YOUV'E PROBALLY read that headline and thought that can't be real, the writer is taking the mickey out of me, well you'd be wrong, that name Cristiano Fitzgerald is real and he plays for Ireland.
A Portuguse website called Mais Futbol deemed Fitzgerald, The Good Looking Irishman'. It's fair to say he's an outlier when it comes to being essentaily Irish.
The 17-year-old is one of many young players that have started to show the diverse representation of Ireland, when it comes to football. Normally our reach never really went past England, but Fitzgerald's story blows that concept out of the water.
His father is a Limerick man called Jimmy Fitzgerald, who left Ireland to emigrate to Singapore in the late 1990s. Fitzgerald senior met his wife, Joyce, a French national soon after.
Speaking to Portuguese outlet Mais Futbol (h/t Emerald Exiles on Twitter), Cristiano reveled details of his father choosing his name like his namesake.
Fitzgerald played club football in Singapore and felt that to go further with his career, he would need to move, Europe was his first choice.
"My family started to realise that for me to achieve my dreams, and to be a professional footballer, I would have to move to Europe," he said.
"We chose Porto because we had been on vacation in the city and we were delighted. We loved the place and the people. It's the perfect place to live."
A regular at Boavista in Portugal, Cristiano Fitzgerald spent time playing with their Under 17s but is now a feature for the Under 19s team.
Cristiano Fitzgerald
The 17 year old has been called up to Ireland’s U-19 squad
He plays for Portuguese side Boavista
What a name 🇮🇪🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/f3xjZY6vFg— IP🇮🇪⚽️ (@IrishPropaganda) August 28, 2021
Since he's moved to the Mediterranean country, Fitzgerald says he speaks a little Portuguese. It won't stop his hopes of progressing through the Boavista ranks.
"I'm at an incredible club, the stadium is beautiful and the fans are passionate. Good thing my parents chose Porto," he said.
"Here I have the beach most of the year, the weather is great. In Ireland and Singapore it is not like that."
Fitzgerald on his time in Portugal
Even though he's moved to Portugal to play for Bovista, he isn't content until he's reached the senior team.
"I'm at an incredible club, the stadium is beautiful and the fans are passionate. Good thing my parents chose Porto," he said.
"Here I have the beach most of the year, the weather is great. In Ireland and Singapore it is not like that."
He tells the publication Mais Futebol in Portugal that a morning in school is followed by lunchtime training. The rest of the day is spent working on ball work, video analysis, and gym work.
Both brothers are also at Bovista with brother Julian playing for Boavista U15s and other brother Dean U17s for Leça in the city.
CONFIRMED | Tom Mohan names Ireland MU19 squad for friendlies against Sweden 🇮🇪🇸🇪
9️⃣ players in line for first international caps with Ireland 💚
Full details 👉 https://t.co/asZm6encpJ#IRLU19 | #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/fmlDDpFEL1— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 4, 2021
Why did he choose Ireland
Why represent Ireland? Despite residency rules leaving him eligible to play for France, Singapore or Portugal, he said his heart lies with his father's country.
Even though he could play for France, Singapore or Portugal and football's residence rules states that he could play for any of those, he states he only has eyes for Ireland.
He was brought in by Ireland Under-19 head coach Tom Mohan in May for a training camp at Loughborough University in May, where the attacking midfielder/left-winger lined out against Nottingham Forest’s Under-23s.
He feels, according to his dad, who was once a promising hurler who played at underage level for Limerick, both French and Irish in equal measure.
"I have Ireland in my heart. My father is from there, he was a good player of hurling, a traditional Gaelic sport, and every summer I go to my grandparents' farm in Limerick, where I'm with my cousins."
Fitzgerald wants to represent the Republic of Ireland on the biggest stage of them all.
"The atmosphere (at the Aviva) is fabulous. The goal of all Irish footballers is to one day be able to play at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. "
Fitzgerald says his two favourite players, Callum Robinson and Gavin Bazunu, will cause Portugal problems on Thursday. But has he met the visitors' biggest star yet?
"I never spoke to (Cristiano Ronaldo) but I have a shirt signed by him. My father got it through a friend. It says: 'From Cristiano to Cristiano, I wish you all the best'."
"I'm extreme, I use the right foot and I love it. Of course, I dream of being like him one day. I was only sad when he scored two goals against my Ireland, even though the game was over."
