Akira Fitzgerald

Akira Fitzgerald
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-07-17) July 17, 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Chiba, Japan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 North Carolina FC
Number 25
Youth career
Baltimore Bays
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 71 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Cary Clarets 12 (0)
2011–2014 Carolina RailHawks 48 (0)
2015 New York City FC 0 (0)
2015 → Carolina RailHawks (loan) 3 (0)
2015–2016 Carolina RailHawks 31 (0)
2017–2018 Tampa Bay Rowdies 13 (0)
2019–2023 Richmond Kickers 138 (0)
2024– North Carolina FC 0 (0)
Managerial career
2021–2023 Richmond Kickers (goalkeeping)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 24, 2024

Akira Fitzgerald (Japanese: フィッツジェラルド・アキラ Fittsujerarudo Akira) (born July 17, 1987) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for USL Championship club North Carolina FC as a goalkeeper.

Career

College and amateur

After redshirting his freshman year at Wake Forest, Fitzgerald made four appearances in 2007 and posted a 1–0–1 record. In 2008, Fitzgerald started every game for the Demon Deacons and finished with 13 clean sheets on the season and was named to ACC Honor Roll. Fitzgerald had another solid year in 2009 as he posted a 17–4–3 record in his junior season and was named to ACC Honor Roll for the second year in a row. Despite a rough senior season in 2010 with an 8–9–2 record, Fitzgerald still finished with a 1.23 goals against average, an ACC-best 81 saves, was named Second Team All-ACC and was one of 30 candidates for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for men's soccer.

During his time in college, Fitzgerald also spent two season with USL Premier Development League club Cary Clarets.[1][2]

Professional

Carolina Railhawks

Fitzgerald joined North American Soccer League club Carolina RailHawks in July 2011.

New York City FC and Loan to Railhawks

After four seasons with the club, his contract ended and he was signed on a free transfer by expansion club New York City FC ahead of the 2014 season.[3]

However, Akira never made an appearance for NYFC, and on May 19, 2015, it was announced Fitzgerald would be re-joining the RailHawks on loan through the NASL's spring season.[4]

Second Permanent Stint with Railhawks

Fitzgerald was waived by New York City on 24 June 2015,[5] going on to re-sign with Carolina RailHawks on 2 July 2015.[6]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Fitzgerald joined USL side Tampa Bay Rowdies ahead of their inaugural 2017 season in the league, where he would make 13 appearances between 2017 and 2018.

Richmond Kickers

Fitzgerald joined the Richmond Kickers on 6 February 2019, ahead of the inaugural USL League One season.[7] He has served as the club's primary goalkeeper over subsequent seasons, making 116 appearances through 2022.

Akira received a nomination for USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019 after ranking second in the league with 9 clean sheets.[8]

Akira was named USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year and given All-League First Team honors in 2021, leading the league with 10 clean sheets, 89 saves and a 72.1% save percentage. Following the season, he re-signed for two years to remain in Richmond through 2023.[9]

In 2022, he led the league in saves, had six clean sheets and was nominated for USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year, and given USL League One All-League Second Team honors.[10][11]

North Carolina FC

On December 20, 2023, USL Championship side North Carolina FC announced the signing of Fitzgerald to a two-year contract.[12]

Honors

Individual

  • USL League One All-League First Team: 2021
  • USL League One All-League Second Team: 2022
  • USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year: 2021
  • USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year nominee: 2019, 2022

References

  1. ^ "2008 Cary RailHawks U23's stats". Archived from the original on October 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "2009 Cary Clarets stats". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  3. ^ "New York City FC sign Akira Fitzgerald". nycfc.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "Akira Fitzgerald Returns to Carolina RailHawks". carolinarailhawks.com. May 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "New York City FC Place Matt Dunn, Akira Fitzgerald on Waivers | New York City FC".
  6. ^ "RAILHAWKS RE-SIGN AKIRA FITZGERALD". carolinarailhawks.com. Carolina RailHawks. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Kickers Add Akira Fitzgerald for 2019". RichmondKickers.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  8. ^ "2019 USL League One Awards Finalists Unveiled". uslleagueone.com. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. ^ "League One Goalkeeper of the Year Akira Fitzgerald Re-Signs with Kickers". uslleagueone.com. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 USL League One Awards Finalists Unveiled". uslleagueone.com. 27 October 2022.
  11. ^ "USL League One Announces 2022 All-League Teams". uslleagueone.com. 26 October 2022.
  12. ^ "NCFC signs keeper Akira Fitzgerald". 20 December 2023.