Goran Pandev

Goran Pandev

Pandev with Internazionale in 2010
Personal information
Full nameGoran Pandev
Date of birth27 July 1983[1]
Place of birthStrumica, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
(now Republic of Macedonia)
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Galatasaray
Number19
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2001Belasica18(6)
2001–2004Internazionale0(0)
2002–2003→ Spezia Calcio (loan)22(4)
2003–2004→ Ancona (loan)20(1)
2004–2009Lazio159(48)
2009–2011Internazionale47(5)
2011–2012→ Napoli (loan)30(6)
2012–2014Napoli62(13)
2014–Galatasaray3(0)
National team
2001–2013Macedonia75(26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Goran Pandev (Macedonian: Горан Пандев [ˈɡɔran ˈpandɛf]; born 27 July 1983) is a Macedonian footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray.[2] He was a key player for the Macedonian national team, being the country's all-time top scorer with 26 goals.

After establishing himself at Lazio, Pandev moved to Inter Milan in early 2010. While playing for the Nerazzurri, Pandev collected a host of honours including winning the 2009–10 Serie A, the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Pandev began his football career with FK Belasica, the club with which he progressed through the youth academy.[3] He only spent one season in the local Prva Liga, however, before being signed by Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan in the summer of 2001 when he was just 18 years old.[3]

Inter loaned Pandev to Spezia, where he was a regular in Serie C1.[4] The following year, he was again sent on loan, this time to newly promoted Serie A club Ancona. During his time at Ancona, the team had the worst season of any club in Serie A history.

Lazio

In January 2004, Serbian player Dejan Stanković was signed by Inter from Lazio and Pandev was sent to the capital in exchange on a co-ownership deal, for a nominal fee of €500,[5] but he remained at Ancona until end of 2003–04 season. Pandev impressed in his first year at Lazio, as he made 29 appearances, scoring three goals, which included a memorable effort away to Juventus where he beat Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta before beating Gianluigi Buffon with an angled shot. In July 2005, 50 percent of his player registration rights were transferred to Udinese in exchange for David Pizarro's transfer to the Milanese club.

The following season, Delio Rossi was appointed manager of Lazio and Pandev began to form a deadly strike partnership with Tommaso Rocchi. In June 2006, Lazio bought the remaining 50 percent of his registration rights from Udinese for €4 million.

On 11 January 2009, Pandev scored his first hat-trick in Serie A against Reggina.[6]

On 24 March 2009, Pandev was awarded the Medal for Service to the Country by the then-President Branko Crvenkovski in acknowledgement of his sporting achievements and his contribution to developing and popularizing sport in Macedonia as well as promoting the country abroad.[7]

Contract dispute with Lazio

In the summer of 2009, a dispute between Pandev and Lazio President Claudio Lotito erupted, resulting in a legal battle between Pandev and his club. The ruling was announced on 23 December 2009.[8][9][10]

The dispute started with Pandev indicating his desire to leave Lazio during the summer of 2009. President Lotito, apparently unhappy with Pandev's decision, froze him out of the squad. As a result, Pandev spent the remaining four months training on his own, without making a single appearance for his club. During this period, various clubs had indicated their interest in buying Pandev, most notably Zenit Saint Petersburg, who made an offer of €13 million for the player. Lazio President Lotito rejected the offer, demanding €15 million instead. The deal eventually fell through after both parties failed to come to an agreement on price.[11]

On 26 September, Pandev officially filed for a termination of his contract with Lazio, having been frozen out of the squad and labelled a "rebel" by the club. Pandev argued that by freezing him out of the squad, Lazio had violated the terms of their contract with him. On 23 December 2009, the Lega Nazionale Professionisti ruled in Pandev's favor, ordering Lazio to release Pandev from his contract and pay him €170,000 for emotional distress. Lotito indicated his desire to appeal the decision.

Internazionale

On 4 January 2010, Pandev signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Inter Milan,[12] wearing the number 27 shirt. He made his Inter debut as a starter in the 1–0 away win against Chievo on 6 January. His first two games for the Nerazzurri resulted in him contributing to both winners — setting up Mario Balotelli against Chievo and setting up Walter Samuel to score a last minute winner against Siena. His first goal for Inter arrived against Bari, pulling a goal back for Inter after falling behind by two goals. Three minutes later, he earned a penalty that levelled the score. In the 2–0 victory over local rivals A.C. Milan, he assisted Diego Milito with an overhead cross and scored a curling freekick to complete the win.[13] On 22 May 2010, Inter won the UEFA Champions League in the final against Bayern Munich, with Pandev becoming the third Macedonian football player in history to ever win this championship.

