Who is Borja Iglesias, Bayer Leverkusen's new Spanish striker that goes by the moniker of Panda?
Known as Panda among his teammates, Borja Iglesias brings big quality to Bayer Leverkusen's front line, with the on-loan Spain international striker keen to add more goals to the Werkself's title push. bundesliga.com has the inside story on the one-time Copa del Rey winner.
Borja Iglesias
Age: 31 (born 17 January 1993)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (on loan from Real Betis)
Position: forward
Country: Spain (2 caps)
Key stats
Initially joining Celta Vigo's reserves as a 21-year-old, Iglesias stepped up to the senior pros to make his Spanish top-flight bow against Sevilla in January 2015. His reputation continued to flourish with Celta's second team during that time and he enjoyed an immensely encouraging return of 76 goals in 146 games for the Sky Blues' B team across four seasons, culminating in a play-off berth for the Spanish second tier.
Iglesias enjoyed a productive season in the colours of Espanyol in 2018/19. - David RamosReal Zaragoza - then playing in the second division - made a successful loan move for Iglesias ahead of their 2017-18 campaign. The striker excelled in his new surroundings and helped coach Natxo González's side to reach the play-offs for the top-flight, contributing a joint third-best 22 goals in the division along the way.
Borja Iglesias was a key member of Real Betis's 2022 Copa del Rey winning side. - CRISTINA QUICLER
Borja Iglesias
Inicios [ editar ]
En 2010 se incorporó a la cantera del Villarreal C. F. En su primera campaña jugó en el Club Deportivo Roda, club satélite del Villarreal, donde llevó a su equipo a la 5.ª posición con 15 goles. [ 5 ] En la campaña 2011-12 jugó en el equipo juvenil del Villarreal y, al año siguiente, fue jugador del Villarreal C. F. "C" de la Tercera División de España, donde finalizó su etapa con 11 goles. [ 6 ]
Celta "B" / Celta [ editar ]
El 9 de julio de 2013 fichó por el Celta de Vigo, como apuesta de futuro del club gallego, incorporándose al equipo filial con el que debutó en la Segunda División B. [ 7 ]
El 3 de enero de 2015 disputó su primer partido con el primer equipo del Celta en la Primera División, al entrar en el minuto setenta y ocho como sustituto de Santi Mina, en la derrota como visitante del equipo vigués contra el Sevilla Fútbol Club. [ 8 ] Un año después jugó su segundo encuentro oficial con el Celta de Vigo en el triunfo por 2 a 0 ante el Cádiz en Copa del Rey. [ 9 ]
El 22 de diciembre de 2016, durante la previa del partido de Copa del Rey contra el UCAM Murcia recibió el reconocimiento por parte del Celta de Vigo como máximo goleador histórico del filial superando a Goran Marić. [ 10 ] Esa temporada acabaría marcando treinta y dos goles, siendo el máximo goleador de los 80 equipos de Segunda División B. Alcanzó los 75 goles oficiales con el filial celeste. [ 11 ] [ 12 ]
Real Zaragoza [ editar ]
El 27 de agosto logró, de penalti, su primer tanto en Segunda División con la camiseta blanquilla. [ 15 ] En la siguiente jornada logró un doblete, ante el Córdoba a domicilio, en la primera victoria del club maño de la temporada. [ 16 ] El 27 de mayo logró su primer hat-trick como profesional, en el triunfo por 3 a 2 ante el Real Valladolid. [ 17 ] Finalizó la temporada de liga con el equipo maño con 23 goles, fue así el máximo goleador del equipo y tercer máximo goleador de la Segunda División, llevando al equipo hasta la tercera posición tras una espectacular remontada en la segunda vuelta. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ]
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Yet Iglesias's crowning glory was still ahead and it came in the form of an unforgettable year for the player while at Real Betis in 2022.
The 31-year-old first joined the Andalusian side on a long-term deal three years previously but initially found it difficult to find his groove during a tricky first season with The Green-and-Whites.
A run to the Copa del Rey final followed in 2021/22, with Iglesias not only top-scoring in the tournament with five goals, but also netting the crucial injury-time goal that took Betis past Rayo Vallecano in the semi-finals and into the showpiece. His subsequent man-of-the-match performance against Valencia ensured that Betis won their third Copa on penalty kicks.
Iglesias has expressed his admiration for ex-Spain striker Fernando Torres (c.) - Laurence GriffithsPlays a bit like: Fernando Torres
"Fernado has always been a reference point for me," Iglesias once said, and there are hints of the multi-title winning striker's game in Leverkusen's new forward. With a strong build, excellent turn of pace and the ability to combine clever, delicate finishes with net-busting strikes, Iglesias's all-round game in attack should very much suit the Werkself's style.
Did you know?
A big hip-hop fan, Iglesias is known as Panda - and even has a tattoo of a panda on his ankle - after a song of the same name from rapper Desiigner. It was during his time with Celta's B team that the song became popular in the dressing roon and the side became known as the Panda team, with Iglesias carrying the nickname from that period throughout his career to date.
What they're saying .
"I fully appreciate what I have every second. Obviously it's fantastic to win and to enjoy the great moments, but I've always tried to take advantage of the not so great times too. I try to learn from those and to make sure they bring things that I can incorporate into my life, and not just my football career." - Iglesias in an interview with el Periódico de España.