View source for Marko Pantelić

{{short description|Serbian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = Marko Pantelić
| image       = Marko Pantelić.jpg
| image_size  = 250px
| caption     = Pantelić in 2009
| fullname    = Marko Pantelić
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1978|9|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Belgrade]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| height      = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| position    = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 =  | youthclubs1 = [[Red Star Belgrade]]
| youthyears2 =  | youthclubs2 = [[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis Thessaloniki]]
| years1  = 1995–1996 | clubs1  = [[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis Thessaloniki]] | caps1  = 8   | goals1  = 4
| years2  = 1997–1999 | clubs2  = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]   | caps2  = 3   | goals2  = 0
| years4  = 1998–1999 | clubs4  = → [[FC Lausanne-Sport|Lausanne]] (loan)            | caps4  = 21  | goals4  = 8
| years5  = 1999–2000 | clubs5  = [[Celta de Vigo|Celta]]                            | caps5  = 0   | goals5  = 0
| years6  = 1999      | clubs6  = → [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] (loan)              | caps6  = 3   | goals6  = 0
| years7  = 2000      | clubs7  = → [[Yverdon-Sport FC|Yverdon]] (loan)              | caps7  = 3   | goals7  = 0
| years8  = 2002–2003 | clubs8  = [[FK Obilić|Obilić]]                               | caps8  = 5   | goals8  = 0
| years9  = 2003–2004 | clubs9  = [[FK Smederevo|Sartid Smederevo]]                  | caps9  = 31  | goals9  = 13
| years10 = 2004–2005 | clubs10 = [[Red Star Belgrade]]                              | caps10 = 44  | goals10 = 26
| years11 = 2005–2009 | clubs11 = [[Hertha BSC]]                                     | caps11 = 114 | goals11 = 45
| years12 = 2009–2010 | clubs12 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]                                  | caps12 = 25  | goals12 = 16
| years13 = 2010–2013 | clubs13 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]                     | caps13 = 38  | goals13 = 20
| totalcaps = 295 | totalgoals = 132
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997 | nationalteam1 = [[FR Yugoslavia national under-18 football team|FR Yugoslavia U18]] | nationalcaps1 = 5  | nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 1996–1999 | nationalteam2 = [[FR Yugoslavia national under-21 football team|FR Yugoslavia U21]] | nationalcaps2 = 7  | nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2003–2011 | nationalteam3 = [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]]{{refn|group=note|Including 3 caps for [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia and Montenegro]]}} | nationalcaps3 = 43 | nationalgoals3 = 10
}}
'''Marko Pantelić''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Марко Пантелић}}, {{IPA|sh|mâːrko pǎnːtelitɕ|pron}}; born 15 September 1978) is a Serbian retired professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|striker]]. He represented [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]] at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].

==Club career==

===Early years===
As Pantelić was coming up through the [[Red Star Belgrade]] youth system, he was offered a job [[Thessaloniki]] and went there alone in [[Greece]]. Pantelić was still only 16 years old when he signed a professional contract with [[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis Thessaloniki]].<ref>[https://www.vice.com/sr/article/poslednji-kultni-heroj-vice-u-gostima-kod-marka-pantelica/ Poslednji kultni heroj: VICE u gostima kod Marka Pantelića]</ref> At 18, he accepted an offer in France to play for [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] and soon found himself training and playing alongside stars like [[Raí]], [[Marco Simone]] and [[Leonardo Araújo|Leonardo]]. After shining in PSG he moved on to [[FC Lausanne-Sport|Lausanne]] for a season, scoring 8 goals in 21 Swiss league matches.

Next stop was Spain at [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]. During this time, he was sent out on loan to [[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]] in Austria.

===Obilić, Smederevo and Red Star===
In the summer of 2002, after a two-year absence from professional football, Pantelić returned home to Serbia, and signed with [[FK Obilić|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 Smederevo|Sartid Smederevo]].

After settling in, he quickly established himself as the team's leader, spearheading them to the [[Serbia and Montenegro 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===
[[File:Marko Pantelic.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Pantelić with Hertha]]
After securing a loan move to Hertha for [[Euro|€]]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 Bundesliga|2005–06 season]]. In April 2006, he permanently moved to Hertha for an additional €1.5&nbsp;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 Bundesliga|2006–07 season]]. The [[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08 season]] brought more steady play with 13 goals from 28 league matches. The next season, Pantelic was often benched in favor of [[Andriy Voronin]] as Hertha contended for the Bundesliga title.  Hertha fell short, finishing in 4th place.

