The goals came from Kengo Kawamata, the second top scorer in J1 this season with 23 goals, in the 65th minute and Atomu Tanaka, seven minutes from the end."
End of the season, lets have that striker down here !!
Won last game of the season last weekend:
"Albirex Niigata (7th) consolidated their fine finish to the season with a 2-0 home win over Nagoya Grampus (11th). That was Niigata's ninth consecutive home league victory. The goals came from Kengo Kawamata, the second top scorer in J1 this season with 23 goals, in the 65th minute and Atomu Tanaka, seven minutes from the end."
Looks like a very solid season for Michael and Albirex, hope he pushes on there.
Michael have very good season, he start 12 soccer game, play 11 full game. He have one game for suspend. His team have most points in league since he come. Club offer for him 3 year but scout say maybe he go Europe.
Should do at least another year before goin to europe youd think
You go when the right offer presents itself....
You go when the right offer presents itself....
He's been in Japan for a long time, I reckon he'll take the 3 years - I would. The J-League is a good league and unless you're going to a substantial European league (French, Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Dutch) it wouldn't be worth moving.
Totally
Has this guy got a twitter account? be interesting to follow...
This 2011 report on Fitzgerald at the time of his All Whites debut has much interesting information - seems to have a complicated national background - Samoan mother, born in NZ, holds a European passport, he has NZ citizenship (now has Japanese residency as of quite recently - since this article). With his European passport and Japanese residency, would have no problems getting a work visa for Europe:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10715128
"They did not want him to play for New Zealand," says Wynton Rufer, who tutored Fitzgerald through his Wynrs academy. "They were not happy. They initially told him not to accept it [the call-up to the All Whites], which was very sad. They are worried he won't get the visa now.
"They don't want him to count as a foreigner. If he was a local, he could get a contract of US$150,000 but the foreign players are on $500,000 and he won't get one of those because they go to Brazilians. If you're there for five years, you can get residency. Playing for New Zealand puts that in jeopardy.
"But I encouraged him and told him, 'you've got to go for it'. He's a New Zealander. He's from Mt Roskill, his mum is Samoan. You can't say no to that. We are on an all-time high and I know Ricki [Herbert] will be happy with what he sees. The boy is quality."
It was on Rufer's recommendation that Herbert selected Fitzgerald in the first place. Like most people in this country, Herbert hadn't seen the youngster play. He left New Zealand at 16 to take up a football scholarship with one of Tokyo's top high schools and was soon signed by Niigata. Incredibly, his selection for the All Whites was his first stint with any New Zealand team at any level.
Rufer describes him as a "typical Japanese" player with good technical ability and good passing range. At 1.86cm and 70kg, he's slight, but is said to have the ability to get forward. Fullback looks his best fit in a New Zealand side even though he can play anywhere across the back or as a holding midfielder.
You go when the right offer presents itself....
He's been in Japan for a long time, I reckon he'll take the 3 years - I would. The J-League is a good league and unless you're going to a substantial European league (French, Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Dutch) it wouldn't be worth moving.
You go when the right offer presents itself....
He's been in Japan for a long time, I reckon he'll take the 3 years - I would. The J-League is a good league and unless you're going to a substantial European league (French, Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Dutch) it wouldn't be worth moving.
And what's wrong with driving a Toyota Corolla?
Nothing unless your other option was driving a mercedes benz around stuttgart
Might want to watch 3News tonight.
Might want to watch 3News tonight.
I'm guessing this has something to do with Gourdie's tweet? :(
He's obviously starting to do quite well. Can some one please clear up this "he's now Jap so can no longer be a kiwi" rumour thats floating around. Japan has had plenty of Japanese kiwi rugby players. Must be a better pick based on form then Bright.
He just has jap citizenship meaning he just doesnt count as a foreigner in J league. Can still play for NZ
Oh dear. It doesnt change fact hes born in NZ, rep NZ and can only play for us in Fifas eyes. Stop worrying ppl
guess I was justified in worrying :(
FFS! Nix sign this kid on marquee so he's a Kiwi again
Not worried. He'll go to europe
Not worried. He'll go to europe
In the interview on TV 3 he didn't seem to have any grudges about not being called up by Ricki since his three caps a couple of years ago and receiving no communication since then from Ricki - which is reassuring ("evey manager has his own style") - though he did say regular selection for All Whites squads might have changed his mind about taking out Japanese citizenship.
Lets just hope he goes to Europe so he can become a Kiwi again...
I don't understand this, is he now effectively eligible for no one?
I don't understand this, is he now effectively eligible for no one?
It makes you wonder what ricki was doing after he lost the nix job and was solely in charge of the all whites. How many players overseas did he have to keep in touch with? If that was his style it was a bad style
To be fair fitzgerald kicked on from what late august onwards. If hed been playing since march reg and not being selected for AW id be pissed
I don't understand this, is he now effectively eligible for no one?
But is he unavailable because he's made a decision or is there some technical thing that because he doesn't have a NZ passport hes no longer available? First I understand, although its a real pity. Second I just don't get still, maybe I'm slow. Once you're NZ qualified surely that's it, case closed
I don't understand this, is he now effectively eligible for no one?
