Ernie Tapai
FullnameErnest Tapai
Birth date14 February 1967 (age 59)
Birth placeSubotica, Yugoslavia
Height1.68 m
PositionMidfielder
Years 11985–1989
Clubs 1Footscray JUST
Caps 1100
Goals 110
Years 21989–1990
Clubs 2Sunshine George Cross
Caps 215
Goals 20
Years 31990–1992
Clubs 3Adelaide City
Caps 335
Goals 36
Years 41992–1993
Clubs 4Stoke City
Caps 40
Goals 40
Years 51993–1994
Clubs 5Estoril
Caps 513
Goals 51
Years 61994–1996
Clubs 6Morwell Falcons
Caps 648
Goals 68
Years 71996–1997
Clubs 7Collingwood Warriors
Caps 724
Goals 71
Years 81997–1998
Clubs 8Perth Glory
Caps 815
Goals 82
Years 91999–2000
Clubs 9Home United
Caps 9?
Goals 9?
Years 102001
Clubs 10Clementi Khalsa
Caps 1016
Goals 103
Years 112002
Clubs 11Westgate
Nationalyears 11990–1998
Nationalteam 1Australia
Nationalcaps 137
Nationalgoals 16
Manageryears 12007
Managerclubs 1Corio

Ernie Tapai (born 14 February 1967) is an Australian former professional soccer player who spent the majority of his career in the Australian National Soccer League (NSL). He also had stints in England, Portugal and Singapore. Tapai played 52 times for Australia, including 37 times in full international matches.

Early life

Tapai was born in Subotica, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia). He migrated to Australia with his parents as a young child.[1][2][3]

Club career

After playing as a junior for Melbourne Hungaria, Tapai signed for Footscray JUST ahead of the 1985 National Soccer League season.[4] He made 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.Stoke City.[5] 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 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Trophy on 6 January 1993.[5]

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.[6]

After ending his playing career Tapai went into coaching.[7]

International career

Tapai played 52 games (37 'A' games) for the Australia 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.[8][9][10]

Tapai was an Australian schoolboys representative, earning selection in 1984.[11]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[12][13]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Footscray JUST1985National Soccer League223———223
1986National Soccer League264———264
1987National Soccer League212———212
1988National Soccer League170———170
1989National Soccer League140———140
Total10010———10010
Sunshine George Cross1989–90National Soccer League150———150
Adelaide City1990–91National Soccer League94———94
1991–92National Soccer League262———262
Total356———356
Stoke City1992–93Second Division0000001010
Estoril1993–94Primeira Divisão131———131
Gippsland Falcons1994–95National Soccer League205———205
1995–96National Soccer League283———283
Total488———488
Collingwood Warriors1996–97National Soccer League241———241
Perth Glory1997–98National Soccer League152———152
Career total2502800001025128

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[14]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia199030
199120
1992111
199661
1997103
199841
Total366
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tapai goal.
List of international goals scored by Ernie Tapai
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
18 July 1992Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, AustraliaCroatia1–03–1Friendly
227 October 1996Olympic Stadium, Papeete, TahitiTahiti1–06–01996 OFC Nations Cup
311 June 1997Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaSolomon Islands8–013–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
417 June 1997Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaSolomon Islands4–06–21998 FIFA World Cup qualification
55–0
611 February 1998Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaSouth Korea1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Australia

References

  1. ^ "2009 Football Hall of Fame". MyFootball. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  2. ^ Kent, Paul (29 November 1997). "The modern, dinky-di face of Australian soccer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2020. – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Tapai, Ernie (7 March 2019). "Ernie Tapai on The Pioneers FNR". The Pioneers. Football Nation Radio. Archived 21 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine. – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Schwab, Laurie (16 January 1985). "Gully loses Wade to Juventus". The Age. Retrieved 25 May 2020. – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Lowe, Simon (2000). Stoke City The Modern Era - A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-39-2.
  6. ^ "2002 State League Division One Results". Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Corio challenged to make the point". geelongadvertiser. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  8. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics: Ernest Tapai". FIFA.com. Archived 1 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Ernie Tapai". OzFootball. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  10. ^ Howe, Andrew (2018). "Australian National Team History". Football Federation Australia. p. 94.
  11. ^ "The History of Australian Schoolboys Football Teams". NSW Schools Football. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  12. ^
  13. ^ "Aussie Footballers - Ernie Tapai". OzFootball. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  14. ^
  15. ^ "Brazil 6-0 Australia". FIFA. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Oceania Nations Cup 1996". Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Oceania Nations Cup 1998". Retrieved October 14, 2024.