John Fitzgerald certainly got a kick out of this.

The head coach of the NPSL’s American Soccer Club was recently awarded the Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award by his peers through the United Soccer Coaches organization.

“It was a nice, pleasant surprise that I didn’t know was coming,” Fitzgerald, a leader in Long Island youth soccer development, told The Post.

Fitzgerald believes his over 35-year career is being defined at the helm of the Nassau County-based ASC Fighting Tomcats and soccer education, as he reflected on the relationships that have “transcended” the pitch into life.

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“One of the things I teach is that you’re making an impact on your players right now, even if they’re

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