Niko Kirwan (Calcio Potenza | Italy)

Apparently Perugia (Serie C) are interested in signing Niko, who is now a free agent after his contract with Padova expired.

Pre-season starts for Padova, and guess who is going along with the squad? Niko is...
I could have sworn his contract expired at the end of last season, but transfermarkt says 30 June 25..so either I was wrong, or his contract has been renewed (can't find anything online).
Anyway, another season at Padova sounds like. Hopefully they can get promoted this time. The fans are fuming and the owners have reined in their spending, not a great recipe for success (so far)

Great news, Niko has been unveiled as Padova's captain for this season.
They have their work cut out for them. The fans are unhappy and the owners have reined in spending...yet they are still expected to be promoted.

newzealandpower

Pre-season starts for Padova, and guess who is going along with the squad? Niko is...
I could have sworn his contract expired at the end of last season, but transfermarkt says 30 June 25..so either I was wrong, or his contract has been renewed (can't find anything online).
Anyway, another season at Padova sounds like. Hopefully they can get promoted this time. The fans are fuming and the owners have reined in their spending, not a great recipe for success (so far)

If you're using transfermarkt it's really handy if you have an account with them. From there you can create player watchlists where you can set it to receive notifications for players for things like contract updates, transfers, games played, goals scored etc. You can also add and remove players from your watchlist as you please. 

Most handy tool for following Kiwi players who are out of the limelight abroad, but I know their information still gets kept up to date as and when details become available.

Starts and gets 67 minutes in a 1-3 loss in the Coppa Italia vs Serie B outfit Cesena.
Score was 0-2 when subbed off.
Presume he played higher up the pitch as Padova played a 3-4-1-2 formation.

This was the Coppa Italia proper (eg FA Cup) they qualified for last year, now they're back in the Serie C Cup. Wouldn't be the end of the world if they got knocked out of that too as it could prove a distraction for not much reward (a place in the play offs)

Coppa Italia Serie C. Padova host FeralpiSalo

Tie goes to ET, with Padova winning 3-2.
2-2 at the end of NT.

Kirwan on at 61 mins, with Padova losing 1-2 at that stage.
https://www.padovacalcio.it/match/coppaitalia-seriec-padova-vs-feralpisalo/

Padova who won the Serie C Coppa Italia last season, into the R16. 
Promotion to Serie B being the bigger goal.

coochiee

Tie goes to ET, with Padova winning 3-2.
2-2 at the end of NT.

Kirwan on at 61 mins, with Padova losing 1-2 at that stage.
https://www.padovacalcio.it/match/coppaitalia-seriec-padova-vs-feralpisalo/

Padova who won the Serie C Coppa Italia last season, into the R16. 
Promotion to Serie B being the bigger goal.

Slight correction in that Padova lost in the final last season...but yes, winning the Cup only gives you a spot in the play offs and access to the first round of the Coppa Italia proper for the following season...so not really worthy.
What they need is to get that elusive first spot on the ladder...so automatic promotion. 

Serie C starts. Padova host Trento Calcio

Kirwan on in the 83rd min (2-0) in a 3-0 win

Padova travel to Caldiero Terme

Subbed off at 75min (1-0), in a 2-0 win at Caldiero Terme.
2 games, 2 wins, 5 goals for and 0 against. 
Good start for Padova 

Comes on at 66min(3-0) in a 4-1 away win at Arzignano.
Good start for Padova who are top of the table and on 9 points after 3 games along with Reno's old club Renate. 
Next week they host Alcione Milano aka Milan's "third club" who are having a bit of a renaissance recently. 

Padova host Alcione. Padova 3 wins from 3 games so far.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/09/14/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/alcione/4427587/

Rides the pine in a 1-0 win. Early times but Padova are 4 for 4. 12 points and top of the table along with Renate.
If history taught us anything, it's that coming second often won't be enough to gain promotion to Serie B, given how gruelling the play offs are. So hopefully they can keep Renate at bay.

