Walter Pandiani ProfileName: Walter Pandiani
Date of birth: 1976-04-27
Height: 181 cm (5 feet, 11 inch)
Nationality: Uruguay
Birth Name: Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza
Nick Name:
Current team: Espanyol
Position: Striker
Number: 11
Walter Gerardo Pandiani Urquiza (born 27 April 1976) is an Uruguayan 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.
Born in Montevideo, 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 then coach, Javier Irureta. He scored a goal on his debut against Southampton in a 2–1 win,[3] and went on to score three more in the season, prompting manager Steve Bruce to sign him on a permanent contract for a fee reported as £3 million.
Failing to continue to display his previous form, Pandiani returned to Spain on January 13, 2006, after completing a move to RCD Espanyol 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.
For 2007–08, Pandiani joined CA Osasuna.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, 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".
Despite his relatively successful career in Spain, Pandiani only received four caps for Uruguay, the first coming on 28 March 2001, in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, a 0–1 home defeat.(source)
