Walter Pandiani
Encyclopedia
Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza (born 27 April 1976) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
as a striker.
Nicknamed El Rifle
, his best assets are his strength and aerial ability, and he spent most of his professional career in Spain
, where he made a name for himself at his first and last clubs - Deportivo de La Coruña
and Osasuna
- appearing for a total of four teams.
, Pandiani started his career with local C.A. Progreso, moving on to Basañez
and C.A. Peñarol
, the latter also in the country's capital, before signing with Deportivo de La Coruña
in 2000. Never an undisputed starter in Galicia, he was one of the team's most important offensive elements, often scoring as a substitute (he netted 13 in the 2003–04 season).
Pandiani, who had a successful loan stint at RCD Mallorca
while still at Depor, moved to Birmingham City
in the Premier League, also on loan, in January 2005, after a series of run-ins with coach Javier Irureta
. He scored a goal on his debut against Southampton
in a 2–1 home win, and went on to score three more in the season, prompting manager Steve Bruce
to sign him on a permanent contract for reported fee of £
3 million.
for £1m.
During his first full season, he netted seven La Liga
goals, while also being instrumental in the Catalan
's UEFA Cup runner-up campaign, as he led the competition's goal charts.
. Scarcely used in his first year, he was instrumental for the Navarre
se in the following campaign, especially after the arrival, in mid-October, of coach José Antonio Camacho
, finishing as the club's topscorer.
Osasuna's first goal of the 2010–11 season
only came in the fourth matchday, and 34-year old Pandiani scored it through a header, as the team came from behind to win it 3–1 against Real Sociedad
, at home. On 30 January 2011, during half-time
of a 1–0 home win against Real Madrid
, he was involved in a verbal spat with Cristiano Ronaldo
, later classifying the Portuguese
's antics as those of one "having a screw loose".
, signing a one-year contract and acting mainly as backup to youth graduate Álvaro Vázquez
. On 22 September 2011, he came from the bench to score the game's only goal at home against Getafe CF
, in stoppage time. On 27 October, in the same predicament, he headed home against Real Betis
in the 75th minute (same venue and result).
for Uruguay
, the first coming on 28 March 2001, in a 2002 FIFA World Cup
qualifier
against Paraguay
, a 0–1 home defeat.
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Deportivo
Mallorca
Espanyol
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
as a striker.
Nicknamed El Rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
, his best assets are his strength and aerial ability, and he spent most of his professional career in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he made a name for himself at his first and last clubs - Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
and Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
- appearing for a total of four teams.
Early years / Deportivo
Born in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Pandiani started his career with local C.A. Progreso, moving on to Basañez
Basañez
Club Atlético Basáñez is a football and boxing club from Montevideo in Uruguay founded in 1920. They currently play in the Second Amateur Division,the third and last tier of the Uruguayan championship....
and C.A. Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, the latter also in the country's capital, before signing with Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in 2000. Never an undisputed starter in Galicia, he was one of the team's most important offensive elements, often scoring as a substitute (he netted 13 in the 2003–04 season).
Pandiani, who had a successful loan stint at RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
while still at Depor, moved to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the Premier League, also on loan, in January 2005, after a series of run-ins with coach Javier Irureta
Javier Irureta
Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano , Irureta for short, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a forward, and a current manager....
. He scored a goal on his debut against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in a 2–1 home win, and went on to score three more in the season, prompting manager Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
to sign him on a permanent contract for reported fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
3 million.
Espanyol
Failing to continue to display his previous form, Pandiani returned to Spain on 13 January 2006, after completing a move to RCD EspanyolRCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
for £1m.
During his first full season, he netted seven La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
goals, while also being instrumental in the Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
's UEFA Cup runner-up campaign, as he led the competition's goal charts.
Osasuna
For 2007–08, Pandiani joined CA OsasunaCA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
. Scarcely used in his first year, he was instrumental for the Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
se in the following campaign, especially after the arrival, in mid-October, of coach José Antonio Camacho
José Antonio Camacho
José Antonio Camacho Alfaro is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left defender, and the current coach of the China PR national football team....
, finishing as the club's topscorer.
Osasuna's first goal of the 2010–11 season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
only came in the fourth matchday, and 34-year old Pandiani scored it through a header, as the team came from behind to win it 3–1 against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, at home. On 30 January 2011, during half-time
Half-time
In some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match...
of a 1–0 home win against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, he was involved in a verbal spat with Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
, later classifying the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's antics as those of one "having a screw loose".
Late career
35-year old Pandiani returned to Espanyol for 2011–122011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
, signing a one-year contract and acting mainly as backup to youth graduate Álvaro Vázquez
Álvaro Vázquez
Álvaro Vázquez García , or simply Álvaro, is a Spanish footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol as a striker.-Club career:Álvaro joined RCD Espanyol's youth system in 2005, aged 14...
. On 22 September 2011, he came from the bench to score the game's only goal at home against Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
, in stoppage time. On 27 October, in the same predicament, he headed home against Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in the 75th minute (same venue and result).
International career
Despite his relatively successful career in Spain, Pandiani only received four capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
, the first coming on 28 March 2001, in a 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
qualifier
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the South American zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
, a 0–1 home defeat.
International
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Honours
Peñarol- Uruguayan League: 1999
Deportivo
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2001–02 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 20022002 Supercopa de EspañaThe 2002 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 18 August and 25 August 2002. It contested by RCD de la Coruña, who were Spanish Cup winners in 2001–02, and Valencia CF, who won the 2001–02 Spanish League.-First leg:-Second leg:...
Mallorca
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2002–03
Espanyol
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2005–06 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006–07