Walter Pandiani

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pandianiand the second or maternal family name is Urquiza.

Walter Pandiani

Pandiani in August 2016
Personal information
Full name	Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza [1]
Date of birth	(1976-04-27) 27 April 1976 (age 48) [1]
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay [1]
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Miramar Misiones (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1997	Progreso	22	(12)
1997–1998	Basáñez	0	(0)
1998–2000	Peñarol	71	(29)
2000–2005	Deportivo La Coruña	86	(31)
2002–2003	→ Mallorca (loan)	33	(13)
2005	→ Birmingham City (loan)	14	(4)
2005–2006	Birmingham City	17	(2)
2006–2007	Espanyol	52	(8)
2007–2011	Osasuna	92	(27)
2011–2012	Espanyol	16	(3)
2012–2013	Villarreal	17	(2)
2013	Atlético Baleares	9	(1)
2013–2014	Miramar Misiones	19	(5)
2015–2016	Lausanne-Sport	15	(1)
Total		463	(138)
International career
2001–2004	Uruguay	4	(0)
Managerial career
2014–2015	Masnou (youth)
2016	Masnou
2016–2017	Europa (youth)
2017–2018	Hospitalet (youth)
2019	Lorca
2020–2021	Dibba Al-Hisn
2021–2022	Cerro
2022	Cerrito
2023	Albion
2024–	Miramar Misiones
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza (born 27 April 1976) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the current manager of Miramar Misiones.

His performances for Peñarol earned him a move to Deportivo in Spain, where he remained for the vast majority of his career, also representing Mallorca, Espanyol (twice) and Osasuna. He also spent a year with Birmingham City in England.

Over 12 seasons, Pandiani amassed La Liga totals of 279 games and 82 goals.

Playing career

Early years and Deportivo

Born in Montevideo, Pandiani started his career with hometown club Progreso, moving on to Basáñez and Peñarol, the latter also in the country's capital. In December 1999 he agreed terms to join Deportivo La Coruña as a replacement for his compatriot Sergio Martínez, ^[2] and the move was officially completed the following January when he signed a five-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, still remaining with Peñarol until the end of the season. ^[3]

Pandiani made his debut for the Spaniards on 27 August 2000, coming from the bench for Diego Tristán in a 2–0 win over Espanyol at Estadio Riazor in the Supercopa de España return match. ^{[4] [5]} Despite never being an undisputed starter for the Galician team he was one of their most important attacking elements, often scoring as a substitute, netting 13 goals during the 2003–04 season. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Pandiani, who had a successful loan stint at Mallorca while still at Depor, ^[9] moved to Birmingham City in the Premier League, also on loan, in January 2005, after a series of run-ins with coach Javier Irureta. ^{[10] [11] [12]} He scored a goal on his debut against Southampton in a 2–1 home win, ^[13] and went on to score three more in the season, prompting manager Steve Bruce to sign him on a permanent contract for a reported fee of £3 million. ^[14]

During his time at Deportivo, Pandiani bought a big red truck which he drove to training, a type of vehicle that he is a fan of, which he kept while at Deportivo, Espanyol and Osasuna. He personalised it with his nickname "El Rifle", a Uruguayan flag, and the emblems of his club and Uruguayan club Peñarol. ^[15]

Espanyol

Having failed to continue to display his previous form, Pandiani returned to Spain on 13 January 2006, after completing a move to Espanyol for £1 million. ^[14]

In his first full season he scored only seven La Liga goals, ^[16] including a first-half hat-trick against eventual champions Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, ^[17] but was top scorer in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup with eleven as his club reached the final, which they lost on penalties to Sevilla. ^[16]

During his time at Espanyol, Pandiani, and Barcelona's José Manuel Pinto, drove in the 2011 Barcelona "Monster Jam" monster truck event. ^[18]

Osasuna

For 2007–08, Pandiani joined Osasuna. ^[19] Scarcely used in his first year, he was instrumental for the Navarrese in the following campaign, especially after the arrival in mid-October of coach José Antonio Camacho, ^[20] finishing as the club's top scorer.

