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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 43 (0)
International career‡
2019 New Zealand U-20 4 (0)
2019– New Zealand 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 July 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 July 2024

Nando Zen Pijnaker(born 25 February 1999) is a New Zealand professionalfootballerwho plays as acentre backforLeague of Ireland Premier DivisionsideSligo Rovers.Pijnaker also plays for theNew Zealand national team.

Early life[edit]

Pijnaker was born in theNetherlandsand migrated to New Zealand with his family at the age of three, settling inRotorua.He attended and played football forWestern Heights High School[3]and also began playing for local clubNgongotaha,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 theOlé Football Academy,[3]then run byDeclan Edge,and played for affiliated clubWestern Suburbsin theCentral Leaguethat features teams from the lower half of theNorth Islandof New Zealand.[5]Pijnaker was part of the team to win theCentral Leaguein 2017 and reach the final of the2018 Chatham Cup.[6][7][5]

Eastern Suburbs[edit]

Through the Olé Academy partnership, Pijnaker signed for Olé affiliateEastern Suburbs,winning theISPS Handa Premiershipand qualifying for theOFC Champions League.[8]

Torslanda IK[edit]

Following the conclusion of New Zealand's2019 FIFA U-20 World Cupcampaign, Pijnaker joined his former coachDeclan Edgeat SwedishDivision 2 Norra GötalandsideTorslanda 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 toStenungsunds IF.[10][11]

Grasshopper[edit]

After a 10 day trial, Pijnaker signed in January 2020 withSwiss Challenge LeagueclubGrasshopper,joining international teammateMax 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 PortuguesePrimeira LigaclubRio Aveon 30 August 2020.[2]On 31 August 2021, Pijnaker was loaned out toDanish 1st DivisionclubFC Helsingørfor the rest of 2021.[13]

Sligo Rovers[edit]

On 8 February 2022, Pijnaker joinedLeague of Ireland Premier DivisionsideSligo Roverson 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 goalkeeperEd McGintyin a 3–0 loss away toSt Patrick's Athletic.[16]

International career[edit]

U-20[edit]

Pijnaker was named in theNew Zealand U-20side for the2019 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 forNew Zealandon 18 November 2019, coming on as a substitute in their 0–1 loss toLithuania.[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.

Career statistics[edit]

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 fromthe original(PDF)on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^abcSmith, Tony (30 August 2020)."All Whites defender Nando Pijnaker signs for Portuguese premier league club".Stuff.Retrieved11 October2020.
  3. ^abcdBeck, David (4 February 2020)."Former Rotorua footballer Nando Pijnaker signs professional contract".NZ Herald.Retrieved11 October2020.
  4. ^"Football: Rising star wins place at top academy".25 February 2015 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  5. ^abHyslop, Liam (21 September 2018)."Moulding a Kiwi Messi: Ole Football Academy's neverending football quest".Stuff.Retrieved18 November2019.
  6. ^Hyslop, Liam (30 July 2017)."Western Suburbs win Central League title with two games to go".Stuff.Retrieved18 November2019.
  7. ^"Western Suburbs".Ultimatenzsoccer.Retrieved18 November2019.
  8. ^Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2019)."Eastern Suburbs' national league win a showcase for youth development".Stuff.Retrieved18 November2019.
  9. ^"The Torslanda Project - The Gothenburg Post".Olé Football Academy.20 August 2019.
  10. ^"Stenungsund vs. Torslanda - 15 June 2019 - Soccerway".Soccerway.Retrieved11 October2020.
  11. ^"Flying Kiwis – June 18".The Niche Cache.Retrieved11 October2020.
  12. ^@ElemenTwelve (28 January 2020)."🇳🇿 Nando Pijnaker joins..."(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  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.Retrieved8 February2022.
  15. ^"Rovers complete transfer of Nando Pijnaker".Sligo Rovers F.C. 21 December 2022.Retrieved15 February2023.
  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.Retrieved18 November2019.
  18. ^Voerman, Andrew."Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania".Stuff.Retrieved18 November2019.

External links[edit]

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