Pandev Goran
Goran Pandev is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays as a forward. He is the captain of the Macedonian national team, and is the country’s all-time top scorer with 33 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. Goran Pandev is married to Nada Pandev and they have three children, Filipo Pandev, Ana Pandev and Sofia Pandev. In 2019, Pandev received Italian citizenship in Naples.
NORTH MACEDONIA NATIONAL TEAM
2008-2009
Fifa World Cup “SOUTH AFRICA 2010”
North Macedonia vs Netherlands
Match Worn Shirt
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This shirt was worn by Goran Pandev during the Fifa World Cup “SOUTH AFRICA 2010” qualifying game between North Macedonia and Netherlands which took place in Skopje, “City Stadium”, on September 10th 2008.Netherlands defeated Macedonia 2-1 and Goran Pandev scored the goal for the North Macedonia. Pandev 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.
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The Football Federation of North Macedonia (Macedonian: Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија / Fudbalska Federacija na Makedonija or ФФМ/FFM) is the governing body of football in North Macedonia based in Skopje. It was founded in 1926. Macedonian Football Association was formed on 18 December 1926 on the founding general assembly that was held in the “Unknown Fallen Hero” restaurant in the city of Skopje. FFM was officially formed again after the World War II on 14 August 1949 in Skopje (after the end of World War II, the first football department was established as a part of sport association of the city of Skopje, the football section is separated on 16 August 1948). From 1949 to 2002, it was called the Football Association of Macedonia. The first ever president was Ljubisav Ivanov – Dzingo. Andon Dončevski was appointed by FFM as the first ever coach of the North Macedonia national team. Macedonian flag on top behind a yellow background. Below, a blue crest with the yellow FFM Cyrillic letters above a football. On 22 March 2014, the FFM launched a new crest.
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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. Pandev has won 101 caps for Macedonia, scoring 33 goals. With his two goals against Spain, he became the national team’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Gjorgji Hristov.
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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.
