Ernie Tapai

NSL Career: Footscray, Sunshine, Adelaide City, Morwell, Collingwood, Perth 237 (27) / 1985 - 1997/98

Socceroos Career: 37 (6) A Internationals / 15 (0) B Internationals

The diminutive Ernie Tapai was one of the most talented players in Australia during the 1980s and 1990s - exciting crowds with his brilliant touches and high work rate. Extremely quick, Tapai constantly ran on to loose balls and nipped at the heels of opponents to win the ball back for his teams. Having a low centre of gravity allowed the midfielder to control the ball with ease and his technique allowed him to cross the ball accurately and unleash brilliant shots from outside the box.

Born in Yugoslavia to Hungarian parents, Tapai came to Australia as a boy and started his junior career at the U-12 level with Melbourne Hungaria. At the age of 15, while part of the Hungaria reserve team, Tapai made his debut for the first team in the Victorian Metropolitan League Division Two. Hungaria gained promotion to Division One where Tapai became a regular in the first team until he was offered a contract by NSL club Footscray in 1985.

Tapai made his NSL debut as an 18 year old and got an opportunity to play throughout the season in a struggling side. The pacy Tapai started out as a right winger to compliment experienced speedster Zdravko Lujić on the left. Under the coaching of Yugoslav legend Dragoslav Šekularac in 1986, Tapai developed the technical aspects of his game and in Footscray's best ever season in the NSL, the young footballer was named the NSL U-21 Player of the Year.

Tapai capped off his brilliant second season by making his debut for the Socceroos B team as a 19 year old. The midfielder remained at Footscray until they were relegated at the end of the 1989 season and was on the verge of returning to the Victorian State League before receiving an offer to join Sunshine George Cross for the 1989/90 season. A strong season for Sunshine resulted in a $30,000 move to Adelaide City.

Tapai started the season on fire, making his full international debut for Australia and scoring four goals in seven games in the NSL before a serious Achilles tendon injury kept him on the sidelines until the finals series, where he scored in his first game back in the qualifying semi-final against South Melbourne. Back to full fitness for the 1991/92 season, Tapai was part of the City side the won the NSL Double before making a move to Europe.

English Second Division side Stoke City signed the midfielder for the 1992/93 season, but without a work permit, Tapai was stuck with the reserve side. After receiving his permit, Tapai was unable to break in to the first team as the club won the league and got promoted. Portuguese Primeira Divisão side Estoril signed Tapai the following season where he scored on debut against Portuguese giants Benfica but lost his place in the second half of the season as the club's foreigners were rotated.

Tapai returned to the NSL to play for Morwell Falcons where his experience helped the small club finish fourth and qualify for the finals series for the first (and only) time. Tapai remained with the club for another season as he got back in to the national team fold before joining former coach Zoran Matić at new franchise club Collingwood Warriors and won the NSL Cup. 

When Collingwood folded after their first season, Tapai joined Perth Glory for one last season in the NSL and came off the bench in Australia's two-legged World Cup play-off against Iran. The 31 year old midfielder moved to Singapore to finish his career, initially joining former Socceroos team mate Vlado Bozinovski at Home United, where he won the S.League in his first season. 

Tapai spent another season at Home United before finishing his professional career at S.League club Clementi Khalsa. The veteran midfielder returned to Australia where he joined Victorian State League Division One side Westgate before hanging up his boots at the age of 35.