Urko Pardo


Urko Rafael Pardo Goas is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
Formed at Barcelona, he spent most of his career in the Cypriot First Division, mainly with APOEL with which he won eight titles including five league championships. He also competed professionally in Greece and Romania.
After being awarded citizenship, Pardo represented the Cyprus national team.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Brussels to a Basque father and a Galician mother, Pardo began his football career with R.S.C. Anderlecht, 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.

Rapid București / Greece

In the summer of 2007, released by Barcelona, Pardo signed with Greece's Iraklis Thessaloniki FC, moving the following year to FC Rapid Bucureşti in Romania but appearing rarely in his first season.
In 2009–10, another loan ensued as Pardo moved to Olympiacos F.C. also in Greece, playing just three Superleague games in his first year. The move was extended by Rapid for the following season, and he appeared more regularly, being the most used player in his position.

Cyprus

In the last day of the 2011 summer transfer window, Pardo signed a two-year contract with Cyprus champions APOEL FC. He made his official debut on 19 October against FC Porto, replacing injured Dionisis Chiotis early into the second half of a 1–1 away draw in that season's UEFA Champions League, and added a further four appearances as the club reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever.
In 2014–15, Pardo appeared in every group stage match in APOEL's third Champions League campaign. On 26 May 2016 both parties agreed on a two-year contract extension, with an option for a third year.
On 2 September 2017, aged 34, free agent Pardo joined Alki Oroklini. On 23 August 2019, he moved to fellow Cypriot First Division team Ermis Aradippou FC.

International career

In 2017, Pardo became a naturalized Cypriot citizen. He won his first cap on 13 November of that year at the age of 34, in a 2–3 away friendly defeat against Armenia.

Club statistics

Honours

Olympiacos
APOEL