Pablo Ignacio Calandria (born 15 March 1982) is an Argentine naturalized Chilean retired footballer who played as a striker.
Nicknamed Cracklandia,“Me motiva que los hinchas me digan Cracklandia” (“The fact that the fans call me Cracklandia motivates me”) ; La Cuarta, 9 December 2013 (in Spanish) he spent most of his professional career in Spain and Chile, notably representing O'Higgins.
Club career Early years / Spain Born in Ituzaingó, Buenos Aires, Calandria played his first professional game for Club Atlético Huracán at the age of only 16.Pablo Calandria, otra víctima de la maldición José Pekerman (Pablo Calandria, another victim of José Pekerman's curse) ; Minuto Uno, 11 March 2007 (in Spanish) He was almost immediately linked with a transfer to country giants Club Atlético River Plate for a US$850,000 fee,Pablo Calandria, cerca de River (Pablo Calandria, nearing River); La Nación (in Spanish) but nothing came of it and was instead acquired by French side Olympique de Marseille.
Calandria was very unsuccessful in his first spells abroad, only scoring once in three full seasons combined with Marseille, RC Lens and Málaga CF. Released by L'OM in the summer of 2002 he continued playing in Spain in the following six years, representing four teams in Segunda División, mainly CD Leganés and Sporting de Gijón.
Return to Argentina Calandria scored his first goal in the Argentine Primera División while playing for Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, in a 1–2 away defeat against San Lorenzo de Almagro for the 2008 Apertura tournament.
After being relegated he joined Atlético Tucumán, netting in his debut."El gol me lo dedico a mí" ("I dedicate this goal to me"); La Gaceta de Tucumán, 4 September 2009 (in Spanish)
Chile In 2010, Calandria signed for Santiago Morning in the Chilean Primera División, going on to remain in the country in the following years, with Club Deportivo Universidad Católica and Santiago Wanderers.Pablo Calandria se convierte en refuerzo de Santiago Wanderers (Pablo Calandria becomes a Santiago Wanderers player); La Tercera, 9 January 2012 (in Spanish) In 2013 he won the Apertura with O'Higgins FC, scoring nine goals in 17 matches including a penalty against C.S.D. Rangers in the final minute that resulted in a 4–3 home win and qualified to the final against Club Deportivo Universidad Católica.O’higgins venció a Rangers en un partido increíble y va por el título (O’higgins beat Rangers in incredible match and head for championship) ; La Tribuna del Gordo, 7 December 2013 (in Spanish)
Calandria participated with the team in the 2014 edition of the Copa Libertadores. In the tournament, he scored through a penalty against Cerro Porteño but also missed one against Club Atlético Lanús in the last match, in an eventual group stage exit.O'Higgins se quedó en blanco con Lanús y fue eliminado de la Copa Libertadores (O'Higgins did not find the net against Lanús and were ousted from the Libertadores Cup); Radio Cooperativa, 9 April 2014 (in Spanish)
On 3 May 2014, whilst playing in the Supercopa de Chile against Deportes Iquique, Calandria suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his knee, being sidelined for six months.O'Higgins ganó la Supercopa al vencer a Deportes Iquique (O'Higgins won the Supercup after beating Deportes Iquique) ; Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, 3 May 2014 (in Spanish)Pablo Calandria estará fuera seis meses y Tucu Hernández se perderá el Mundial (Pablo Calandria will be six months out and Tucu Hernández will miss World Cup) ; El Rancagüino, 9 May 2014 (in Spanish) He returned to action in January of the following year, against Unión La Calera.
International career Calandria played for Argentina at under–17 and under–20 levels.
Style of play Calandria stood out for his aerial ability, and was also a competent penalty taker.El ejemplo de Pablo Calandria: el temple de un goleador (The example of Pablo Calandria: a scorer's poise); O'Higgins FC, 23 March 2015 (in Spanish)
Honours Universidad Católica Copa Chile: 2011
O'Higgins Primera División de Chile: 2013–14 Apertura Supercopa de Chile: 2014
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