On 16 December 2010, Inter had reached the final of FIFA Club World Cup. Pandev scored his first goal in FIFA Club World Cup and his first goal in a major final. He is also the first ever Macedonian to score and win the FIFA Club World Cup Championship. In the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions league, he scored Inter's third decisive goal against Bayern Munich.

Napoli

On 26 August 2011, Pandev joined Napoli on a season-long loan.[14] On 10 September, Pandev came on as a substitute to make his Napoli debut against Cesena in the 66th minute with the score tied at 1–1. Despite Napoli making it 2–1 in their favour right after the Macedonian striker came on, Pandev missed an open goal in the 85th minute, hitting the crossbar from six yards out after a square pass across the face of goal was played to him; Napoli managed to win the match 3–1.

On 29 November, Pandev came in for an injured Edinson Cavani and started a home game against rivals Juventus. He scored two goals, the first of which was his first for Napoli, and the second a volleyed goal. The two goals put Napoli up 3–1 but Juventus came back to tie the game at 3–3, the final score.[15] Pandev then went on to score his third Serie A goal for Napoli in their 6–1 pummeling of Genoa on 21 December.[16]

Following the winter break, Pandev netted his side's opening goal in a 1–3 win in Sicily over Palermo on 8 January 2012.[17]

On 20 May 2012, Pandev won another Coppa Italia and has been on the winning side in the past four consecutive years.[18]

On 6 June 2012, Pandev made a permanent switch from Inter to Napoli.[19] Later, Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis noted on a radio interview that Pandev had taken a pay cut to join the Neapolitans, with the President noting this as a sign of commitment to the club and fans.[20]

On 28 September 2013, Pandev scored both goals in Napoli's win over Genoa, sending the Neapolitans to the top of the league table.[21]

Pandev came on in place of Gonzalo Higuaín for the last 20 minutes of the 2014 Coppa Italia Final, which Napoli won 3–1 against Fiorentina.[22]

Galatasaray

On 1 September 2014, Pandev signed a two-year contract with Turkish giants Galatasaray.

International career

Pandev won 75 caps[23] for Macedonia, scoring 26 goals. With his two goals against Spain, he became the national team's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Gjorgji Hristov.

Style of play

Pandev is a quick, creative, and hard-working left-footed forward with good technique, who is capable both of creating and scoring goals, due to his opportunism and shooting accuracy, as well as his vision and passing ability.[24][25][26] He is capable of playing in several offensive positions, either on the right or through the centre of the pitch, and he is usually deployed in a supporting role, as a winger, as a second striker, or as an attacking midfielder, although he has also been fielded as a striker.[27][28]

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 April 2015.
Club Season League Cup Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lazio 2004–05 25310—41304
2005–06 351131——3812
2006–07 361133——3914
2007–08 321450—854519
2008–09 31966——3914
Total 159 48 18 10 — 12 6 189 64
Internazionale 2009–10 19320—60273
2010–11 272404271425
2011–12 1000—0010
Total 47 5 6 0 4 2 13 1 70 8
Napoli 2011–12 306510070427
2012–13 336101160417
2013–14 29730—91418
Total 92 19 9 1 1 1 22 1 124 22
Galatasaray 2014–15 30970030157
Total 3 0 9 7 0 0 3 0 15 7
Career Totals 301 72 42 18 5 3 50 8 398 101

International

Date Venue Opponent Score Goals Competition
21 August 2002 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Malta [29] 5–0 5' Friendly
20 August 2003 Prilep, Republic of Macedonia  Albania [30] 3–1 36' Friendly
18 February 2004 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Bosnia and Herzegovina [31] 1–0 22' Friendly
11 June 2004 Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia [32] 4–2 31' Friendly
18 August 2004 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Armenia [33] 3–0 5' 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
9 October 2004 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Netherlands [34] 2–2 45' 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
4 June 2005 Hanrapetakan Stadium, Armenia Armenia Armenia [35] 2–1 29', 46' 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
8 June 2005 Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic  Czech Republic [36] 1–6 14' 2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
11 October 2006 Andorra La Vella, Andorra  Andorra [37] 3–0 13' UEFA Euro 2008 Qual.
17 October 2007 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Andorra Andorra [38] 3–0 59' UEFA Euro 2008 Qual.
27 August 2008 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg  Luxembourg [39] 4–1 6', 45' Friendly
10 September 2008 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Netherlands Netherlands [40] 1–2 77' (pen.) 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual.
11 February 2009 Antalya, Turkey  Moldova [41] 1–1 53' Friendly
12 August 2009 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Spain [42] 2–3 8', 36' Friendly
11 October 2009 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Qatar [43] 2–1 25', 40' Friendly
14 November 2009 Strumica, Republic of Macedonia  Canada 3–0 59', 90' Friendly
18 November 2009 Tehran, Iran  Iran 1–1 48' Friendly
3 March 2010 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Montenegro 2–1 31' Friendly
10 August 2011 Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan 1-0 58' Friendly
15 August 2012 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Lithuania 1–0 54' Friendly
6 February 2013 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia  Denmark 3–0 9' Friendly

