Walter Pandiani

Football player infobox|
playername= Walter Pandiani


fullname = Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1976|4|27|df=y
cityofbirth = Montevideo
countryofbirth = Uruguay
height = height|m=1.81
nickname = El Rifle
currentclub = Osasuna
clubnumber = 11
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1996–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
2000–2005
2002–2003
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–
clubs = Progreso
Basañez
Peñarol
Deportivo
→ Mallorca (loan)
Birmingham
Espanyol
Osasuna
caps(goals) = 22 (12)
0 (0)
56 (20)
86 (31)
33 (14)
31 (6)
52 (8)
18 (2)
nationalyears = 2001-2004
nationalteam =Uruguay
nationalcaps(goals) = 4 (0)
pcupdate = 17 May 2007
ntupdate = 22 July 2006

Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza (born 27 April 1976 in Montevideo) is a professional football player from Uruguay currently playing for Osasuna. He usually plays as a striker and is nicknamed "The Rifle".

Pandiani played for Progreso, Basañez and Peñarol in his native Uruguay before signing with Deportivo La Coruña in 2000. He has also played for Real Mallorca and Espanyol in La Liga as well as Birmingham City in the Premier League. During his time at Deportivo, he had a number of disagreements with both the club and coach Javier Irureta, which contributed to his decision to leave Spain and join Birmingham City on loan in 2005.

Pandiani scored a goal on his debut for Birmingham against Southampton in a 2-1 win, and went on to score three more goals, convincing manager Steve Bruce to sign him on a full contract the following summer. Failing to settle or continue his fine form, he returned to Spain on January 13 2006 after completing a move to Espanyol for £1.02m.

Honours

*Winner Campeonato Uruguayo de Fútbol in 1999 with C.A. Peñarol
*Winner Copa del Rey in 2002 with Deportivo de La Coruña
*Winner Supercopa de España in 2002 with Deportivo de La Coruña
*Winner Copa del Rey in 2003 with RCD Mallorca
*Winner Copa del Rey in 2006 with RCD Espanyol

Trivia

Pandiani brought a £55,000 truck after signing permanently for Birmingham City and had the club badge stuck on both sides, but sold it when returning to Spain because he wasn't allowed to drive it. He re-sold it for around £56,000.

References