Armando Cooper facts for kids
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Cooper with Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Armando Enrique Cooper Whitaker | ||
| Date of birth | 26 November 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Colón, Panama | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005 | Árabe Unido | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2011 | Árabe Unido | 141 | (26) |
| 2011–2015 | Godoy Cruz | 26 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | → Oțelul Galați (loan) | 21 | (3) |
| 2015 | FC St. Pauli | 7 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Árabe Unido | 18 | (3) |
| 2016 | → Toronto FC (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | 23 | (0) |
| 2018 | Universidad de Chile | 3 | (0) |
| 2018 | Dinamo București | 11 | (0) |
| 2019 | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 14 | (5) |
| 2019–2020 | Árabe Unido | 11 | (1) |
| 2020 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 6 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 17 | (3) |
| 2021-2024 | Árabe Unido | 50 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Panama U20 | 14 | (3) |
| 2008 | Panama U23 | 5 | (1) |
| 2006–2022 | Panama | 122 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 July 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 January 2022 |
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Armando Enrique Cooper Whitaker (born November 26, 1987) is a former professional footballer from Panama. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both attack and defense on the field.
Contents
Armando Cooper's Club Career
Armando Cooper started his football journey in the youth teams of Árabe Unido in Panama. In 2006, he began playing for their main professional team. He helped Árabe Unido win several national titles in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol, Panama's top football league.
Playing in Argentina and Romania
In July 2011, Cooper moved to Argentina to play for Godoy Cruz. Later, for the 2013-2014 season, he was loaned to FC Oțelul Galați, a club in Romania.
Time in Germany and Return to Panama
In February 2015, Cooper joined FC St. Pauli, a team in Germany's second division. However, he returned to Árabe Unido in September 2015 after playing only a short time for the German club.
Success with Toronto FC
On August 18, 2016, Cooper was loaned to Toronto FC, a team in Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America. He scored his first goal for Toronto FC on November 30, helping them win against Montreal Impact. This win sent Toronto FC to the 2016 MLS Cup Final.
After the 2016 playoffs, Cooper officially signed with Toronto FC. He was a key player when Toronto FC won the MLS Cup in 2017. His contract with Toronto FC ended on December 14, 2017.
Armando Cooper's International Career
Armando Cooper also played for his country, Panama. He was part of the Panama U-20 team that played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.
Playing for the Senior National Team
He made his first appearance for the senior national team on October 7, 2006, against El Salvador. His first goal for Panama came on January 16, 2011, in a 2–0 win over Nicaragua. This match was part of the 2011 Copa Centroamericana and was played in Panama City.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup
In May 2018, Cooper was chosen for Panama's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was a huge moment for Panama, as it was their first time ever qualifying for the World Cup! Cooper played in Panama's first two games against England and Belgium. He received yellow cards in both games, which meant he was suspended for Panama's final match against Tunisia.
Armando Cooper played a total of 122 games for the Panama national team, scoring 9 goals.
Armando Cooper's Style of Play
Armando Cooper was known for his high energy on the football field. He was also very creative and skilled at dribbling the ball past opponents. He could play in different midfield positions, but he often preferred a more attacking role, helping his team score goals.
Armando Cooper's Achievements
Armando Cooper won several important titles during his career.
Toronto FC
- MLS Cup: 2017 (winner); 2016 (runner-up)
- Eastern Conference Championship (Playoffs): 2016, 2017
- Supporters' Shield: 2017
- Canadian Championship: 2017
- Trillium Cup: 2017
Panama
- CONCACAF Gold Cup third place: 2015
See also
In Spanish: Armando Cooper para niños
- List of footballers with 100 or more caps
