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Michael Fitzgerald (footballer)

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For other people named Michael Fitzgerald, see Michael Fitzgerald (disambiguation).

Michael Fitzgerald
舞行龍 ジェームズ
Personal information
Full name Michael James Fitzgerald
Date of birth (1988-09-17) 17 September 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Tokoroa, Waikato, New Zealand
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Albirex Niigata
Number 5
Youth career
2005–2007 Seiritsu Gakuen High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2016 Albirex Niigata 99 (1)
2009 → Japan Soccer College (loan) 11 (0)
2010–2011 → Zweigen Kanazawa (loan) 45 (2)
2012–2013 → V-Varen Nagasaki (loan) 32 (4)
2017–2019 Kawasaki Frontale 3 (0)
2019– Albirex Niigata 141 (3)
International career‡
2011 New Zealand 3 (0)
Medal record
Kawasaki Frontale
Winner J1 League 2017
Winner J1 League 2018
Runner-up J.League Cup 2017
Albirex Niigata
Winner J2 League 2022
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 September 2023, 17:29 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2011, 16:22 (UTC)

Michael James Fitzgerald (フィッツジェラルド 舞行龍 ジェームズ, Fittsujerarudo Maikeru Jēmuzu, born 17 September 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Albirex Niigata. He has spent his entire professional club career in Japan, predominantly playing for Albirex Niigata.

Born in New Zealand, Fitzgerald became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2013. He debuted for the New Zealand national football team in 2011 and earned 3 caps.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Fitzgerald received his secondary education at St Peter's College, Auckland (1999–2005). He is the brother of Isaac Fitzgerald.[4]

Fitzgerald's application for Japanese citizenship was approved in May 2013. This means he can no longer play for the All Whites.[5] His former name is Fitzgerald Michael James (フィッツジェラルド・マイケル・ジェームズ).[6]

Club career

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Youth career

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Fitzgerald went through the football academy at St Peter's College, in Auckland, New Zealand before moving to Japan.[7] In 2005, Fitzgerald began his career at Seiritsu Gakuen High School with the youth team until he graduated in 2007.

Senior career

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In 2008, after he had graduated from high school, Fitzgerald began his career in the J1 League, with J1 club, Albirex Niigata as part of the first team. After 2009, he transferred to JSC Niigata, Zweigen Kanazawa and V-Varen Nagasaki on loan until 2013. He made his debut for Nagasaki on 31 March 2013, coming on in the 88th minute for Shoma Mizunaga as they won 3-1.[8]

He returned to Albirex Niigata in 2016.

In 2017, Fitzgerald transferred to Kawasaki Frontale until 2019. However, he was only able to play 3 matches in the J1 league.

In 2019, he returned to his former club, Albirex Niigata. On 23 October 2022, he helped bring his club promotion to the J1 League during the 2023 season. Albirex were crowned champions of the J2 League in 2022. On 27 December 2023, Fitzgerald's contract was extended for the 2024 season.[9]

International career

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Fitzgerald made his international New Zealand debut in a 1–1 draw with China on 25 March 2011.[10] He later made two more appearances for New Zealand in friendly matches including a 3–0 loss to Mexico and another 3–0 loss to Australia.[11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of the 2 September 2023.[12][13][14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Division Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Albirex Niigata J1 League 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Japan Soccer College JRL (Hokushinetsu) 2009 11 0 0 0 — — 11 0
Zweigen Kanazawa JFL 2010 20 1 0 0 — — 20 1
2011 25 1 1 0 — — 26 1
V-Varen Nagasaki 2012 31 4 1 0 — — 32 4
J2 League 2013 1 0 — — — 1 0
Albirex Niigata J1 League 2013 14 0 1 0 — — 15 0
2014 29 0 2 0 6 0 — 37 0
2015 29 0 0 0 8 1 — 37 1
2016 22 1 2 0 1 0 — 25 1
Kawasaki Frontale 2017 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2018 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 5 0
2019 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Albirex Niigata J2 League 2019 15 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2020 38 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 1
2021 36 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 37 0
2022 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 1
J1 League 2023 15 1 2 0 3 0 0 0 20 1
Career total 316 10 13 0 20 1 5 0 354 11

International

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National team Year Apps Goals
New Zealand
2011 3 0
Total 3 0

Honours

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Club

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Kawasaki Frontale

V-Varen Nagasaki

Albirex Niigata

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ Fitzgerald Michael James at Football-Line-ups.com
  2. ^ "Three new caps in All Whites squad". Television New Zealand. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ^ マイケル ジェームズ選手　Ｖ・ファーレン長崎に期限付き移籍のお知らせ
  4. ^ St Peter's College Old Boys Newsletter, Issue No. 1 2011, p. 3. Archived 23 February 2013 at archive.today (Retrieved 22 May 2013)
  5. ^ "Michael Fitzgerald says goodbye to All Whites". Newshub.co.nz. Newshub. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. ^ "マイケル ジェームズ選手 日本国籍取得申請の認可について". アルビレックス新潟. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  7. ^ Manager
  8. ^ "V Varen Nagasaki vs Gainare Tottori - 31 March 2013". au.soccerway.com.
  9. ^ "舞行龍 ジェームズ 選手 契約更新のお知らせ". www.albirex.co.jp (in Japanese).
  10. ^ Martin, Sean (26 March 2011). "All Whites draw with China in friendly". The Sunday Star-Times. NZPA. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Michael Fitzgerald says goodbye to All Whites". NewsHub.co.nz. 17 December 2013.
  12. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 12 out of 289)
  13. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 29 out of 289)
  14. ^ "M. Fitzgerald – Soccerway". 23 February 2018.
  15. ^ "第14回日本フットボールリーグ表彰式受賞者". Japan Football League Official Website. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
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