Marko Pantelić

Marko Pantelić
Марко Пантелић

Personal information
Full name	Marko Pantelić
Date of birth	15 September 1978 (1978-09-15)
Place of birth	Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Olympiacos F.C.
Number	9
Youth career
1990–1992	Red Star Belgrade
1992–1993	Kilkisiakos P.A.E.
1993–1996	Iraklis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1997	Iraklis	8	(4)
1997	Paris Saint-Germain B	20	(12)
1998	Paris Saint-Germain	3	(0)
1998–1999	→ Lausanne (loan)	21	(14)
1999–2000	Celta Vigo	0	(0)
2000–2001	→ Sturm Graz (loan)	3	(0)
2001–2002	→ Yverdon-Sport (loan)	3	(0)
2002–2003	Obilić	5	(0)
2003–2004	Sartid Smederevo	31	(13)
2004–2005	Red Star Belgrade	44	(26)
2005–2009	Hertha BSC	114	(45)
2009–2010	Ajax	25	(16)
2010–	Olympiacos F.C.	32	(19)
National team‡
2003–	Serbia	43	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:42, 28 January 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2011 (UTC)

Marko Pantelić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Пантелић, born 15 September 1978 in Belgrade) is a Serbian footballer, who plays for Olympiacos.

Club career

Early years

As Pantelić was coming up through the Red Star Belgrade youth system, his father got a job in Thessaloniki and took the family to Greece. Pantelić was still only 14 years old when he signed a professional contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki, where he spent two and a half years. At 17, he accepted an offer in France to play for Paris Saint-Germain and soon found himself training and playing alongside stars like Raí, Marco Simone and Leonardo. Finding playing time at PSG in short supply, he moved on to Lausanne for a season, scoring 14 goals in 21 Swiss league matches.

Next stop was an unsuccessful spell in Spain at Celta Vigo. During this time, he was sent out on loan to Sturm Graz in Austria.

Obilić, Smederevo, and Red Star Belgrade

In the summer of 2002, Pantelić returned home to Serbia, and signed with FK Obilić. Barely 24 years of age, he was essentially starting over as many were quick to write him off as yet another prospect whose career was derailed by going abroad too soon. In January 2003 he moved to FK Sartid Smederevo.

After settling in, he quickly established himself as the team's leader, spearheading them to the Yugoslav Cup title in 2003. Glowing performances in Smederevo did not go unnoticed by Red Star, and in January 2004, Pantelić became their biggest mid-season signing.

Hertha BSC

Pantelić with Hertha

After securing a loan move to Hertha for €250,000 on 31 August 2005, the last day of the transfer window, he went on to score 11 goals in 28 league matches during the 2005–06 season. In April 2006, he permanently moved to Hertha for an additional €1.5 million fee and soon established himself as one of the most formidable strikers in the Hertha squad.

Right after getting signed permanently, he responded with an even better season with 14 goals from 32 matches in the 2006–07 season.

Next season, 2007–08 season, brought more steady play with 13 goals from 28 league matches.

On 17 March 2009, Pantelić denied that he had held talks with any other clubs and coupled with his refusal to sign a new contract with the club, he became a free agent during the summer 2009.

Ajax

Pantelić playing for Ajax.

On 1 September 2009, after completing several medical tests, Pantelić signed a one year contract with Dutch side Ajax, and was given the number 9 shirt. During the season, Pantelić scored 16 goals and delivered 9 assists in 25 league matches. Following the season, Pantelić expressed his desire to sign a new contract with Ajax, preferably a multi-year deal, however Ajax has preferred a one year deal. Pantelić did not accept the Ajax offer of a one-year deal with an option of another, because he wanted a sure future for his family. Ajax signed Mounir El Hamdaoui as his successor.

Olympiacos

On 21 August 2010, Pantelić joined Olympiacos on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract worth 1.6m Euro/year. He scored his first goal, against Panserraikos. On 11 December 2011, Marko managed to score four goals and to secure a victory against Kerkyra F.C.

Career statistics

As of 28 January 2012

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		Europe		Total
2005–06	Hertha BSC	Bundesliga	28	11	2	1	0	0	30	12
2006–07			32	14	4	0	2	0	38	14
2007–08			28	13	1	1	0	0	29	14
2008–09			26	7	2	2	5	1	33	10
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe		Total
2009–10	Ajax	Eredivisie	25	16	3	2	5	2	33	20
Greece			League		Greek Cup		Europe		Total
2010–11	Olympiacos F.C.	Super League Greece	20	9	4	1	0	0	24	10
2011–12			12	10	3	6	3	0	18	16
			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Total	Germany		114	45	9	4	7	1	130	50
	Netherlands		25	16	3	2	5	2	33	20
	Greece		32	19	7	7	3	0	42	26
Career total			171	80	19	13	15	3	205	96

International

Though he debuted for the national team in 2003, Pantelić started getting more frequent call-ups only in 2006 when he was almost 28 years of age. He represented Serbia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and scored his first World Cup goal against Australia in a 2–1 loss. Pantelić also scored three goals in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. He has not featured for his country since the failed UEFA Euro 2012 campaign.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	16 August 2006	Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty, Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	1–2	1–3	Friendly
2.	24 May 2008	Croke Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic of Ireland	0–1	1–1	Friendly
3.	28 May 2008	Wacker Arena, Burghausen, Altötting, Germany	Russia	1–1	2–1	Friendly
4.	10 October 2009	Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia	Romania	2–0	5–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying
5.	3 March 2010	Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria	Algeria	0–1	0–3	Friendly
6.	5 June 2010	Stadion FK Partizan, Beograd, Serbia	Cameroon	4–2	4–3	Friendly
7.	23 June 2010	Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa	Australia	1–2	1–2	2010 FIFA World Cup
8.	25 March 2011	Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia	Northern Ireland	1–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
9.	29 March 2011	A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia	Estonia	0–1	1-1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
10.	2 September 2011	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0–1	0-1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Honours

Lausanne

• Swiss Cup: 1

1999

Smederevo

• Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 1

2003

Red Star Belgrade

• Serbian SuperLiga: 1

2004

• Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 1

2004

Ajax

• KNVB Cup: 1

2010

Olympiacos

• Superleague Greece: 1

2011

External links

• Profile on Serbian national football team website (Serbian) (English)