Jamshedpur FC made a stellar move to sign proven Australian player Nicholas John Fitzgerald, fondly known as Nick, for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21. With this signing Jamshedpur FC fulfiled the league’s criteria for an AFC Asian player among its foreigners.
The 28-year-old is a winger is the club’s seventh foreign signing for the season. Other foreign signing for the club are Golden Boot Winner Nerijus Valskis, defender Peter Hartley, Stephen Eze and midfielder Alexandre Monteiro de Lima.
Nick comes with a trophy-laden career having won the A-League twice, first in 2011-12 with Brisbane Roar and again in 2012-13 with Central Coast Mariners. He has also won the FFA Cup with Melbourne City in 2016.
Upon signing the dotted line, Nick was pumped to play for the club as he said, “I am really glad to start this new adventure with Jamshedpur FC. I promise to give my best to the club and play my heart out for the fans. I am looking forward to play under the tutelage of a coach like Owen Coyle’s calibre, something every player dreams of. We will give our best shot to get the team to win the ISL trophy.”
The Aussie has tallied a total of 218 appearance and 23 goals in 10 years across all competitions in Australia. He began his career as a U21 player for Central Coast Mariners in 2010 where he also made his senior team debut.
Later on, he broke into the senior team of A-League club Brisbane Roar in 2011 and went on to represent A-League clubs like Central Coast Mariners again, Melbourne City, Western Sydney and Newcastle United Jets. The winger has also played in the coveted AFC Champions League during his time in Australia.
Head Coach, Owen Coyle, was ecstatic to add the Aussie winger to the Jamshedpur FC roster as he said, “Fitzgerald adds a new dimension to our attack with his versatility. He is a quality player and has a proven track record in Australia’s A-League. He can make quality runs down the flank and be a great provider to the strike force. We are confident about his attacking prowess and abilities and I am really looking forward to work with him.“
Nick will don jersey number 22 in the ISL 2020-21 and is expected to join the squad in Goa imminently.