Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)
Long-term injury but hopefully will come back fully recovered. https://t.co/BsA8W4aJQx
— JSoccer Magazine (@JSoccerMagazine) April 2, 2016
Wouldn't be surprised to see him move to China soon given all the cash and he would be a Asian player. They love the big Caucasian type CB's atm I think Fitzy is an islander so im sure would have a decent build as well. Alternatively would be an awesome Nix signing but that would never happer
OK so I'm going to be watching this team soon in Tokyo.
Does anyone know if he is recovered from his injury and playing?
Played in the in weekend.
Had a mixed game in a 1-0 loss to Kashiwa Reysol.
Saved a goal off the line, then managed to bundle in the winner for Kashiwa...
Thanks Detoxin. Coming for a couple of weeks but will probably not stray too far from Tokyo. Have tickets booked for a Kawasaki game and as luck would have it they are playing Fitzgerald's team. Really looking forward to it.
Interviewed by ACFC in Japan for CWC.
see www.aucklandcityfc.com latest
Gone to Kawasaki Frontale who finished 3rd in J League last year and will be playing in ACL. Be interesting to see if he gets to play in ACL games
Finally returned to the field for the first time in 13 months and played the full game for Kawasaki in their 2-2 draw with Ulsan in the ACL.
Here's a report on how he went in Japanese. Even with google's help I can't really understand it though!
(Title of this thread needs updating!)
11 times on the subs bench this J League season for Kawasaki Frontale, but not required off the pine once to date.
Kawasaki are leading the J League equal on points with Sanfreece Hiroshima. This is after 28 games, with 6 rounds to go.
Both teams are 11 points clear of Kashima in 3rd place. So is the proverbial 2 horse race for the J League title.
Fitzgerald has appeared 3 times in the J League Cup and Emperor Cup comps, for Kawasaki. Just obviously hard to crack a winning side being the J League leaders.
At age 30, I wonder if he is tempted to give up his Japanese residency, and have one final crack at the AWs, this World Cup cycle. Wouldn't hurt the Nix to make an enquiry.
Also one of the mods should update his team to - Kawasaki Frontale
how many years left in his contract? Is this his last?
and someone needs to change his team on this thread
3-0 win for Kawasaki Frontale yesterday. Fitzgerald an unused sub.
Kawasaki are now 7 points clear of Sanfreece Hiroshima with only 3 games to go. They can wrap up the J League title with a win over Cerezo Osaka (8th on the table) next weekend.
For Fitzgerald 14 times on the subs bench this J League season, but not one minute of playing time.
Kawasaki lose 1-2 to Osaka. However Hiroshima blow their opening and also lose, going down 1-0 to Vegalta Sendai.
Kawasaki and Fitzgerald are J League champions with 2 rounds to go.
Fitzgerald on the bench again today, and not a minute of J League action this season. Maybe now the title is secured he will get a run.
i love Gamba osaka they are my team
Kawasaki lost to Cerezo Osaka.
I see Kashima Antlers won the AFC Champions League. Feather in the cap for J League.
Kawasaki finish J League season with a 2-1 win over Jubilo Iwata.
They end up 8 points clear of Sanfreece Hiroshima.
Fitzgerald an unused sub. He's officially a J League winner, but didn't get a minute of playing time this season.
On the weekend last season's J League champs, Kawasaki Frontale drew 1-1 with current Asian Champions League winners Kashima Antlers.
Fitzgerald not in match day squad for Kawasaki.
Soccerway says that is still his club.
See he's aged 30. Currently unavailable for the AWs as gave up his Kiwi passport to get a Japanese one, and be classified as a domestic player. Japan doesn't allow dual nationality.
Remember him being quoted in the past, as being interested to make himself available for the AWs again, in a bid to play at a World Cup.
If he's on the outer at Kawasaki, and not getting any younger - maybe worth chatting to the Nix for season 2019/2020.
I suppose all depends what money is like in Japan, and how entrenched his life is there now re family etc. Plus would Nix even be interested. More a wingback than CB?
On the weekend last season's J League champs, Kawasaki Frontale drew 1-1 with current Asian Champions League winners Kashima Antlers.
Fitzgerald not in match day squad for Kawasaki.
Soccerway says that is still his club.
See he's aged 30. Currently unavailable for the AWs as gave up his Kiwi passport to get a Japanese one, and be classified as a domestic player. Japan doesn't allow dual nationality.
Remember him being quoted in the past, as being interested to make himself available for the AWs again, in a bid to play at a World Cup.
If he's on the outer at Kawasaki, and not getting any younger - maybe worth chatting to the Nix for season 2019/2020.
I suppose all depends what money is like in Japan, and how entrenched his life is there now re family etc. Plus would Nix even be interested. More a wingback than CB?
Might be time to come home or at the very least move countries to get playing time.
On the weekend last season's J League champs, Kawasaki Frontale drew 1-1 with current Asian Champions League winners Kashima Antlers.
Fitzgerald not in match day squad for Kawasaki.
Soccerway says that is still his club.
See he's aged 30. Currently unavailable for the AWs as gave up his Kiwi passport to get a Japanese one, and be classified as a domestic player. Japan doesn't allow dual nationality.
