Ernie Tapai

Football player infobox2
playername = Ernie Tapai
fullname = Ernest Tapai
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|02|14
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Australia
currentclub = retired
position = midfielder or wingback
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1985-1989 1989-1990 1990-1992
1992-1993
1993-1994 1994-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1999-2000 2001
clubs = Footscray JUST Sunshine George Cross FC Adelaide City Stoke City GD Estoril-Praia Gippsland Falcons Collingwood Warriors Perth Glory Home United Clementi Khalsa
caps(goals) = 100 (10) 15 (0) 35 (6) 0 (0) 13 (1) 48 (8) 24 (1) 15 (2) ? (?) ? (?)
nationalyears = 1990-1998
nationalteam = flagicon|Australia Australia
nationalcaps(goals) = 37 (6)
manageryears = 2007
managerclubs = Corio FC

Ernie Tapai (born February 14, 1967) is a former Australian football (soccer) player.

Club career

Playing as a midfielder, Tapai debuted with Footscray JUST at age 18 in the NSL. In 1992, Tapai moved to overseas to Stoke City in England. He got more game time in Portugal with Estoril, where he scored his only goal against Benfica, but moved back to play in the NSL again. He finished off his career in Singapore with Home United and Clementi Khalsa.

International career

Tapai played 52 games (37 'A' games) for the Australia national football team between 1986 and 1998.He was part of the Socceroos squad that claimed 2nd place at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.