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,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11881_5063365,00.html | title = Pantelic yet to discuss future | publisher = Sky Sports | date = 17 March 2009 | access-date = 13 April 2009}}</ref> he became a free agent during the summer 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.welt-hertha-linke.de/abschied-von-zwei-alternden-stars.html|title=Abschied von zwei alternden Stars|language=de|date= 28 May 2009 | access-date= 28 May 2009| publisher = Welt Hertha Linke}}</ref>

===Ajax===
On 1 September 2009, after completing several medical tests, Pantelić signed a one-year contract with Dutch side [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], and was given the number 9 shirt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Nieuws-artikel/Ajax-contracteert-Pantelic.htm |title=Ajax contracteert Pantelic |access-date=1 September 2009 |date=1 September 2009 |language=nl |publisher=ajax.nl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904195344/http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Nieuws-artikel/Ajax-contracteert-Pantelic.htm |archive-date=4 September 2009 }}</ref> 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 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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/site/nieuws/133682/Pantelic_moet_goodbye_zeggen_tegen_Ajax.html | title = Pantelic moet 'goodbye' zeggen tegen Ajax | access-date = 4 July 2010 | date = 3 June 2010 | language = nl | publisher = voetbalprimeur.nl}}</ref> Ajax signed [[Mounir El Hamdaoui]] as his successor.

===Olympiacos===
On 21 August 2010, Pantelić joined [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract worth €1.6 million per year.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=4524 | title = Olympiakos snap up Pantelic | publisher = sportingreece.com | access-date = 30 March 2011 | date = 20 August 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111003054443/http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=4524 | archive-date = 3 October 2011 }}</ref> He scored his first goal against [[Panserraikos F.C.|Panserraikos]]. On 11 December 2011, Pantelić managed to score four goals and to secure a victory against [[Kerkyra F.C.|Kerkyra]].

==International career==
Though he debuted for the national team in a [[Exhibition game|friendly match]] against [[Poland national football team|Poland]] in 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15956|title=Marko Pantelić, international football player|access-date=14 March 2025|website=EU-football.info}}</ref> Pantelić started getting more frequent call-ups only in 2006 when he was almost 28 years of age.

In June 2010, he was selected in Serbia's squad for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?id=5238038 | title=Serbia cuts goalkeeper Brkic to make 23 | work=espn.com | date=1 June 2010 | access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> where he appeared in group stage matches against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] and [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]. He scored his first World Cup goal against Australia in a 2–1 loss.

Pantelić also scored three goals in the [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers]]. He has not featured for his country since the failed [[UEFA Euro 2012]] campaign. He totalled 10 goals in 43 caps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/joeg-recintlp.html|title=Yugoslavia (Serbia (and Montenegro)) - Record International Players|access-date=14 March 2025|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref>

==Outside football==
{{Quote_box|
 width=25%
|align=left
|quote="Pantelić is a miracle of a man. He's the kind of legend that I would rarely ever meet."
|source=[[Josip Šimunić]], March 2013<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zurnal.rs/2013/03/16/simunic-marko-pantelic-je-cudo-od-coveka/index.html?lang=lat | title = Šimunić: Marko Pantelić je čudo od čoveka | language = sr | publisher = Sportski Zurnal | date = 16 March 2013 | access-date = 17 March 2013}}</ref>

|}}
Pantelić is widely known in his home country for his [[alter ego]] "Pantela", which was created when an anonymous editor of ''[[Kurir]]'' allegedly began writing columns under the nickname "Pantela" to reflect the real Pantelić's wit and charisma.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kurir-info.rs/pantelic-hocu-da-upoznam-pantelu-clanak-302821 | title = Pantelić: Hoću da upoznam Pantelu! | language = sr | publisher = Kurir | date = 4 July 2012 | access-date = 17 March 2013}}</ref> The phenomenon became so popular that anonymous fans created profiles on [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]] to mimic Pantelić's humorous personality.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mozzartsport.com/vesti/fenomen-godine--brat-pantela | title = FENOMEN GODINE: Brat Pantela | language = sr | publisher = Mozzart Sport | date = 1 January 2012 | access-date = 17 March 2013}}</ref> Pantelić himself confirmed that he is not the owner of either profiles, but admitted to ''Kurir'' that he found his alter egos funny and claimed that he would even want to meet the people behind his social networking profiles.