But is he unavailable because he's made a decision or is there some technical thing that because he doesn't have a NZ passport hes no longer available? First I understand, although its a real pity. Second I just don't get still, maybe I'm slow. Once you're NZ qualified surely that's it, case closed
Ifill couldn't represent Barbados in a game cuz they lost his Barbados passport in 2010. "Ifill also holds a British passport, so he could have flown to the Caribbean, but rules declare that Barbados passports must be shown before games to stop imposters rocking up and playing."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4225875/Ifill-grounded-as-official-loses-players-passports
He can play again for NZ at any stage by getting his NZ citizenship back, but that invalidates his Japanese citizenship as they don't allow dual citizenship. He would become an import in the J-League again.
Irrespective of the import rule, the Japenese immigration authorities are not very comfortable someone holding dual passports. If he was yelling out he held a kiwi passport they would take a dim view
Irrespective of the import rule, the Japenese immigration authorities are not very comfortable someone holding dual passports. If he was yelling out he held a kiwi passport they would take a dim view
I was going to say that he might be allowed to get his NZ passport back now, but I suspect you're right. A lot of countries which ban dual citizenship (or just ban it with certain other countries) don't actually stop you re-gaining your first nationality once you've initially dropped it in order to get the sole nationality of your adopted nation. So to explain, if an ordinary New Zealander was to drop their NZ citizenship in order to get Japanese citizenship, there might not actually be anything stopping them regaining their New Zealand citizenship, as this is out of the hands of the Japanese authorities and they might not even know.
However, I'm not sure that would be the case here, as I think the slightly weird system of dropping your citizenship and subsequently regaining it is one based on your adopted country turning a blind eye, rather than expressly allowing this to happen. If this is the case you're right that they might not be so lenient if Fitzgerald was openly flouting the rules by representing New Zealand internationally in football.
It makes you wonder what ricki was doing after he lost the nix job and was solely in charge of the all whites. How many players overseas did he have to keep in touch with? If that was his style it was a bad style
There are plenty of rumours about what Ricki has been up to since leaving the Phoenix but probably better not to kick a man when he's down
I don't understand this, is he now effectively eligible for no one?
But is he unavailable because he's made a decision or is there some technical thing that because he doesn't have a NZ passport hes no longer available? First I understand, although its a real pity. Second I just don't get still, maybe I'm slow. Once you're NZ qualified surely that's it, case closed
Ifill couldn't represent Barbados in a game cuz they lost his Barbados passport in 2010. "Ifill also holds a British passport, so he could have flown to the Caribbean, but rules declare that Barbados passports must be shown before games to stop imposters rocking up and playing."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4225875/Ifill-grounded-as-official-loses-players-passports
He can play again for NZ at any stage by getting his NZ citizenship back, but that invalidates his Japanese citizenship as they don't allow dual citizenship. He would become an import in the J-League again.
Was amusing to see Paul Ifill discuss this isssue of the "lost passports" during a lengthy and relaxed interview with Simon Doull during the "Dilmah Tea Break" in the cricket v West Indies last week. Was a rain delay, so Doull had Ifill and Brockie in for a 40 minute discussion on their careers and the Phoenix season. Doull knows his football (obviously a fan and went to matches at Elland road during his time playing cricket in England) and is a good interviewer.
Doull commented "this is going out live in the West Indies" and so asked Ifill about his time playing for Barbadoes. Ifill said "The FA over there aren't so good organizationally . I haven't played for them since they lost all the overseas players' passports. Maybe they didn't want us to play - who knows?"
Ifill and Brockie also both full of praise for Merrick - reading between the lines they were suggesting he's light years ahead of Herbert who wasn't the required standard any more.
Not worried. He'll go to europe
This is where you would like Rufer to use his contacts in Europe. A move to Switzerland or 2nd Bundesliga would be fine.
Also, Fitzgerald was playing 4th tier Japanese football until he was no longer an import. It would have been a big call to pick Fitzgerald ahead of people playing in fully professional leagues at the time.
The issue here is NZF not realising he was unavai till Oct when we started talking about this months earlier. Personal attention fail
The issue here is NZF not realising he was unavai till Oct when we started talking about this months earlier. Personal attention fail
He was unavailable since May it seems - not playing JLeague at the time.
Also, Fitzgerald was playing 4th tier Japanese football until he was no longer an import. It would have been a big call to pick Fitzgerald ahead of people playing in fully professional leagues at the time.
he was? Though he was playing J2 at start of the year?
Also, Fitzgerald was playing 4th tier Japanese football until he was no longer an import. It would have been a big call to pick Fitzgerald ahead of people playing in fully professional leagues at the time.
he was? Though he was playing J2 at start of the year?
You are right, he played 1 game in J2 this season - 10min in total. JFL last season.
It makes you wonder what ricki was doing after he lost the nix job and was solely in charge of the all whites. How many players overseas did he have to keep in touch with? If that was his style it was a bad style
There are plenty of rumours about what Ricki has been up to since leaving the Phoenix but probably better not to kick a man when he's down
I would normally agree, however I recall ricki keeping in contact with a certain Jeremy Christie on how well he was training god knows where, so I have little sympathy