Padova (1st) travel to Pro Vercelli (7th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/09/20/italy/serie-c1/us-pro-vercelli-calcio/biancoscudati-padova/4427599/

Niko starts 

3-1 win. Padova 5 from 5
But so are Renate. Padova always seem to have one strong rival for promotion in their Girone

Kirwan off at 56 mins (1-1)

Padova (1st) host the Montagues & Capulets of Virtus Verona (15th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/09/24/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/usd-virtusvecomp-verona/4427609/

4-1 win Padova. Kirwan an unused sub

A come from behind win looks like and an important one as Renate lost, so Padova are +3 on them and +4 on LR Vicenza. Early times but good signs for sure.

Next up Pro Patria (18th and winless in 5) away.

Promising signs for Padova, that maybe at last they can get that automatic promotion spot to Serie B.

Looks like Kirwan is basically rotating starts with another RB Capelli.

Chance of a callup (likely small) for AWs next month, with so many of the RB options being ALM players, and the A League kicking off very close to the October window games. Only him, Wilkins (more of a LB) & Tuiloma (more of a CB) based outside the A League.

Padova (1st) travel to Pro Patria (18th)

Padova lose their perfect record with a 1-1 draw. Kirwan off at 60 mins with Padova a goal down.

Renate lose again to go 3rd. Vicenza with 4 consecutive wins are now 2nd (2 pts behind Padova)

Big clash. Padova (1st) host Vicenza (2nd). 

Interesting little comment from Niche Cache this week, that doesn't think Kirwan is the same since his ACL recovery. Certainly he is in & out of the Padova starting lineup.

coochiee

Big clash. Padova (1st) host Vicenza (2nd). 

Interesting little comment from Niche Cache this week, that doesn't think Kirwan is the same since his ACL recovery. Certainly he is in & out of the Padova starting lineup.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/10/06/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/vicenza-calcio/4427629/

Sad if that is the case. He was arguably the starting RB or a definite squad member before then.

And Padova win the derby 1-0 and allow Renate to overtake Vicenza for second place.
Currently Padova 22, Renate 18, Vicenza 17.
Kirwan on at 78min (1-0).
Next up Giana Erminio (10th).

Regarding whether or not he's the same as before his ACL, my question would be...is anyone? If I'm not mistaken he's the captain this season and is still featuring most weeks. He's playing less than in the past but that might also be part of injury management.

Padova (1st) travel to Giana Ermino (12th)

Comes on at 72min (1-0) in a 1-0 win.
Renate lost so Padova are +7 on them and +8 on Vicenza (3rd) though they are still to play

Kirwan an unused sub, as Padova (1st) draw 0-0 with FeralpiSalo (7th)

Unbeaten Padova (1st) travel to AlbinoLeffe (12th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/10/27/italy/serie-c1/uc-albinoleffe/biancoscudati-padova/4427652/

A late Bortolussi brace (86 & 89in) gives Padova a 2-0 win and keeps them 5 points above Vicenza (2nd).
Full game Niko.

Padova (1st) host Renate (6th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/10/30/italy/serie-c1/biancoscudati-padova/ac-renate/4427668/

A late goal (78min) gives Padova an important win.
Vicenza (2nd) drew and Alcione (3rd) lost, so Padova are +7 and +10 points respectively. 
Sadly, Niko didn't get off the bench.

Padova (1st) travel to Pergolettese (16th)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/11/03/italy/serie-c1/as-pizzighettone/biancoscudati-padova/4427678/

Padova keep chugging along with a 2-1 win. Could this be the season they grab top spot and automatic promotion. Still unbeaten (11W & 2D) and 10 pts ahead of Vicenza in 2nd, though Vicenza a game in hand.

Kirwan on at 73 mins (2-0)

Unlucky not to get an assist, his perfect cross found a team mate whose shot was saved on the line (highlights available on YT).
Padova went into this game with the best start ever in their history (10 wins, 2 draws), having conceded only 4 goals.
The one they conceded today was the first in 606 minutes of football.
Great start and may that long continue.

Padova (1st) host Novara (8th)

dp