Mark Pabai (born 30 September 2000) is a Liberian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Koper and the Liberia national team.[2]

Mark Pabai
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-30) 30 September 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Monrovia, Liberia[1]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Koper
Number 2
Youth career
0000–2011 CDW Wijk bij Duurstede
2011–2019 Utrecht
2022 SPAL
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Jong Utrecht 60 (3)
2021–2022 PEC Zwolle 9 (0)
2022 SPAL 1 (0)
2023 Tabor Sežana 8 (0)
2023– Koper 41 (0)
International career
2021– Liberia 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Club career

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Pabai is a youth academy graduate of Utrecht. He made his professional debut for the club's reserve side on 8 March 2019 in a 3–1 defeat against Jong PSV.[3] On 3 August 2021, he joined Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle on a two-year deal.[4][1]

On 20 January 2022, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Serie B club SPAL in Italy.[5] On 1 September 2022, Pabai's contract with SPAL was terminated by mutual consent.[6]

International career

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In October 2021, Pabai received a call-up from Liberia for two 2022 World Cup qualifying matches against Cape Verde.[7][8] He debuted in a 2–0 World Cup qualification loss to Nigeria on 13 November 2021.[9]

Personal life

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Born in Liberia, Pabai moved to the Netherlands with his family when he was six years old.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 9 November 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Utrecht 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 11 1 11 1
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 16 1 16 1
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 33 1 33 1
Total 60 3 0 0 60 3
PEC Zwolle 2021–22 Eredivisie 9 0 2 0 11 0
SPAL 2021–22 Serie B 1 0 1 0
Tabor Sežana 2022–23 Slovenian PrvaLiga 8 0 1 0 9 0
Koper 2023–24 Slovenian PrvaLiga 31 0 2 0 33 0
2024–25 Slovenian PrvaLiga 10 0 1 0 11 0
Total 41 0 3 0 44 0
Career total 119 3 6 0 125 3

International

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As of match played 17 November 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Liberia 2021 2 0
2022 3 0
2023 5 0
2024 2 0
Total 12 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c "PEC-aanwinst Mark Pabai (20) wil zijn debuut in de eredivisie niet te lang uitstellen. 'Dit is het moment'". 5 August 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Mark Pabai at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 November 2021.  
  3. ^ "PSV II vs. Utrecht II - 8 March 2019". Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Mark Pabai naar PEC Zwolle". 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. ^ "IL DIFENSORE MARK PABAI É UN NUOVO CALCIATORE BIANCAZZURRO" (in Italian). SPAL. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ "RISOLTO CONSENSUALMENTE IL RAPPORTO SPORTIVO COL DIFENSORE MARK PABAI" (in Italian). SPAL. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Acht internationals deze periode actief". 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Justin Salmon, Mark Pabai, Patrick Weah Withdraw from Liberia Squad". Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Match Report of Liberia vs Nigeria - 2021-11-13 - WC Qualification". Global Sports Archive. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
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