Urko Rafael Pardo

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, moving the following year to FC Rapid București 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 Super League games in his first year. The move was extended by Rapid for the following season, and he appeared more regularly (Olympiacos were seeking a replacement for the legendary Antonios Nikopolidis (40), who was set to retire in June 2011, and said the Spaniard would be a very good choice for succeeding him), 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 Cypriot Second Division team Ermis Aradippou FC. Pardo joined Cypriot Third Division team Olympias Lympion for the 2020–21 season.

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 3–2 away friendly defeat against Armenia.

Career statistics

Honours Olympiacos Super League Greece: 2010–11

APOEL Cypriot First Division: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 Cypriot Cup: 2013–14, 2014–15 Cypriot Super Cup: 2013

Ermis Aradippou Cypriot Second Division: 2019–20