Luis Ernesto Tapia


Luis Ernesto Tapia Pérez is a retired football forward, who is regarded as the best player ever in Panama.
He was active on the Panama national football team between 1963 and 1979.

Club career

A native of Barrio El Granillo, in Panama City, debuted very young with Panama national football team, during a tour on El Salvador, was signed by the Alianza of that country.
Known as the "Central-american Pele", Luis Ernesto "Cascarita" Tapia lived its golden age in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s, especially with the Alianza and still remembered by his fans, facing dozens of famous Brazilian players.
On March 19, 1971, in the then Estadio Revolución, about 25,000 fans witnessed the match between Brazil's Santos and Atlético Marte of El Salvador. In the Brazilian team was the King Pele, while on the side Atlético Marte "Cascarita" Tapia.

International career

Was part of the team that participated for the first time in a World Cup qualifier, for Argentina 1978 World Cup and had the honor of scoring the first goal for Panama in these competitions, he also toured with the Panama on Asia, facing famous Hector Chumpitaz´s Peru team. He scored 20 goals in 77 games for Panama.

Legacy

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

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
131 March 1963Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González, San Salvador, El Salvador5–05–01963 CONCACAF Championship
23 November 1969Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica1–01–11969 CONCACAF Championship qualification
34 April 1976Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–13–21977 CONCACAF Championship qualification

Honours and awards

Club

;Alianza F.C.
;Aletico Marte
;Juventud Olímpica