Remember him being quoted in the past, as being interested to make himself available for the AWs again, in a bid to play at a World Cup.
If he's on the outer at Kawasaki, and not getting any younger - maybe worth chatting to the Nix for season 2019/2020.
I suppose all depends what money is like in Japan, and how entrenched his life is there now re family etc. Plus would Nix even be interested. More a wingback than CB?
Might be time to come home or at the very least move countries to get playing time.
He could just move to a weaker J1 side or even the J2 - Kawasaki are J League champions after all, so a tough team to break into.
To be eligible for the AWs, he would have to give up his Japanese citizenship and that would be a tough choice. Esp if he has a Japanese wife and kids, and see's himself living there once his football career is over. He's been there 9 years I think now.
Could depend whether he can reapply later, for his Japanese citizenship a 2nd time, ie could it be reissued after giving it up once? Tricky
don't believe he can do that, but he could get PR
He was on the bench last night as Kawasaki lost 1-0 in the ACL in China.
Hulk with the winner for Shanghai SIPG.
Next weekFitzgerald & his team mates will be in Sydney for an ACL game.
He was on the bench last night as Kawasaki lost 1-0 in the ACL in China.
Hulk with the winner for Shanghai SIPG.
Next Fitzgerald & his team mates will be in Sydney for an ACL game.
Not in match day squad as Kawasaki drew 2-2 away to Yokohama Marinos on the weekend.
Yokohama coached by Ange Postecoglou.
Be interesting to see if Fitzgerald makes the squad, for ACL game against Sydney. Match is actually in Japan, not Sydney
90 mins in the ACL verus Ulsan in Korea. A 1-0 loss.
May well be his first playing minutes with Kawasaki since joining them in 2017.
think he played two games or so last year in the same comp
They can't rate this comp that highly as he has never played a league match
think he played two games or so last year in the same comp
They can't rate this comp that highly as he has never played a league match
Must have impressed during the week in the ACL.
Gets 90 mins for Kawasaki with 1-0 J League win over Sagan Tosu.
Picks up a yellow.
Marked up for 20 mins against Fernando Torres who came off the bench for Tosu.
Must have impressed during the week in the ACL.
Gets 90 mins for Kawasaki with 1-0 J League win over Sagan Tosu.
Picks up a yellow.
Marked up for 20 mins against Fernando Torres who came off the bench for Tosu.
You really like this guy huh Andrew?
Last I heard he renounced his NZ citizenship to play pro ball in Japan.
In effect, he is a Japanese player is he not?
He is also NZ born and bred, eligible to represent nz in the future should he wish to and is head and shoulder above any other AW RBs...
He is also NZ born and bred, eligible to represent nz in the future should he wish to and is head and shoulder above any other AW RBs...
I thought he'd given up his Kiwi citizenship to become Japanese and had ruled out playing for NZ
He is also NZ born and bred, eligible to represent nz in the future should he wish to and is head and shoulder above any other AW RBs...
I thought he'd given up his Kiwi citizenship to become Japanese and had ruled out playing for NZ
He is also NZ born and bred, eligible to represent nz in the future should he wish to and is head and shoulder above any other AW RBs...
I thought he'd given up his Kiwi citizenship to become Japanese and had ruled out playing for NZ
http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/michael-fitzgerald-...
This article is from 2013. There is an article in this thread since then (I think when ACFC visited Japan) where Fitzgerald was interviewed, and said he wouldn't rule out trying to make AWs again, specifically to try and play in a World Cup. Fair enough, and who knows if Oceania was given an automatic spot for Qatar. He might be tempted to leave Japan??
Really what he has done by getting Japanese citizenship to qualify as a local player, is no different to what Krishna has done. Only problem is that Japan, unlike NZ don't allow dual citizenship. Otherwise Fitzgerald would still be eligible for the AWs.
You can't really blame him qualifying as Japanese, when it's a pretty good country to live (thousands of Kiwis have chosen to live in Japan for a year or two at least), I think his brother also lives there, and there are 18 J League teams that all need Japanese players. Contrast that to NZ will one pro team, or how much harder it is in Europe without a Euro passport.
He's age 30, experienced playing in Asia (could even get a few games in the ME this year, if Kawasaki go on an ACL run) and probably has a few years left as a pro. This is when most of the AWs first choice CBs are older than that, and/or injury prone. Still worth keeping an eye on.
Just looking at online articles.. It says he 'handed in his nz passport' but also that a 'dream move to Europe' (eg not playing in Japan any longer) would see him play for the AWs again.
So that's my understanding at least. He has japanese citizenship but he would lose it if he reactivated his nz passport (which would make him eligible for the AWs).
He could just reapply for NZ citizenship in future couldn't he? He'd then have to give up his Japanese citizenship, but if it means going to the World Cup, I would probably take that deal if I was him.
He could just reapply for NZ citizenship in future couldn't he? He'd then have to give up his Japanese citizenship, but if it means going to the World Cup, I would probably take that deal if I was him.
Would beat sitting on the bench in Kawasaki. But would end his Japanese career you'd think