Honours

Club

Lazio
Internazionale
Napoli

References

  1. ↑ "Goran Pandev | Profile | News | Stats - Yahoo! Eurosport UK". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 1983-07-27. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Pandes signs for Galatasaray". Sportsmole. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oliver Pickup (2009-05-19). "Goran Pandev profile: 10 things you need to know about the Tottenham target". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  4. ↑ "Hard to forget your first love, Pandev tied to Inter". Macedonia Online. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  5. ↑ FC Internazionale Milano SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2004, PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A. (Italian)
  6. ↑ Guida, Guido (2001-01-11). "Pandev rilancia la Lazio". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 2001-01-11. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ↑ MIA
  8. ↑ Bandini, Paolo (2009-12-23). "Lazio ordered to release Goran Pandev by Italy's Lega Calcio". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  9. ↑ "Pandev applies for contract termination".
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Lazio Star Goran Pandev Nearing Zenit Switch – Report". Goal.com. 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  12. ↑ "Goran Pandev signs until 2014". Inter Milan (www.inter.it). 4 January 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  13. ↑ "Serie A: Inter 2–0 AC Milan". F.C. Internazionale Milano (inter.it). 2010-01-24.
  14. ↑ "Napoli clinch Pandev loan". Sky Sports. 27 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Serie A19:45 +00:00, November 29, 2011San Paolo, Italy (2011-11-29). "Gamecast: Napoli v Juventus - Italian Serie A - ESPN FC". Soccernet.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  16. ↑ "Napoli 6-1 Genoa: Cavani at the double". Goal.com. 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  17. ↑ "Palermo 1-3 Napoli: Resounding win". Goal.com. 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  18. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (2012-05-20). "Goran Pandev: My most beautiful Coppa Italia". MacedonianFootball.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  19. ↑ "Napoli sign Pandev from Inter". Football Italia. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  20. ↑ "Pandev cut pay to join Napoli". Football Italia. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  21. ↑ "Pandev bags brace for Napoli". ESPNFC. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  22. ↑ "Partenopei come out on top in Coppa Italia final". Goal.com. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  23. ↑ Goran Pandev profile at MacedonianFootball.com
  24. ↑ "Pandev – Punta o esterno. Può essere anche il vice-Hamsik e ottima visione di gioco". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Goran Pandev". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Napoli-Parma 3-1, Cavani, Pandev e Insigne: gli azzurri in vetta rispondono a Juventus e Lazio". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "21 January 2015".
  28. ↑ "Genoa-Napoli 0-2, doppietta di Pandev: notte in vetta per Benitez, Liverani rischia". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  29. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (2008-08-22). "Mystery over Pandev's goals". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  30. ↑ "Macedonia 3–1 Albania". ESPN. 2003-08-20. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  31. ↑ "Macedonia 1–0 Bosnia-Herzegovina". ESPN. 2004-02-18. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  32. ↑ "Estonia 2–4 Macedonia". ESPN. 2004-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  33. ↑ "Macedonia 3–0 Armenia". ESPN. 2004-06-18. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  34. ↑ "Macedonia 2–2 Netherlands". ESPN. 2004-10-09. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  35. ↑ "Armenia 1–2 Macedonia". ESPN. 2005-06-04. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  36. ↑ "Czech Republic 6–1 Macedonia". ESPN. 2005-06-08. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  37. ↑ "Macedonians strengthen case". UEFA. 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  38. ↑ "Macedonia 3–0 Andorra". ESPN. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  39. ↑ Igor Panevski (2008-08-27). "Pandev spearheads Macedonian charge". UEFA. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  40. ↑ Jonathan Roorda (2008-09-10). "Quick Report: FYR Macedonia 1–2 Netherlands". Soccerway. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  41. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (2009-02-12). "MDA – MKD match report". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  42. ↑ "Scotland fear Pandev, says Jonuz". BBC Sport. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  43. ↑ Filip Zdraveski (2009-10-11). "MKD – QAT match report". Macedonian Football. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goran Pandev.