Michael Fitzgerald (footballer)
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael James Fitzgerald | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 17 September 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tokoroa, Waikato, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | 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 | 190 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | New Zealand | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals 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 New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and currently play for J1 League club Albirex Niigata.[1][2][3]
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
Youth career
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
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
Personal life
Fitzgerald became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2013.
Career statistics
Club
| Season | Club | Division | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2008 | Albirex Niigata | J.League Div 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | Japan Soccer College | Hokushinetsu | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | Zweigen Kanazawa | JFL | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2011 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||||
| 2012 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 4 | |||
| 2013 | J.League Div 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | Albirex Niigata | J.League Div 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | J1 League | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | Kawasaki Frontale | 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 | ||
| 2019 | Albirex Niigata | J2 League | 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 | ||
| 2023 | J1 League | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 341 | 11 | 16 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 386 | 12 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | |||
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 |