Nando Pijnaker

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Nando Pijnaker
Personal information
Full name Nando Zen Pijnaker[1]
Date of birth (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Brummen, Netherlands
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Sligo Rovers
Number 28
Youth career
0000–2014 Ngongotaha
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Ngongotaha
2015–2019 Western Suburbs 20 (1)
2018–2019 Eastern Suburbs 16 (1)
2019 Torslanda IK 14 (0)
2020 Grasshopper 2 (0)
2020–2022 Rio Ave B 11 (0)
2020–2022 Rio Ave 0 (0)
2021 → Helsingør (loan) 1 (0)
2022 → Sligo Rovers (loan) 31 (1)
2023– Sligo Rovers 40 (0)
International career‡
2019 New Zealand U-20 4 (0)
2019– New Zealand 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2023

Nando Zen Pijnaker (born 25 February 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a centre back for League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers. Pijnaker also plays for the New Zealand national team.

Early life[edit]

Pijnaker was born in the Netherlands and migrated to New Zealand with his family at the age of three, settling in Rotorua. He attended and played football for Western Heights High School[3] and also began playing for local club Ngongotaha, making his first-team debut at the age of 15.[4]

Club career[edit]

Western Suburbs[edit]

In 2015 Pijnaker moved to Wellington to join the Olé Football Academy,[3] then run by Declan Edge, and played for affiliated club Western Suburbs in the Central League that features teams from the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand.[5] Pijnaker was part of the team to win the Central League in 2017 and reach the final of the 2018 Chatham Cup.[6][7][5]

Eastern Suburbs[edit]

Through the Olé Academy partnership, Pijnaker signed for Olé affiliate Eastern Suburbs, winning the ISPS Handa Premiership and qualifying for the OFC Champions League.[8]

Torslanda IK[edit]

Following the conclusion of New Zealand's 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign, Pijnaker joined his former coach Declan Edge at Swedish Division 2 Norra Götaland side Torslanda IK,[3] a club run in partnership with the Olé Academy.[9] He made his debut on 15 June 2019, starting in a 3–2 loss to Stenungsunds IF.[10][11]

Grasshopper[edit]

After a 10 day trial, Pijnaker signed in January 2020 with Swiss Challenge League club Grasshopper, joining international teammate Max Mata. He made two appearances for the club.[2][12][3]

Rio Ave[edit]

After the short stint at Grasshoper, Pijnaker signed a four year deal with Portuguese Primeira Liga club Rio Ave on 30 August 2020.[2] On 31 August 2021, Pijnaker was loaned out to Danish 1st Division club FC Helsingør for the rest of 2021.[13]

Sligo Rovers[edit]

On 8 February 2022, Pijnaker joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers on a season-long loan deal.[14] On 21 December 2022, his transfer was made permanent.[15] On 1 April 2024, Pijnaker suffered broken ribs in a collision with his own goalkeeper Ed McGinty in a 3–0 loss away to St Patrick's Athletic.[16]

International career[edit]

U-20[edit]

Pijnaker was named in the New Zealand U-20 side for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Pijnaker played in all four games, playing full 90 minutes in all but one of them.[17]

National team[edit]

Pijnaker made his senior debut for New Zealand on 18 November 2019, coming on as a substitute in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.[18] In 2024,During match against Egyptian national team, he made a tackle that led to a penalty kick and the injury of Emam Ashur. The match ended with a loss of 0-1.

Honours[edit]

Western Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs

References[edit]

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: New Zealand" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Tony (30 August 2020). "All Whites defender Nando Pijnaker signs for Portuguese premier league club". Stuff. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Beck, David (4 February 2020). "Former Rotorua footballer Nando Pijnaker signs professional contract". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Football: Rising star wins place at top academy". 25 February 2015 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  5. ^ a b Hyslop, Liam (21 September 2018). "Moulding a Kiwi Messi: Ole Football Academy's neverending football quest". Stuff. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. ^ Hyslop, Liam (30 July 2017). "Western Suburbs win Central League title with two games to go". Stuff. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Western Suburbs". Ultimatenzsoccer. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. ^ Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2019). "Eastern Suburbs' national league win a showcase for youth development". Stuff. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ "The Torslanda Project - The Gothenburg Post". Olé Football Academy. 20 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Stenungsund vs. Torslanda - 15 June 2019 - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Flying Kiwis – June 18". The Niche Cache. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  12. ^ @ElemenTwelve (28 January 2020). "🇳🇿 Nando Pijnaker joins..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ FC HELSINGØR LEJER DEN NEWZEALANDSKE LANDSHOLDSSPILLER NANDO PIJNAKER HOS PORTUGISISKE RIO AVE FC, fchelsingor.dk, 31 August 2021
  14. ^ "Pijnaker joins Rovers on loan from Rio Ave". Sligo Rovers FC. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Rovers complete transfer of Nando Pijnaker". Sligo Rovers F.C. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  16. ^ https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/sport/soccer/sligo-rovers-confirm-nando-pijnaker-has-sustained-broken-ribs/a380595928.html
  17. ^ Voerman, Andrew (3 June 2019). "Progress made as Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign ends with heartbreak, not history". Stuff. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  18. ^ Voerman, Andrew. "Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania". Stuff. Retrieved 18 November 2019.

External links[edit]

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