League 1 goalscorers are usually dominated by foreign footballers. Although we’ve had more than one top Peruvian striker in recent seasons, it’s common for a foreign “9” to complete the podium. The 2012 season was an exception, in which eight international players were among the top 10 players with the most goals. Of all, the one with a big difference was in first place Andy Pando. The then Real Garcilaso striker scored 27 goals in 43 games, seven more than ‘Chino’ Miguel Ximénez.
Andy Pando became known in Peruvian football for his good performances at the Universidad San Marcos in the second division. His first experience in the first division was with Alianza Atlético in 2007, but it wasn’t until he signed for CNI in 2010 that he found popularity. He scored six goals in just 11 games, making the jump to Sporting Cristal mid-season. However, the big season of his career would not come until two years later.
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Andy Pando: scorer of the Descentralizado 2012 and his transfer to Las Palmas
After a bad semester at León de Huánuco, Andy Pando was officially signed as a new player by Real Garcilaso in 2012. The Cusco team made their debut in the top division of Peruvian football after becoming champions of the Copa Perú. Because of this, no one suspected what would happen this season: Pando became the top scorer, and the team became vice-national. The Peruvian forward scored the first of his 27 goals against Alianza on day two.
Andy Pando formed a deadly duo at the top with Ramón Rodríguez. Behind both was the “magic” of “Pitu” Fabio Ramos, the other character in the squad. The high level of Pando and Rodríguez left almost no chance for Víctor Rossel, Antonio Serrano and Gustavo Stagnaro, the other attackers of the Cusco team. Notably, the ‘Bear’ was called up by Sergio Markarián for the Peru team to face Bolivia in qualifying, but he didn’t make his debut.
Andy Pando and Ramón Rodríguez scored 37 goals together for Real Garcilaso in 2012. Photo: GLR archives
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However, the romance between Andy Pando and Real Garcilaso ended abruptly and ugly: four days before the second final, the club terminated his contract for alleged “lack of identification with the club” and “not in line with the goals of the institution”. . Pando visited the Cristal team and this was misinterpreted by the media and the team. In January 2013, he was briefed by UD Las Palmas about Spain’s rise to fame.
What happened to Andy Pando?
Andy Pando’s arrival in Spanish football has been hailed as “one of the top 20 goalscorers in the world” according to the IFFHS. Unfortunately, in the six months he was there, he barely managed 96′ in seven games and failed to score. After failing to enjoy any chances, he returned to Peru to reinforce Cesar Vallejo. He became the top scorer in history for the three and a half consecutive years he was there until Yorley’s Mena dethroned him in 2023.
Andy Pando became champion of the Peruvian second division in 2017 with César Vallejo. Photo: GLR archives
Pando also played with La Equidad de Colombia and Alianza Lima for a year before returning to Vallejo in 2017. In both teams he had continuity and scored some goals, but he didn’t stand out like in Trujillo or Cusco. The Peruvian striker, who now has far less media coverage, played his last season in La Liga 1 with Deportivo Municipal in 2020. He was a replacement for Matías Succar, adding just a few minutes in 19 games and scoring just two goals.
Curiously, Andy Pando became his team’s top scorer and even attempted promotion to League 2 in 2021 with Los Chankas CYC in his final year of professional football. He has vaccinated 12 times, been the undisputed starter and, along with Kevin Serna, the best. The currently 39-year-old “bear” has yet to officially announce his retirement and was spotted at the 2022 Movistar F7 Legends Cup for Unión Pelicanos.