Osasuna's first goal of the 2010–11 season only came in the fourth matchday, and the 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. ^[21] 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, suggesting afterwards that "As a footballer he is a phenomenon but to do the things he does, maybe he has a screw loose." ^[22]

Later career

The 35-year-old Pandiani returned to Espanyol for 2011–12, signing a one-year contract ^[23] and acting mainly as backup to youth graduate Álvaro Vázquez. ^{[24] [25]} On 22 September he came from the bench to score the game's only goal at home against Getafe, in stoppage time. ^[26] On 27 October he repeated the feat, albeit not so late in the game, with a powerful header at home to Real Betis. ^[27]

In late August 2012, Pandiani signed a one-year contract with Segunda División club Villarreal, where his 18-year-old son Nico was a C-team player. ^[28] On his debut, at home to Guadalajara on 2 September, he entered the game as a second-half substitute and scored the winning goal, ^[29] and did the same the following week in another narrow win, at Ponferradina. ^[30]

In late January 2013, Pandiani and Nico left Villarreal and joined Atlético Baleares of the Segunda División B. ^{[31] [32]} They both started in Nico's second senior match, and Pandiani scored in the 2–1 defeat away to Sant Andreu on 12 May. ^[33]

In October 2013, the pair returned to Uruguay and signed for Primera División club Miramar Misiones. ^[34] Pandiani scored three times in the six remaining matches of the 2013–14 Apertura, as his team finished next to bottom, and played regularly during the Clausura but scored only twice as they repeated their previous finish, which contributed to relegation. ^[35]

Pandiani returned to the Barcelona area where he spent the 2014–15 season coaching junior teams at Masnou, where two of his sons played. He said that although he had always wanted to coach, he still thought of himself as a player and was open to offers; ^[36] in June 2015, he signed for Lausanne-Sport of the Swiss Challenge League, with the remit of supervising and teaching the tricks of the trade to the 15-year-old striker Andi Zeqiri, who had already made his first-team debut. ^[37] The club won promotion to the Super League as champions in his only season; his one goal was an equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with Aarau on 4 April, taking Walter Samuel's record as oldest person to score in either of the top two divisions of Swiss football, though the Argentine played for Basel in the top flight. ^[38]

Pandiani announced his retirement on 16 June 2016 after a 23-year professional career, at the age of 40. ^[39] After he retired, his truck was auctioned in Barcelona with 518,000 miles on the clock. ^[15]

International career

Despite his relatively successful career in Spain, Pandiani only received four caps for Uruguay, ^[40] the first coming on 28 March 2001 in a 1–0 home defeat against Paraguay in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. ^[41]

Managerial career

Pandiani returned to Masnou after retiring, now as a first-team manager. Sacked on 2 November 2016, ^[42] he was appointed at the helm of Europa's Juvenil A squad on 13 December. ^[43]

On 27 June 2017, Pandiani was named manager of Hospitalet's youth squad. ^[44] Two years later, he was given his first senior managerial job at Lorca in the Tercera División. ^[45] He left on 30 December 2019, with the team in seventh place. ^[46]

Following a spell at Dibba Al-Hisn in the United Arab Emirates, where he signed his son Axel, ^[47] Pandiani was hired at Cerro in the Uruguayan Segunda División in June 2021. He lost in the promotion playoffs to Defensor in his first season and was sacked in July 2022 with the team in fourth. ^[48]

On 27 July 2022, Pandiani signed for Cerrito, in last place in the top flight. ^[49] He was fired on 30 August after taking two points from five games. ^[50]

Pandiani was announced as the new manager of Albion on 20 December 2022, ahead of the 2023 season in the second division. ^[51] He left the club at the end of the campaign, and took over Miramar Misiones in the top tier on 27 May 2024. ^[52]

Style of play

Nicknamed El Rifle (The Rifle), ^{[53] [54]} Pandiani's best assets were his strength and aerial ability. ^[6]

Career statistics

International

Source: ^[55]

Uruguay
Year	Apps	Goals
2001	1	0
2002	0	0
2003	1	0
2004	2	0
Total	4	0

Honours

Peñarol

• Uruguayan Primera División: 1999

Deportivo

• Copa del Rey : 2001–02
• Supercopa de España: 2000, ^[4] 2002

Mallorca

• Copa del Rey: 2002–03 ^[56]

Espanyol

• Copa del Rey: 2005–06 ^[57]
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2006–07 ^[16]

