Nando Pijnaker

Nando Pijnaker (born 25 February 1999) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for Primeira Liga club Rio Ave and the New Zealand national team.

Nando Pijnaker
Personal information
Full name Nando Pijnaker
Date of birth (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999
Place of birth Brummen, Netherlands
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Rio Ave
Number 28
Youth career
–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– Rio Ave II 6 (0)
2020– Rio Ave 0 (0)
National team‡
2019– New Zealand U-20 4 (0)
2019– New Zealand 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2019

Early life

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[2] and also began playing for local club Ngongotaha, making his first-team debut at the age of 15.[3]

Club career

Western Suburbs

In 2015 Pijnaker moved to Wellington to joined the Olé Football Academy,[2] 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.[4] Pijnaker was part of the team to win the Central League twice, in 2017 and 2019, and reach the final of the 2018 Chatham Cup.[5][6][4]

Eastern Suburbs

Through the Olé Academy partnership, Pijnaker signed for Olé affiliate Eastern Suburbs, winning the ISPS Handa Premiership and qualifying for the OFC Champions League.[7]

Torslanda IK

Following the conclusion of New Zealand's 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign, Pijnaker joined his former coach Declan Edge at Division 2 Norra Götaland side Torslanda IK,[2] a club run in partnership with the Olé Academy.[8] He made his debut on 15 June 2019, starting in a 3–2 loss to Stenungsunds IF.[9][10]

Grasshopper

After a 10 day trial, Pijnaker signed in January 2020 with Swiss Challenge League club Grasshopper, joining international teammate Max Mata. He ended up only playing two games for the club.[1][11][2]

Rio Ave

After the short stint at Grasshoper, Pijnaker signed a four year deal with Primeira Liga club Rio Ave on the 30 August 2020.[1]

International career

U-20

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.[12]

National team

Pijnaker made his senior debut for New Zealand on 18 November 2019, coming on as a substitute in their 0–1 loss to Lithuania.[13]

Honours

Club

Western Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs

References
  1. Smith, Tony (30 August 2020). "All Whites defender Nando Pijnaker signs for Portuguese premier league club". Stuff. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. Beck, David (4 February 2020). "Former Rotorua footballer Nando Pijnaker signs professional contract". NZ Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. "Football: Rising star wins place at top academy". 25 February 2015 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  4. Hyslop, Liam (21 September 2018). "Moulding a Kiwi Messi: Ole Football Academy's neverending football quest". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. Hyslop, Liam (30 July 2017). "Western Suburbs win Central League title with two games to go". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. "Western Suburbs". Ultimatenzsoccer. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  7. Voerman, Andrew (1 April 2019). "Eastern Suburbs' national league win a showcase for youth development". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. "The Torslanda Project - The Gothenburg Post". Olé Football Academy. 20 August 2019.
  9. "Stenungsund vs. Torslanda - 15 June 2019 - Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  10. "Flying Kiwis – June 18". The Niche Cache. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. https://twitter.com/ElemenTwelve/status/1222192508089839616
  12. Voerman, Andrew (3 June 2019). "Progress made as Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign ends with heartbreak, not history". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  13. Voerman, Andrew. "Second-string All Whites fail to seize opportunities in loss to Lithuania". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2019.


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