==Career statistics==

===Club===
''Source:''<ref>{{WorldFootball.net|marko-pantelic}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis Thessaloniki]]
|[[1995–96 Alpha Ethniki|1995–96]]
|[[Super League Greece|Alpha Ethniki]]
|8||4||||||2||0||10||4
|-
|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
|[[1997–98 French Division 1|1997–98]]
|[[Ligue 1|French Division 1]]
|3||0||1||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|[[FC Lausanne-Sport|Lausanne]]
|[[1998–99 Nationalliga A|1998–99]]
|[[Swiss Super League]]
|21||8||||||colspan="2"|—||21||8
|-
|[[SK Sturm Graz|Sturm Graz]]
|[[1999–2000 Austrian Football Bundesliga|1999–2000]]
|[[Austrian Football Bundesliga|Austrian Bundesliga]]
|3||0||||||2||0||5||0
|-
|[[Yverdon-Sport FC|Yverdon]]
|[[2000–01 Nationalliga A|2000–01]]
|[[Swiss Super League]]
|3||0||||||colspan="2"|—||3||0
|-
|[[FK Obilić|Obilić]]
|[[2002–03 First League of Serbia and Montenegro|2002–03]]
|[[First League of Serbia and Montenegro]] 
|5||0||1||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FK Smederevo|Sartid Smederevo]]
|[[2002–03 First League of Serbia and Montenegro|2002–03]]
|First League of Serbia and Montenegro
|16||5||2||1||0||0||18||6
|-
|[[2003–04 First League of Serbia and Montenegro|2003–04]]
|First League of Serbia and Montenegro
|15||8||2||0||4||1||21||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!31!!13!!4!!1!!4!!1!!39!!15
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Red Star Belgrade]]
|[[2003–04 Red Star Belgrade season|2003–04]]
|First League of Serbia and Montenegro
|12||5||3||1||0||0||15||6
|-
|[[2004–05 Red Star Belgrade season|2004–05]]
|First League of Serbia and Montenegro
|29||21||5||1||6||2||40||24
|-
|[[2005–06 Red Star Belgrade season|2005–06]]
|First League of Serbia and Montenegro
|3||0||0||0||2||3||5||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!44!!26!!8!!2!!8!!5!!60!!33
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Hertha BSC]]
|[[2005–06 Bundesliga|2005–06]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|28||11||2||1||0||0||30||12
|-
|[[2006–07 Hertha BSC season|2006–07]]
|Bundesliga 
|32||14||4||0||6||2||42||16
|-
|[[2007–08 Hertha BSC season|2007–08]]
|Bundesliga 
|28||13||1||1||0||0||29||14
|-
|[[2008–09 Hertha BSC season|2008–09]]
|Bundesliga 
|26||7||2||2||9||4||37||13
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!114!!45!!9!!4!!15!!6!!138!!55
|-
|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[2009–10 AFC Ajax season|2009–10]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|25||16||7||3||7||2||39||21
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]
|[[2010–11 Olympiacos F.C. season|2010–11]]
|[[Super League Greece]]
|20||9||4||1||0||0||24||10
|-
|[[2011–12 Olympiacos F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Super League Greece 
|12||10||3||6||3||0||18||16
|-
|[[2012–13 Olympiacos F.C. season|2012–13]]
|Super League Greece 
|6||1||2||0||1||0||9||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!38!!20!!9!!7!!4!!0!!51!!27
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!295||132||39||17||42||14||376||163
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:center"|[[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia and Montenegro]]
|2003||1||0
|-
|2004||2||0
|-
|2005||0||0
|-
|rowspan="6" style="vertical-align:center"|[[Serbia national football team|Serbia]]
|2006||5||1
|-
|2007||7||0
|-
|2008||7||2
|-
|2009||6||1
|-
|2010||7||3
|-
|2011||8||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!43!!10
|}