Lausanne

• Swiss Challenge League: 2015–16

Individual

• UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2006–07

References

1. "Walter Gerardo PANDIANI Urquiza". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 June 2021.
2. "Manteca Martínez por Pandiani" [Manteca Martínez for Pandiani] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 23 December 1999. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
3. "Walter Pandiani jugará hasta junio en Peñarol" [Walter Pandiani will play in Peñarol until June] (in Spanish). La Red 21. 18 January 2000. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
4. "El Deportivo se impone al Espanyol (2–0) y gana su segunda Supercopa" [Deportivo best Espanyol (2–0) and win their second Supercup]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 28 August 2000. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
5. "Deportivo win Spanish Super Cup". Special Broadcasting Service. 29 August 2000. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
6. Tylko, Ignacio (23 September 2003). "Walter Pandiani, a un paso de superar el récord de Roy Makaay en el Deportivo" [Walter Pandiani, about to surpass Roy Makaay's record at Deportivo]. Diario de León (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 January 2017.
7. "Pandiani llegó a trece" [Pandiani made it to thirteen] (in Spanish). La Red 21. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
8. Martínez Duarte, Fernando (15 April 2014). "El Dépor presume de suplentes goleadores" [Dépor boast of scoring substitutes] (in Spanish). Vavel . Retrieved 12 September 2012.
9. Hall, Andy (7 October 2003). "Pandiani seeks magic seven". UEFA. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
10. "Pandiani: "Cuando todo va mal Irureta se lava las manos"" [Pandiani: "When everything goes wrong Irureta washes his hands"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 January 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
11. Kendall, Mark (19 January 2005). "Depor boss blasts Pandiani". Sky Sports . Retrieved 26 October 2008.
12. "Birmingham complete Pandiani loan". BBC Sport. 1 February 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
13. "Birmingham 2–1 Southampton". BBC Sport. 2 February 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
14. "Pandiani completes Espanyol move". BBC Sport. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
15. The Knowledge, Football (13 October 2021). "Can any professional footballers drive a heavy goods vehicle?". The Guardian.
16. "Pandiani picks up scoring prize". UEFA. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
17. "Soccer: Real Madrid rallies against Espanyol and rises to top of Spanish League". The New York Times . 13 May 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
18. Serrano, Alejandro (12 November 2011). "La Monster Jam 2011 llega a Barcelona con Pinto y Pandiani" [Monster Jam 2011 arrives at Barcelona with Pinto and Pandiani]. AutoBild.es (in Spanish).
19. Kendall, Mark (29 July 2007). "Osasuna swoop for Rifle". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
20. "Mi sueño es jugar en Peñarol con mi hijo" [I dream of playing in Peñarol with my son] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
21. "Real win fiery encounter, Osasuna win". ESPN FC. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
22. "Pandiani: Ronaldo has 'screw loose'". ESPN FC. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
23. "Pandiani pens Espanyol deal". Sky Sports. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
24. Aldunate, Ramiro (27 October 2011). "Pandiani siempre se guarda una bala" [Pandiani always has one bullet left]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2012.
25. "Pandiani y Albín, a salvar al Espanyol" [Pandiani and Albín, to Espanyol's rescue] (in Spanish). Liga BBVA. 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
26. "Late Pandiani strike sinks Getafe". FIFA. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
27. "Espanyol extend Betis losing streak". Eurosport. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
28. Corrigan, Dermot (28 August 2012). "Pandianis happy with Villarreal move". ESPN FC. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
29. "Another comeback in El Madrigal (2–1)". Villarreal CF. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
30. "Pandiani acaba con las ilusiones de la Ponferradina" [Pandiani destroys Ponferradina's illusions]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
31. "Presentación de Nico y Walter Pandiani" [Introducing Nico and Walter Pandiani] (in Spanish). CD Atlético Baleares. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
32. Moreno, Jorge A. (2 February 2013). "El Atlético Baleares une a los Pandiani" [Atlético Baleares unite the Pandianis]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 February 2013.
