Joel Solanilla


Joel Isaac Solanilla Valdespino is a Panamanian football defender who most recently played for Panamanian second division team Costa del Este.

Playing career

Club

Solanilla started his career with Argentinian side Talleres de Córdoba, but has spent most of his playing career in Panama, joining Plaza Amador in January 2004. He made a move to Colombian first division side Envigado in 2006, only to leave them in August 2006 claiming the club owed him salary.
In August 2007, Solanilla moved abroad again to play for Salvadoran side FAS from San Francisco, whom he had only joined a month earlier.
He joined Guatemalan club Deportivo Malacateco in December 2011 on loan from Sporting San Miguelito, only to be released by the club in March 2012 after playing only 5 matches.
He went on to play in the Panamanian second division and joined Costa del Este ahead of the 2014 Clausura.

International

Solanilla played at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
He made his senior debut for Panama in a February 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Guatemala and has earned a total of 30 caps, scoring no goals. He represented his country in 5 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and was a member of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup team, who finished second in the tournament and he also played at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
His final international was a July 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Nicaragua.

Personal life

His parents are Isaac Solanilla and Yadira Valdespino. His older brother Osvaldo won 10 caps for Panama in 1996 and 1997.