{| class="wikitable" align=centre style=font-size:100%
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
{{Ig match
| n =1
| d=16 August 2006
| st=Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty | ci=[[Uherské Hradiště]] | co=[[Czech Republic]]
| o=Czech Republic
| sc=1–'''2'''
| fr=1–3
| comp=[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]}}
{{Ig match
| n=2
| d=24 May 2008
| st=Croke Park | ci=[[Dublin]] | co=[[Republic of Ireland]]
| o=Republic of Ireland
| sc=0–'''1'''
| fr=1–1
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n=3
| d=28 May 2008
| st=Wacker Arena | ci=[[Burghausen, Altötting]] | co=[[Germany]]
| o=Russia
| sc=1–'''1'''
| fr=1–2
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n=4
| d=10 October 2009
| st=Red Star Stadium | ci=[[Belgrade]] | co=[[Serbia]]
| o=Romania
| sc='''2'''–0
| fr=5–0
| comp=[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying]]}}
{{Ig match
| n=5
| d=3 March 2010
| st=Stade 5 Juillet 1962 | ci=[[Algiers]] | co=[[Algeria]]
| o=Algeria
| sc=0–'''1'''
| fr=0–3
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n=6
| d=5 June 2010
| st=Partizan Stadium | ci=[[Belgrade]] | co=[[Serbia]]
| o=Cameroon
| sc='''4'''–2
| fr=4–3
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n=7
| d=23 June 2010
| st=Mbombela Stadium | ci=[[Nelspruit]] | co=[[South Africa]]
| o=Australia
| sc='''1'''–2
| fr=1–2
| comp=[[2010 FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Ig match
| n=8
| d=25 March 2011
| st=Red Star Stadium | ci=[[Belgrade]] | co=[[Serbia]]
| o=Northern Ireland
| sc='''1'''–1
| fr=2–1
| comp=[[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]]}}
{{Ig match
| n=9
| d=29 March 2011
| st=A. Le Coq Arena | ci=[[Tallinn]] | co=[[Estonia]]
| o=Estonia
| sc=0–'''1'''
| fr=1–1
| comp=UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying}}
{{Ig match
| n=10
| d=2 September 2011
| st=Windsor Park | ci=[[Belfast]] | co=[[Northern Ireland]]
| o=Northern Ireland
| sc=0–'''1'''
| fr=0–1
| comp=UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying}}
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
'''Lausanne'''
* [[Swiss Cup]]: [[1998–99 Swiss Cup|1998–99]]

'''Sartid Smederevo'''
* [[Serbia and Montenegro Cup]]: [[2002–03 Serbia and Montenegro Cup|2002–03]]

'''Red Star Belgrade'''
* [[First League of Serbia and Montenegro]]: [[2003–04 First League of Serbia and Montenegro|2003–04]]
* Serbia and Montenegro Cup: [[2003–04 Serbia and Montenegro Cup|2003–04]]

'''Hertha BSC'''
* [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2006]]

'''Ajax'''
* [[KNVB Cup]]: [[2009–10 KNVB Cup|2009–10]]

'''Olympiacos'''
* [[Super League Greece]]: [[2010–11 Super League Greece|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Superleague Greece|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Superleague Greece|2012–13]]
* [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]: [[2011–12 Greek Football Cup|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Greek Football Cup|2012–13]]

===Individual===
* Best Sportsman of [[SD Crvena Zvezda]]: 2004
* [[First League of Serbia and Montenegro]] Top Scorer: [[2004–05 First League of Serbia and Montenegro|2004–05]]
*[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] Top Goalscorer: [[2011–12 Greek Football Cup|2011–12]] (6 goals)

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Reprezentacija|pantelic-marko}}
* {{FIFA player|217019}}
* {{UEFA player|28502}}
* {{sports links}}

{{First League of Serbia and Montenegro top scorers}}
{{Greek Cup top scorers}}
{{Serbia squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{FSS presidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pantelic, Marko}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Belgrade]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's footballers]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Serbian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Serbia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players]]
[[Category:FC Lausanne-Sport players]]
[[Category:RC Celta de Vigo players]]
[[Category:SK Sturm Graz players]]
[[Category:Yverdon-Sport FC players]]
[[Category:FK Obilić players]]
[[Category:FK Smederevo 1924 players]]
[[Category:Red Star Belgrade footballers]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Olympiacos F.C. players]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:First League of Serbia and Montenegro players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Greece]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Austria]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Greece]]