Goran Pandev


Goran Pandev is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian club Genoa. He is the captain of the North Macedonia national football team, and is the country's all-time top scorer with 34 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 Coppa Italia and the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League as part of a treble for the club.

Club career

Early career

Pandev was born in Strumica, SR Macedonia, then still part of SFR Yugoslavia, and began his football career with FK Belasica, the club with which he progressed through the youth academy. He only spent one season in the local Prva Liga, however, before being signed by Serie A giants Internazionale in the summer of 2001 when he was just 18 years old.
Inter loaned Pandev to feeder club Spezia in July 2002, where he was a regular in Serie C1. 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, 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.
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.

Contract dispute with Lazio

In the summer of 2009, a dispute between Pandev and Lazio chairman Claudio Lotito erupted, resulting in a legal battle between Pandev and his club. The ruling was announced on 23 December 2009.
The dispute started with Pandev indicating his desire to leave Lazio during the summer of 2009. Chairman 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 chairman Lotito rejected the offer, demanding €15 million instead. The deal eventually fell through after both parties failed to come to an agreement on price.
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, 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. He opened his scoring account in his third appearance for the club, pulling a goal back for Inter in an eventual 2–2 draw at Bari. Pandev was the main protagonist in the 2–0 victory over local rivals Milan as he first assisted Diego Milito with an overhead cross and scored a curling freekick to complete the win. He continued with his solid performances throughout the season, being an important player in Inter's winning of the first treble in the history of Italian football. Inter won their 5th consecutive Serie A title by defeating Siena in the final match, and also defeated Roma at Stadio Olimpico to win the Coppa Italia. On 22 May 2010, Inter won the UEFA Champions League in the final against Bayern Munich, with Pandev playing for 79 minutes and becoming the third Macedonian football player in history to ever win this championship.
He begun the new season on 21 August by winning the 2010 Supercoppa Italiana under Rafael Benítez, scoring the temporarily equalizer versus Roma in an eventual 3–1 home win for the first silverware of the season. Six days later, he made an appearance as substitute as Inter lost the 2010 UEFA Super Cup to Atlético Madrid. Later in December 2010, Pandev was part of the team that competed at 2010 FIFA Club World Cup. He made his debut in the competition by playing full-90 minutes in the 3–0 win versus Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the semi-final. On 18 December, in the final against Congo's TP Mazembe, Pandev netted inside 13 minutes to make it his first goal in a major final as Inter won 3–0 to lift the trophy. On 15 March 2011, in the second leg of 2010–11 UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich, Pandev resulted decisive by scoring in the 88th minute following a Samuel Eto'o pass to make it 3–2 for Inter. Inter progressed to the quarter-finals on away goals rule, with Pandev describing his goal as the "most important" of his career. Later on 29 May 2011, in the 2011 Coppa Italia Final match against Palermo, Pandev entered in the second half and provided the assist of Diego Milito goal in the 92nd minute for a 3–1 success. This turned out to be his last appearance for the club as he was removed during the summer transfer window.

Napoli

On 26 August 2011, Pandev joined Napoli on a season-long loan. 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. Pandev then went on to score his third Serie A goal for Napoli in their 6–1 pummeling of Genoa on 21 December.
Following the winter break, Pandev netted his side's opening goal in a 1–3 win in Sicily over Palermo on 8 January 2012.
On 20 May 2012, Pandev won another Coppa Italia, setting up Marek Hamšík's goal in a 2–0 win over Juventus in Rome, meaning that he had been on the tournament's winning side for the past four consecutive years.
On 6 June 2012, Pandev made a permanent switch from Inter to Napoli. 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.
On 28 September 2013, Pandev scored both goals in Napoli's win over Genoa, sending the Neapolitans to the top of the league table.
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.

Galatasaray

On 1 September 2014, Pandev signed a 1+1-year contract with Turkish giants Galatasaray worth €2.4 million a year.

Genoa

Pandev signed a two-year contract with Italian club Genoa in 2015 after failing to get playing time at Galatasaray.

International career

He made his senior debut for Macedonia in a June 2001 FIFA World Cup qualification match away against Turkey and has earned a total of 108 caps, scoring 34 goals. With his two goals against Spain on 12 August 2009, he became the national team's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Gjorgji Hristov.
On 21 March 2019, Pandev earned his 100th cap in a 3–1 home win over Latvia in UEFA Euro 2020 qualification. A year later, he auctioned the shirt he wore in that match for a hospital fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Style of play

Considered to be one of the greatest Macedonian players of all time, 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. 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 or as a false-9.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.21 August 2002Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia5–05–0Friendly
2.20 August 2003Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep, Macedonia2–13–1Friendly
3.18 February 2004Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–01–0Friendly
4.11 June 2004A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia3–04–2Friendly
5.18 August 2004Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–03–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.9 October 2004Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–12–22006 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.4 June 2005Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia1–02–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.4 June 2005Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia2–02–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.8 June 2005Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic1–01–62006 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.11 October 2006Camp d’Esports d’Aixovall, Andorra La Vella, Andorra1–03–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
11.17 October 2007Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia3–03–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
12.20 August 2008Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1–04–1Friendly
13.20 August 2008Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg3–04–1Friendly
14.10 September 2008Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–21–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
15.11 February 2009Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya, Turkey1–01–1Friendly
16.12 August 2009Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–02–3Friendly
17.12 August 2009Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia2–02–3Friendly
18.11 October 2009Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–12–1Friendly
19.11 October 2009Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia2–12–1Friendly
20.14 November 2009Stadion Mladost, Strumica, Macedonia2–03–0Friendly
21.14 November 2009Stadion Mladost, Strumica, Macedonia3–03–0Friendly
22.18 November 2009Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran1–11–1Friendly
23.3 March 2010Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia2–02–1Friendly
24.10 August 2011Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan1–01–0Friendly
25.15 August 2012Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–01–0Friendly
26.6 February 2013Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–03–0Friendly
27.29 May 2016Sportplatz Bad Erlach, Bad Erlach, Austria2–03–1Friendly
28.28 March 2017Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia2–03–0Friendly
29.28 March 2017Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia3–03–0Friendly
30.2 September 2017Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel1–01–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
31.11 November 2017Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia1–02–0Friendly
32.9 September 2018Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia2–02–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
33.13 October 2018Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia3–04–12018–19 UEFA Nations League D
34.9 September 2019Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia1–02–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Personal life

Goran Pandev is married to Nada Pandeva and they have three children, Filipo Pandev, Ana Pandevs and Sofia Pandeva.
In 2019, Pandev received Italian citizenship in Naples.
His younger brother Sashko is also a football player.

Akademija Pandev

In 2010 he founded a football academy in his native Macedonia, named Akademija Pandev. Their senior team now plays in North Macedonia's top tier.

Honours

Club

;Lazio
;Inter
;Napoli