Boris Pandža

Boris Pandža (born 15 December 1986) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a defender for club HNK Medjugorje.

Boris Pandža
Pandža with Mechelen in 2010
Personal information
Full name Boris Pandža
Date of birth (1986-12-15) 15 December 1986
Place of birth Mostar, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 HNK Medjugorje
Number 4
Youth career
Zrinjski Mostar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Široki Brijeg 23 (2)
2006–2010 Hajduk Split 61 (2)
2010–2013 Mechelen 68 (5)
2013–2014 Górnik Zabrze 11 (0)
2014–2017 Široki Brijeg 43 (5)
2018 Čelik Zenica 13 (0)
2018–2023 Šibenik 44 (2)
2023– HNK Medjugorje 0 (0)
International career
2006–2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 13 (0)
2007–2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 July 2023

He is also a former member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Club career

A player who plays in solely defense,[1] Pandža started his youth career at hometown club Zrinjski Mostar before moving to Široki Brijeg, where he started his professional career.

After two-years at the club, he joined Croatian side Hajduk Split in January 2006, but the move was completed in late-2006 and the fee was worth about €200,000 on a four and a half year contract.[2] After spending two season limited in the first team, Pandža started to be used more regularly under the management of Ante Miše. On 17 May 2009, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–0 victory against Šibenik.[3] After an impressive display at the club, he attracted interests from Premier League side Stoke City.[4] Upon his departure from Hajduk, Pandža said he wasn't sorry for leaving the club.[5]

In July 2010, he joined Belgium side Mechelen as a replacement for Jonas Ivens on a three-year contract, with the fee of €350,000.[6] Pandža made his debut for the opening game of the season, in a 2–0 win over Lokeren on 31 July 2010 and then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Zulte Waregem one week after his debut.[7][8] He then scored his second goal, in a 1–0 win over Standard Liège on 17 September 2010[9] and third goal came on 1 October 2010, in a 2–2 draw against Genk.[10] In his first full season at the club, Pandža scored four goals in thirty-seven appearances in all competitions. His second season was more enjoyable, scoring the club's first goal of the season, as they beat Sint-Truidense 2–1 on 30 July 2011.[11] He then scored another on 25 January 2012, in a 3–2 win over Genk.[12] In his second season at the club, Pandža scored two goals in thirty-one appearances in all competitions. His last season with the club saw him stay at the club after his scheduled move to Arsenal Kyiv collapsed following a failure to meet Pandža's requirements.[13][14] However, it went appalling for Pandža when he sustained a knee injury, in a 2–0 loss against Beerschot on 1 September 2012 and was out for four weeks.[15] However, it was announced furthermore that he was to be out for 6 months with an injury that could miss the rest of the season.[16] His knee surgery was a success.[17] After three years at the club, Pandža left the club upon after hid contract expired.[18] Upon leaving Mechelen, he expressed "disappointment" for leaving the club.[19]

In July 2013, Pandža was linked with a move to Scottish League One side Rangers.[20] He then began talks with the club over possibly joining Rangers.[1] He himself pleaded to Rangers, quoting: "come and get him" and even willing to risk his wages.[21][22] Despite the expected agreement which lasted for two months, the move appeared to be stalled.[23] The move was stalled, which was believed to put on hold by the club's chief executive Craig Mather and Pandža would later accuse the club of lacking professionalism for shattering his move to Rangers.[24][25]

Despite a shattered move to Rangers, he joined Polish side Górnik Zabrze on a one-year contract with an option to extend it.[26] However, after making only thirteen appearances in all competitions, Pandža was released by the club after one season.[27]

He then returned to Široki Brijeg for the 2014–15 season, making 17 appearances as the club finished in 4th place. The following season, Pandža managed just 9 league appearances. After Široki Brijeg, he also played at Čelik Zenica and Croatian club Šibenik.

