Michael Fitzgerald (Albirex Niigata | Japan)

Werder Bremen might be in the mix

Just to wrap up this discussion, Wibblebut is absolutely 100% correct on this, Fitzgerald can represent Japan at A international level if called up.

The confusion around having to have eligibility to represent both countries is a stipulation applicable only in situations where a youth player represents a country in an official game at an age-grade level (e.g. U17/20 World Cup, or qualifying for such tournaments). It does not, however, apply to players who never played such games, but have gone on to represent a country in a friendly A international only. In such instances, the player in question can switch eligibility once he complies with the required FIFA regulations (i.e. 5 years' continuous residence in the new country) even though he didn't have the eligibility to play for the second country at the time he played for the first country in the A international friendly.

And as Wibblebut correctly points out, A international friendlies are not official competition as far as FIFA regulations are concerned, so nothing in FIFA regulations prevents Fitzgerald from playing for Japan if he is selected.

Looking back at team sheets, looks like Fitzgerald was recalled back from loan to V-Varen Nagasaki after their Brazilian DM was suspended.

2nd teir before he went to j1. And 3rd teir before that

Dam should of read all posts before I posted an cant edit on the app. He was injured so that's why had limited playing time in j2

imagine if he lined up against us in March!

It seems those of us who thought that we would lose Michael were right. 

Reading the TV3 article and his non-selection for the Japan game, it sounds like to me that he got so irritated by the way Ricki/NZF went about him that he is now using the Japanese Passport / foreign Visa rule to kiss us all a long good bye.

Really annoyed that he is not now going to be in the AW frame as our defending depth has dropped dramatically in recent years from being our strength.  Even the Nix are relying on Aussies in this department (Durante, Brindell-South, Caira).

Hopefully the new manager, who I hope is not Emblin (I want a completely clean break from the Herbert era), will be able to mend this and other bridges going forward and see him return to the Kiwi fold.

Fitzgerald Says Goodbye to All Whites

It's just one of those unfortunate things that he's playing in a league which limits the number of foreigners in each team (doesn't happen of course in most European leagues) so to have any real chance of playing time, he had to take out Japanese citizenship.

He probably would prefer to be able to play for NZ as well as earn his living in the J-League - but he will never be available to play for NZ again until he gives up his Japanese citizenship and takes back his NZ citizenship .This will only happen if he leaves Japan to play in another country, as the TV3 article you reference mentions:

"A dream move to Europe would allow Fitzgerald to play for New Zealand again, but while he's playing in Japan the sun is set on his All Whites career."

This has all been gone over earlier in this thread.

I don't blame Herbert for not selecting Fitzgerald again as I remember him being pretty awful when he did play for the All Whites in three games in 2011. He had only played one season in the third tier of Japanese football at that stage, after youth football in Japan.

Obviously a much better player now and playing regularly at a good level. Also he was only playing centre-back then in 2011 I think and we had plenty of decent ones well ahead of him (Nelsen, Reid, Smith, Sigmund, Vicelich) so he would rarely have been needed.

Now he's been converted to a defensive midfielder for Niigata and is thriving there (sometimes fills in as a centreback) -and of course would be an asset to the All Whites in that position (Tuiloma and Payne the only decent ones we have currently and they are youth team players in club football mostly).

Fingers crossed Fitzgerald moves to an overseas club before the next World Cup qualifiers start for NZ in 2016.

By the way, we are better off than Australia, who have lost several of their best players to Croatia and Serbia especially after they had their early development in Australia. Moved to Europe to play and then changed allegiance to Serbia or Croatia (e.g. three Australians in the Croatia team at the 2006 World Cup - Josip Šimunić, Joey Didulica, Anthony Šerić; Ivan Ergić of FC Basel and Bursaspor, Turkey who opted to play for Serbia). All received their early football training at the Aussie taxpayers' expense at the Australian Institute of Sport.

A bit harsh BP about him being awful in the 3 games he played for NZ.

If I remember rightly he was fine for the 25mins he played against China, didn't do anything wrong against Australia but got crucified in the Mexican game. In fact to be honest he didn't play any worse than any of the players who played in last year's qualifier game against Mexico, I'd be inclined to say they were even more abysmal. IMO most of the players who played the Mexico game which Fitzgerald played in were pretty poor, but of course he was the new kid on the block and an easy target.

I do find it interesting that he has been able to secure a contract in a very good league, I doubt that this would've been possible if he was never a good player. I know most people will say that's how much he's improved but IMO if you don't have the goods from a young age, it's very rare to go on. Average players around Fitzgerald's age who have played for NZ at some stage or another and who haven't pushed on prove this eg:Kris Bright, Kayne Vincent (played at age groups), Cole Peverley - all of these lads have played professionally but their careers seem to be stagnating. I think Fitzgerald, Boxall and Reid are the only players from their age-group who have professional contracts at the mo, so that must say something about his talents. He probably did not suit RH's style and this was more evident when NZ played good quality opposition.

As you said this is all old hat, he's moved on. Personally I think we've got enough good players and don't need him. 

If he leaves Japan, it will be interesting to see if he makes himself available for NZ.

+1

Two separate reviews on the J-League. Interesting as both make a mention of Fitzgerald for Niigata so I guess he must have had a fairly good season when he returned to his J-League club.

http://www.japanfooty.com/j-league-2013-season-review

http://www.oneworldsports.com/stories/previewing-top-team-pro-teams-japan

was back and put in a good shift today in a 1-0 win playing 90 minutes

90 min and yellow card in goless draw (Albirex Niigata - Yokohama Marinos).

Played 90 mins in a 2-1 win over top of the table Kashima Antlers. Think that puts his team in 5th spot.

I imagine the benefits of being on a Japanese passport in terms of his career far outweigh the prospect of the ocassional island nations cup game.

Another clean sheet today In a 0-0 draw

Another 90 in a 2-1 away win, conceeding in the 89th minute

Reading a Japanese soccer magazine, Fitzgerald is constantly one if the highest ranked players in the team.

I see he played another full 90 against Kobe and his team drew 1-1. Looks to be a very tight competition, his team is 7th but only 4 points off the top spot.

Was also in team of month in April aswell

Given our CB issues for the SA game, doesn't it just do your head in to see him unavailable.  Is it possible that in 12-24 months he would be our second best CB (behind Winston)?

http://www.japanfooty.com/team-of-the-month-april-2014‎

I see they drop his surname and he's on the field list as "James" but the description about each player has his full name "Michael James Fitzgerald" - what's with that?

Also got a mention in Oi  Kentaro's write-up in March. Sounds like they play well together.

Played another 90 in a 2-1 win getting a yellow in the process

I see Wynton has been over to visit him at his J League club - interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/Wynrs

pay him marquee wages at the phoenix, give him a new NZ passport and get on with the future

there is rumors saying other jleague clubs are looking to sign him aswell

wonder if he could get someone to sign him as a international player.