Urko Rafael Pardo
Encyclopedia
Urko Rafael Pardo Goas (born 28 January 1983 in Brussels
) is a Belgian
/Spanish
footballer who plays for APOEL F.C. in the Cypriot First Division
, as a goalkeeper.
, finishing his formation with FC Barcelona
, but never making it past its B side
. He split the 2005–06 season, always on loan, between FC Cartagena
and CE Sabadell FC, with both teams in the third division
, suffering relegation with the latter.
's Iraklis Thessaloniki, moving the following year to Rapid București in Romania
, appearing rarely in his first season.
In 2009–10, another loan ensued, as Pardo moved to Olympiacos FC, also in Greece, appearing in just three league games in his first year. The move was extended by Rapid for the following season, and he appeared more regularly (Olympiacos was seeking a replacement for the legendary Antonios Nikopolidis
(40), who was set to retire in June 2011, and said the Spaniard would be a very good choice for succeeding him), being the most used player in his position.
, Pardo signed a two-year contract with Cyprus
champions
APOEL FC. He made his official debut on 19 October against F.C. Porto, replacing injured Dionisis Chiotis
early into the second half of a 1–1 away draw, for the season
's UEFA Champions League
.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
) is a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
/Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for APOEL F.C. in the Cypriot First Division
Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
, as a goalkeeper.
Barcelona
Pardo began his football career with R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, finishing his formation with FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, but never making it past its B side
FC Barcelona B
Futbol Club Barcelona B is a Spanish football team. They are the reserve team of FC Barcelona. Reserve teams in the Spanish football league system play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their...
. He split the 2005–06 season, always on loan, between FC Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
and CE Sabadell FC, with both teams in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, suffering relegation with the latter.
Rapid București/Greece
In the 2007 summer, released by Barça, Pardo signed with GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Iraklis Thessaloniki, moving the following year to Rapid București in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, appearing rarely in his first season.
In 2009–10, another loan ensued, as Pardo moved to Olympiacos FC, also in Greece, appearing in just three league games in his first year. The move was extended by Rapid for the following season, and he appeared more regularly (Olympiacos was seeking a replacement for the legendary Antonios Nikopolidis
Antonios Nikopolidis
Antonios Nikopolidis , is a former Greek football player, that played as goalkeeper. He's regarded as the best Greek goalkeeper of all time having been awarded the most caps in the national team and playing an integral part in the UEFA Euro 2004 triumph....
(40), who was set to retire in June 2011, and said the Spaniard would be a very good choice for succeeding him), being the most used player in his position.
APOEL
In the last day of the 2011 summer transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Pardo signed a two-year contract with Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
champions
2010–11 Cypriot First Division
-Personnel and kits:Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
APOEL FC. He made his official debut on 19 October against F.C. Porto, replacing injured Dionisis Chiotis
Dionisis Chiotis
Dionisis Chiotis is a Greek goalkeeper who plays for APOEL in the Cypriot First Division.-Club career:He has played for the football club AEK Athens for more than 10 years. He joined the club in 1994 when he was 18. He was given on loan by AEK two times, for one season to Ethnikos Piraeus and for...
early into the second half of a 1–1 away draw, for the season
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
's UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.