Ernie Tapai

Ernie Tapai
Personal information
Full name Ernest Tapai
Date of birth (1967-02-14) 14 February 1967
Place of birth Perth, Australia
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1989 Footscray JUST 100 (10)
1989–1990 Sunshine George Cross 15 (0)
1990–1992 Adelaide City 15 (6)
1992–1993 Stoke City 0 (0)
1993–1994 Estoril 13 (1)
1994–1996 Gippsland Falcons 48 (8)
1996–1997 Collingwood Warriors 24 (1)
1997–1998 Perth Glory 15 (2)
1999–2000 Home United ? (?)
2001 Clementi Khalsa 16 (3)
2002 Westgate
National team
1990–1998 Australia 37 (6)
Teams managed
2007 Corio

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Ernie Tapai (born 14 February 1967) is a former Australian footballer who played for Stoke City.[1]

Club career

Playing as a midfielder, Tapai debuted with Footscray JUST at age 18 in the National Soccer League. After playing with Sunshine George Cross and Adelaide City Tapai moved to Europe to play for English side Stoke City.[1] He never got much of a chance at Stoke making just once appearance for the club which came as a substitute in a 2–2 with Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Trophy on 6 January 1993.[1]

Tapai then signed with Portuguese club Estoril, participating in the 1993–94 Primeira Divisão season, where he scored his only goal against Benfica, but moved back to play in Australia. He went on to play for Gippsland Falcons and Perth Glory before playing for three years in Singapore with Home United and Clementi Khalsa and retired after the 2002 season with Westgate.[2]

After ending his playing career Tapai went into coaching.[3]

International career

Tapai played 52 games (37 'A' games) for the Australian national team between 1986 and 1998. He was part of the Australia squad that claimed 2nd place at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. Australian manager Terry Venables received criticism for bringing on Tapai in the 1997 World Cup Qualifier against Iran. Australia needed a goal and Tapai was not the man many viewed as being a viable attacking option.[4]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 8 July 1992 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia  Croatia 1–0 3–1 Friendly
2 27 October 1996 Olympic Stadium, Papeete, Tahiti  Tahiti 0–1 0–6 1996 OFC Nations Cup
3 11 June 1997 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Solomon Islands 8–0 13–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 17 June 1997 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Solomon Islands 4–0 6–2 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 5–0
6 11 February 1998 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia  South Korea 1–0 1–0 Friendly

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lowe, Simon (2000). Stoke City The Modern Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-39-2.
  2. ↑ http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/2002D1R.html
  3. ↑ "Corio challenged to make the point". geelongadvertiser. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Ernie Tapai". OZ football. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
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