International career

Pandža was part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 national team together with players like Edin Džeko, Vedad Ibišević and Sejad Salihović. He captained the team on a few occasions.[28] He received his first senior call up for a game against Norway on 18 March 2007. He made his international debut on 2 June 2007 against Turkey in a 3–2 win.[29] He then became a regular member of the squad.

In May 2014, Pandža was left out of the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[30]

On 5 September 2014, he announced his retirement from the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.[31]

Honours

Hajduk Split

Široki Brijeg

Šibenik

References
  1. "Rangers in signing talks with Bilel Mohsni and Boris Pandza". BBC Sport. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. "Pandža: Bilo bi lijepo igrati u Engleskoj". Sportin.ba. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  3. "Pandža zabio za Hajduk, Šaranović za Zadar" [Pandža zabio for Hajduk, Šaranović to Zadar] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. "Boris Pandža na ljeto u Stoke City" [Boris Claw summer in Stoke] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  5. "Nije mi žao što sam otišao iz Hajduka" [I'm not sorry I went from Hajduk] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  6. "Officiel : Pandza signe pour trois ans au FC Malines" [Official: Pandza sign for three years at FC Malines] (in French). Foot Goal. 8 July 210. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  7. "Pandža i Čustović slavili, Mravac poražen" [Pandža i Čustović glorified, Mravac defeated] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. "Pandža Doni Pobjeda Mechelen" [Pandža donio pobjedu Mechelenu] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  9. "Pandža: Stadion je eksplodirao nakon gola" [Claw Stadium exploded after a goal] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  10. "Pandža zabio i Genku, Mechelenu bid" [Pandža zabio i Genku, Mechelenu bid] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  11. "Pandža strijelac u pobjedi Mechelena" [Talon scorer in the victory Mechelen] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  12. "Pandža: Protiv Brazila će biti pravi spektakl" [Talon: Against Brazil will be a real spectacle] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  13. "Službeno: Pandža potpisao za Arsenal Kiev" [Official: Claw signed for Arsenal Kiev] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  14. "KV Mechelen blaast transfer Pandza a" [KV Mechelen blows transfer Pandza off] (in Dutch). nieuwsblad.be. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  15. "4 semaines pour Boris Pandza" [4 weeks for Boris Pandza] (in French). Foot Goal. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  16. "6 mois pour Boris Pandza" [6 months for Boris Pandza] (in French). Foot Goal. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  17. "Boris Pandza (KV Mechelen) is met succes geopereerd aan linkerknie" [Boris Pandza (KV Mechelen) has been successfully operated on left knee] (in Dutch). nieuwsblad.be. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  18. "Pandza moet vertrekken bij KV Mechelen" [Pandza must leave at KV Mechelen] (in Dutch). HLN.be. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  19. "Pandža: Malo sam razočaran, vjerovatno napuštam Belgiju" [Talon: I'm a little disappointed, probably leaving Belgium] (in Croatian). SportSport.ba. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  20. "Rangers: Christopher Berra & Boris Pandza interest Ally McCoist". BBC Sport. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  21. "Pandza tells Gers to come and get him". Evening Times. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  22. "EXCLUSIVE: Boris Pandza drops wage demand to secure Rangers contract". Daily Express. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  23. "Ally runs eye over Zaliukas". Evening Times. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  24. "EXCLUSIVE: Rangers abandon move for Boris Pandza". Daily Express. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  25. "Rangers target Boris Pandza accuses club of lacking professionalism". STV Sport. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  26. "BORIS PANDŽA PIŁKARZEM GÓRNIKA!". gornikzabrze.pl. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  27. "Boris Pandža odszedł z Górnika". 90 Minut.pl. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  28. "Boris Pandza". Archived from the original on 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  29. Bosnia and Herzegovina - Turkey 3:2, footballdatabase.eu, Retrieved 2013-09-09
  30. "Bosnia World Cup squad revealed". Sporting Life. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  31. "Pandža: I have no more desire to play for the national team". sportsport.ba. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
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