Serie A striker Pandev is dangerman

Published on Friday 4 September 2009 22:37

FROZEN out by his club for refusing a new contract, accorded minor deity status in Macedonia, and, if Terry Butcher is to be believed, a chronic simulator… Goran Pandev certainly has a knack for generating headlines.

While it would be foolish of Scotland to regard today's opponents as a one-man team, there is no doubt that Pandev represents the main threat to their ambitions.

The Lazio forward is – with the possible exception of Darko Pancev – the greatest player Macedonia has ever produced. Last month he underlined his stature with two goals in a friendly against Spain – which took him to 17 from 44 appearances, equalling the national scoring record held by Georgi Hristov, who once featured briefly and ingloriously for Dunfermline.

In March, he was awarded Macedonia's Medal for Service by the country's president, Branko Crvenkovski "in acknowledgement of his sporting achievements and his contribution to developing and popularising sport in Macedonia and promoting the country abroad".

The brand of international diplomacy that he practices is certainly colourful. In April this year, he forced the resignation of Macedonia's Slovenian coach, Srecko Katanec, following a disagreement on tactics in the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat to Holland. The incident revealed how Pandev's influence over the national team extends way beyond the pitch.

"I resigned not because we lost the match 4-0, but due to the fact that a minor conflict I had with Pandev in the build-up to the game created a bad atmosphere in the team," explained Katanec. "Some of the players launched their own inquest into how the incident was leaked to the media and I cannot accept that behaviour; it made it impossible for me to work with the team."

Coaches come and go, but for a small country like Macedonia, players as gifted as Pandev come along once in a generation. Blessed with terrific close control to supplement his pace and strength, he also boasts the sort of versatility that make him a coach's dream and a defender's nightmare. Equally comfortable as a target man – he has both the head and the frame for that role – he can also operate in a free role, or occupy either flank in a 4-3-3 formation.

His fondness for dribbling the ball in the box means that he wins his fair share of penalties against defenders unable to cope with his speed. This, clearly, is something that Scotland's creaking back four will need to guard against. However, the assertion that he is a serial diver is a touch unfair.

Like Pancev before him, Pandev's reputation was carved out in Serie A, although it took him several years following a move to Internazionale in 2001 to finally make his mark. It was only following a move to the Eternal City in 2004, that he found his game, and went on to notch 48 goals from 159 appearances over the last four seasons.

It is a record that made him a firm favourite with the Lazio supporters, but his relationship with the hierarchy, and most specifically club president Claudio Lotito, has been increasingly strained. Things came to a head this summer when Pandev, who will be eligible to leave on a Bosman next year, refused to accept the terms offered him on a new contract. A very public row ensued and the striker ended up being frozen out. Lazio stoked the controversy by leaving Pandev out of their Europa League squad. Lotito claimed this week that there was nothing sinister. "They (Pandev and Cristian Ledesma] were excluded from the European list because only 21 players could be included. It was the choice of our coach and the club shares that opinion."

His fall from grace at Lazio has triggered interest from clubs around Europe. In the Premier League alone, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked to the player.

West Ham got as far as agreeing a fee with Lazio, but Pandev made it clear that he had loftier ambitions. With the transfer window now shut, he looks set to leave in 2010. Most likely is a return to Inter Milan, where he will have the chance to settle unfinished business – Jose Mourinho is a known admirer.

"My desire is to go to a bigger club than Lazio. I want nothing more to do with Lotito, who in the last two years has created a thousand obstacles to renew my contract. Now I will respect my obligations and next summer I can decide my future for myself."

In the meanwhile, at Hampden today, he may play a big part in deciding Scotland's future.