Niko Kirwan
Personal information
Full name Niko Mario Patrick Kirwan
Date of birth (1995-09-04) 4 September 1995
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Padova
Number 26
Youth career
Auckland City
Waitakere United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Team Wellington 18 (1)
2017–2018 Mestre 21 (0)
2018–2019 Reggina 35 (1)
2019–2021 Reggiana 50 (0)
2021– Padova 37 (4)
International career‡
2021– New Zealand 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 August 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:05, 31 March 2022 (UTC)

Niko Mario Patrick Kirwan (born 4 September 1995) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie C Group A club Padova and the New Zealand national team.

Club career

Team Wellington

Kirwan signed to play for Team Wellington in the New Zealand Football Championship for the 2016–2017 season.[1]

Mestre

On the 28 July 2017, Kirwan signed a one-year deal with Mestre who play in the Italian Serie C.[2]

Reggina

On 8 July 2018, Kirwan signed a one-year deal with an option for another two with Reggina who play in the Italian Serie C.[3]

Reggiana

On 16 August 2019, he signed a 2-year contract with Reggiana.[4]

Padova

Kirwan signed with Serie C side Padova in 2021.[5]

International career

On the 15 March 2018, Kirwan was called up for the New Zealand national football team as part of its 24-man squad for their friendly against Canada.[6]

He made his international debut with New Zealand in a 2–1 friendly win over Curaçao on 9 October 2021.[7] He scored his first international goal three days later, a late winner against Bahrain.[8]

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 October 2021Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Bahrain1–01–0Friendly

Personal life

Kirwan is the son of New Zealand All Black Sir John Kirwan.[2] He lived in Italy for 10 years which is where he got his love of football from and learnt Italian.[2] He is of Italian descent through his mother Fiorella.[9] He also holds Italian citizenship.[10]

Honours

Club

Team Wellington

References

  1. ↑ "All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan's son Niko set for shock All Whites call-up - report". Stuff.co.nz. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Football: Bumpy road to professional football for Niko Kirwan". NZ Herald. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Reggina, Niko Kirwan è un nuovo calciatore amaranto". Ottoetrenta. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "NIKO KIRWAN È UN GIOCATORE DELLA REGGIO AUDACE F.C." (Press release) (in Italian). Reggiana. 16 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Niko Kirwan è un giocatore del Calcio Padova" [Niko Kirwan is a Calcio Padova player]. Padova Calcio. 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "John Kirwan's son Niko named in All Whites squad for Canada friendly in Spain". Newshub. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Football: Gutsy All Whites grind out impressive victory over Curacao on international return". Newshub. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  8. ↑ Voerman, Andrew (13 October 2021). "It's unreal: Niko Kirwan pops up late to score winning goal as All Whites beat Bahrain". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Kiwi footballer Niko Kirwan signs first professional deal with Italian third division side". Stuff. 28 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Sport, Sky. "Il figlio di John Kirwan in prova al Mestre" (in Italian). Retrieved 24 March 2018.


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