33. "Crónica 2ª División B: UE Sant Andreu 2–1 At Baleares" [2ª División B report: UE Sant Andreu 2–1 At Baleares] (in Spanish). Fútbol Balear. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
34. Basal, Gonzalo (29 October 2013). "Walter Pandiani volverá al fútbol uruguayo para defender a Miramar Misiones" [Walter Pandiani returns to Uruguayan football to play for Miramar Misiones]. El Diario (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
35. Fernández, Francisco (26 February 2015). "Uruguay 2013/14". RSSSF . Retrieved 2 June 2015.
36. Capdevila, Sergi (2 December 2014). "El fútbol base del Masnou, en manos del 'Rifle' Pandiani" [The youth setup at Masnou, in the hands of 'Rifle' Pandiani]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
37. "Communiqué de presse" [Press release] (in French). FC Lausanne-Sport. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
38. Capdevila, Sergi (2 December 2014). "Pandiani est devenu le plus vieux buteur de la Ligue" [Pandiani became the oldest goalscorer in the League]. Le Matin (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
39. "Pandiani anuncia su retirada" [Pandiani announces his retirement]. Sport (in Spanish). 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
40. "Pandiani no va con Uruguay" [Pandiani does not go with Uruguay] (in Spanish). Navarra Sport. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
41. Tabeira, Martín (31 October 2006). "Uruguay – International Matches 2001–2005". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 January 2016.
42. "Walter Pandiani deja de entrenar al Masnou" [Walter Pandiani no longer in charge of Masnou]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 2 November 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
43. "Pandiani dirigirá al Juvenil A del Europa" [Pandiani will manage the Juvenil A of Europa] (in Spanish). Diario La Grada. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
44. "Pandiani dirigirá al juvenil de L'Hospitalet" [Pandiani will manage the juvenil of L'Hospitalet]. Sport (in Spanish). 27 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
45. González V., Javi (5 July 2019). "Walter Pandiani vuelve a España para entrenar al Lorca en Tercera" [Walter Pandiani returns to Spain to manage Lorca in Tercera]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
46. Tallón, M. G. (30 December 2019). "El internacional uruguayo Pandiani deja el banquillo del Lorca FC seis meses después de llegar" [Uruguayan international Pandiani leaves the Lorca FC dugout six months after arriving] (in Spanish). Murcia Plaza. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
47. Alfaro, Javier (25 January 2021). "Axel Pandiani se une a su padre Walter en el Dibba Al-Hisn árabe" [Axel Pandiani joins his father Walter at Arab Dibba Al-Hisn]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
48. "Walter Pandiani no sigue en Cerro y ya tiene nuevo entrenador" [Walter Pandiani does not continue in Cerro and they now have a new manager]. El País (in Spanish). 6 July 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
49. "Cerrito arranca el Torneo Clausura con nuevo técnico: asumió Walter "Rifle" Pandiani" [Cerrito begin the Torneo Clausura with new manager: Walter "Rifle" Pandiani signed]. El País (in Spanish). 27 July 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
50. "Pandiani se fue de Cerrito tras un mes en el cargo y vuelve Marcenaro" [Pandiani left Cerrito after a month in the role and Marcenaro returns] (in Spanish). ESPN. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
51. "Bienvenido, ¡Rifle!" [Welcome, Rifle!] (in Spanish). Albion F.C. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
52. "Walter "Rifle" Pandiani fue anunciado como nuevo director técnico de Miramar Misiones" [Walter Rifle Pandiani was announced as new manager of Miramar Misiones] (in Spanish). Fútbol.uy. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
53. ""El Rifle" Pandiani podría debutar frente a la Deportiva" ['The Rifle' Pandiani could make debut against Deportiva]. Diario de León (in Spanish). 28 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
54. Badenes, Raül (2 September 2012). "El 'rifle' de Pandiani caza otra remontada" [Pandiani's 'rifle' hunts another comeback]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2012.
55. "Pandiani, Walter". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
56. Miguelez, José (29 June 2003). "Eto'o pone Mallorca a brindar" [Eto'o has Mallorca toasting]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 April 2016.
57. Astruells, Andrés (13 April 2006). "¡Increíble Espanyol!" [Incredible Espanyol!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2020.

External links

• Walter Pandiani at BDFutbol
• Deportivo archives
• Walter Pandiani at Soccerbase
• Walter Pandiani at National-Football-Teams.com
• Walter Pandiani at Soccerway