Costel Pantilimon facts for kids
Pantilimon with Romania in June 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Costel Fane Pantilimon | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Bacău, Romania | ||
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–2003 | Aerostar Bacău | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Aerostar Bacău | 80 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Politehnica II Timișoara | 26 | (0) |
| 2006–2012 | Politehnica Timișoara | 93 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Manchester City (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Manchester City | 7 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Sunderland | 45 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Watford | 2 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Nottingham Forest | 44 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Omonia (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Denizlispor | 15 | (0) |
| Total | 337 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Romania U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2005 | Romania U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Romania U21 | 12 | (0) |
| 2008–2019 | Romania | 27 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Costel Fane Pantilimon (born on 1 February 1987) is a former professional footballer from Romania. He played as a goalkeeper.
Pantilimon started his football journey at Politehnica Timișoara. In 2011, he joined Premier League team Manchester City. He was a backup goalkeeper there, mostly playing in cup games. He helped Manchester City win the League Cup in the 2013–14 season. After that, he moved to Sunderland.
Later, he played for Watford and was loaned to Deportivo La Coruña and Nottingham Forest. He then signed a permanent deal with Forest. Towards the end of his career, he played for Omonia and Denizlispor before retiring.
Costel Pantilimon also played for the Romanian national team from 2008 to 2017. He played 27 games for his country. He was part of the team for UEFA Euro 2016 but did not play in any matches during that tournament.
Contents
Club Career: Costel Pantilimon's Journey
Early Days in Football
Costel Pantilimon was born in Bacău, Romania. He began his football career at Aerostar Bacău. He gained attention while playing for the Romanian national under-19 team. On his 19th birthday, 1 February 2006, he joined Politehnica Timișoara.
Time at Politehnica Timișoara
At first, Pantilimon was the second-choice goalkeeper for Timișoara. But in May 2008, he became the main goalkeeper. He played his first game in the Romanian top league, Liga 1, in March 2007. This was against Dinamo București.
In October 2009, Pantilimon was the team captain for the first time. This happened in a match against Ceahlăul.
Pantilimon was part of the Timișoara team that beat UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk. This was during the qualifying rounds for the 2009–10 Champions League. He played every minute of both games.
Playing for Manchester City
On 11 August 2011, Pantilimon joined Manchester City. He came on a one-year loan from Politehnica Timișoara. His job was to be a backup for the main goalkeeper, Joe Hart.
Pantilimon's first game for City was a League Cup win against Birmingham City in September 2011. He was named "Man of the Match" in a League Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. He made some great saves in that game.
His loan deal became permanent later on. He signed a contract with City until 2016. During the 2012–13 FA Cup, he performed very well. He kept four clean sheets in a row. He also had a great game against Chelsea in the semi-final.
Pantilimon got his first start in the Premier League in November 2013. This was in a big 7–0 win against Norwich City. He kept a clean sheet in that game. He also played in a Champions League game against CSKA Moscow, which City won 5–2.
On 2 March 2014, Pantilimon started in the 2014 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Manchester City won the final 3–1 against Sunderland.
Overall, Pantilimon played seven games in the 2013–14 Premier League season. He helped Manchester City win their second league title in three years. He was also the main goalkeeper for their League Cup and FA Cup matches that season.
Moving to Sunderland
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On 16 June 2014, Pantilimon joined Sunderland. He moved on a free transfer from Manchester City. He played his first game for Sunderland in the League Cup in August. He kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 win.
Pantilimon started as a backup to Vito Mannone. But after some tough games, he became Sunderland's first-choice goalkeeper. He kept this position for the rest of the season. He started the next season as the main keeper too.
Playing for Watford
On 19 January 2016, Pantilimon joined Premier League team Watford. He signed a three-and-a-half-year deal. He played his first game for Watford in the FA Cup in January. He kept clean sheets in his first two FA Cup games.
He made his Premier League debut for Watford in November 2016. This happened after the main goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, got injured.
On 1 September 2017, Pantilimon was loaned to La Liga club Deportivo La Coruña in Spain. He played his first game for them in September. The next week, he kept his first clean sheet in a 1–0 win.
Time at Nottingham Forest
On 31 January 2018, Pantilimon returned to England. He joined EFL Championship team Nottingham Forest on loan. He played his first game for them in February. In his first home game, he saved a penalty kick.
He was even named in the English Football League's "Team of the Week" in February. This was after he kept a clean sheet in a tough match.
On 3 July 2018, Pantilimon signed a three-year deal with Nottingham Forest. He became a permanent player for the club.
On 30 January 2020, Pantilimon was loaned to Cypriot First Division team Omonia for the rest of the season.
Final Club: Denizlispor
On 4 September 2020, Pantilimon joined Turkish team Süper Lig side Denizlispor. This move happened after his contract with Nottingham Forest ended.
International Career: Representing Romania
Pantilimon played for the Romanian under-21 national team. He made his debut for the senior Romanian national team on 19 November 2008. This was in a friendly game against Georgia.
On 31 May 2016, Pantilimon was chosen for the final 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. However, he did not play in any matches during this tournament. The Romanian coach used Ciprian Tătărușanu as the main goalkeeper.
Personal Life
Costel Pantilimon is a hearing child. Both of his parents are deaf. He married Andreea Berbece in 2013.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Politehnica II Timișoara | 2006–07 | Liga II | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 26 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 0 | |||||
| Politehnica Timișoara | 2005–06 | Liga I | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2007–08 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2008–09 | 31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |||
| Total | 93 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | 115 | 0 | |||
| Manchester City | 2011–12 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| Sunderland | 2014–15 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 49 | 0 | |||
| Watford | 2015–16 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 2017–18 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 2017–18 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 2018–19 | Championship | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 44 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 57 | 0 | |||
| Omonia (loan) | 2019–20 | Cypriot First Division | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Denizlispor | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 257 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 314 | 0 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | |||
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 0 | |
Honours
Politehnica Timișoara
- Cupa României runner-up: 2006–07, 2008–09
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2013–14
- Football League Cup: 2013–14
- FA Community Shield: 2012
- FA Cup runner-up: 2012–13
See also
In Spanish: Costel Pantilimon para niños
