Akira Fitzgerald
{{short description|Japanese professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Akira Fitzgerald
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|7|17}}
| birth_place = Chiba, Japan
| height = 1.80 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = North Carolina FC
| clubnumber = 25
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Baltimore Bays
| collegeyears1 = 2007–2010
| college1 = Wake Forest Demon Deacons
| collegecaps1 = 71
| collegegoals1 = 0
| years1 = 2008–2009
| clubs1 = Cary Clarets
| caps1 = 12
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2011–2014
| clubs2 = Carolina RailHawks
| caps2 = 48
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015
| clubs3 = New York City FC
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = → Carolina RailHawks (loan)
| caps4 = 3
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2016
| clubs5 = Carolina RailHawks
| caps5 = 31
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017–2018
| clubs6 = Tampa Bay Rowdies
| caps6 = 13
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019–2023
| clubs7 = Richmond Kickers
| caps7 = 138
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2024–
| clubs8 = North Carolina FC
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2021–2023
| managerclubs1 = Richmond Kickers (goalkeeping)
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = November 13, 2024
| nationalteam-update =
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/6188469.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007002631/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/6188469.html|url-status=dead|title=2008 Cary RailHawks U23's stats|archivedate=October 7, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/roster/6188469.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010220249/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/roster/6188469.html|url-status=dead|title=2009 Cary Clarets stats|archivedate=October 10, 2012}}
=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.{{cite web |url=https://www.nycfc.com/post/2014/12/11/new-york-city-fc-sign-akira-fitzgerald |title=New York City FC sign Akira Fitzgerald |work=nycfc.com |date=December 11, 2014 |accessdate=December 11, 2014}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/news/2015/05/19/akira-fitzgerald-returns-to-carolina-railhawks |title=Akira Fitzgerald Returns to Carolina RailHawks |work=carolinarailhawks.com |date=May 19, 2015 |accessdate=May 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111409/http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/news/2015/05/19/akira-fitzgerald-returns-to-carolina-railhawks |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}
==Second Permanent Stint with Railhawks==
Fitzgerald was waived by New York City on 24 June 2015,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/06/24/new-york-city-fc-place-matt-dunn-akira-fitzgerald-waivers|title=New York City FC Place Matt Dunn, Akira Fitzgerald on Waivers | New York City FC}} going on to re-sign with Carolina RailHawks on 2 July 2015.{{cite web |title=RAILHAWKS RE-SIGN AKIRA FITZGERALD |url=http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/news/2015/07/02/railhawks-re-sign-akira-fitzgerald |website=carolinarailhawks.com |publisher=Carolina RailHawks |accessdate=15 October 2015 |date=2 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816011501/http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/news/2015/07/02/railhawks-re-sign-akira-fitzgerald |archive-date=16 August 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}
==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.{{cite web |title=Kickers Add Akira Fitzgerald for 2019 |url=https://www.richmondkickers.com/news_article/show/992415 |website=RichmondKickers.com |accessdate=6 February 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1057487|title=2019 USL League One Awards Finalists Unveiled|website=uslleagueone.com|date=17 October 2019|access-date=13 December 2020}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1196711|title=League One Goalkeeper of the Year Akira Fitzgerald Re-Signs with Kickers|website=uslleagueone.com|date=2 December 2021|access-date=13 December 2022}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1245254|title=2022 USL League One Awards Finalists Unveiled
|website=uslleagueone.com|date=27 October 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1245085|title=USL League One Announces 2022 All-League Teams|website=uslleagueone.com|date=26 October 2022}}
==North Carolina FC==
On December 20, 2023, USL Championship side North Carolina FC announced the signing of Fitzgerald to a two-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcarolinafc.com/news/2023/12/20/ncfc-signs-keeper-akira-fitzgerald/|title=NCFC signs keeper Akira Fitzgerald|date=20 December 2023}}
Honors
=Individual=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{USL League One player|akira-fitzgerald}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120148/http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/fitzgerald_akira00.html Wake Forest University bio]
{{Richmond Kickers squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Akira}}
Category:Japanese men's footballers
Category:Japanese people of American descent
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Baltimore Blast (2008–2014 MISL) players
Category:North Carolina FC U23 players
Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (2008–2014) players
Category:New York City FC players
Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players
Category:North Carolina FC players
Category:Association football people from Chiba (city)
Category:Richmond Kickers players
Category:Soccer players from Baltimore
Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:USL League One players
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's soccer players
Category:Richmond Kickers coaches
Category:USL League One coaches