Luis Ernesto Tapia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Tapia and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Luis Ernesto Tapia
Personal information
Full name Luis Ernesto Tapia Pérez
Date of birth (1944-10-21)21 October 1944
Place of birth Panama City, Panama
Date of death 13 November 2024(2024-11-13) (aged 80)
Place of death Panama City, Panama
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1961–1962 Politécnica FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1963 Deportivo El Granillo
1963–1970 Alianza
1969–1970 Deportiva Galcasa
1970–1971 Atlético Marte
1971–1972 UES
1972–1974 Juventud Olímpica
1974–1979 Provincia de Panama Metro
1979–1981 Atlético Ciudad de Panama
International career
1963–1979 Panama 77 (20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luis Ernesto Tapia Pérez (21 October 1944 – 13 November 2024) was a Panamanian football forward, who is regarded as the best player ever in Panama.[1][2]

Tapia was a member of the Panama national team between 1963 and 1979.

Club career

Tapia was raised in Barrio El Granillo, in Panama City[3] and debuted at a young age with Panama national team. During a tour of El Salvador, he was signed by Alianza.

Known as the "Central American Pele",[4] and "Cascarita", Tapia played primarily in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s, especially with the Alianza.[5] He won the 1967 CONCACAF Champions' Cup with Alianza, scoring in the second leg and twice in the playoff against Jong Colombia, the latter in a 5-3 victory.[6]

On 19 March 1971, in the then Estadio Revolución, about 25,000 fans witnessed the match between Brazil's Santos and Primera División side Atlético Marte. The Brazilian team featured Pelé, while Tapia played for Marte.[7]

International career

Tapia was part of the Panama team that participated for the first time in a World Cup qualifier.[8] Tapia scored the first goal for Panama in a World Cup qualifier. He also toured with the Panama in Asia[citation needed] and scored 20 goals in 77 games for Panama.[9]

Death

Tapia died from a heart attack in Panama City, on 13 November 2024, at the age of 80.[10]

Legacy

In his honor, the Training Court next to Estadio Rommel Fernandez also known as mini-Rommel bears his name.

Career statistics

Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tapia goal.
List of international goals scored by Luis Ernesto Tapia
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 31 March 1963 Estadio Nacional Flor Blanca, San Salvador, El Salvador  Nicaragua 5–0 5–0 1963 CONCACAF Championship
2 3 November 1969 Independence Park (Jamaica), Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica  Jamaica 1–0 1–1 1969 CONCACAF Championship qualification
3 4 April 1976 Estadio Revolución, Panama City, Panama  Costa Rica 1–1 3–2 1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification

Honours

Alianza

Aletico Marte

  • La Liga Mayor: 1970

Juventud Olímpica

  • La Liga Mayor: 1973

References

  1. ^ UN GOLEADOR DE RAZA PURA El histórico Cascarita Tapia - La Prensa (in Spanish)
  2. ^ "Luis ???Cascarita??? Tapia, referente histórico de Alianza FC". 25 June 2017.
  3. ^ El Granillo-Chorrillo
  4. ^ “La Cascarita” que marcó una época con “la Orquesta Alba” - La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish)
  5. ^ Luis "Cascarita" Tapia by Luis Giraldo
  6. ^ Radnedge, Keir; Gleeson, Mark (January 2025). "Obituaries". World Soccer. p. 16.
  7. ^ DeporMax.com Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Luis Ernesto Tapia – FIFA competition record (archived)
  9. ^ Panama - Record International Players - RSSSF
  10. ^ "Fallece Luis Ernesto "Cascarita" Tapia, leyenda de Alianza". 13 November 2024.