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| Armando Cooper | |
|---|---|
| Name | Armando Cooper |
| Fullname | Armando Javier Cooper Dávila |
| Birth date | 13 August 1987 |
| Birth place | Panama City, Panama |
| Height | 1.72 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs | Sporting Coclé, Tauro |
| Currentclub | Tauro |
Armando Cooper is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He has been a prominent figure for both club sides in Panama and abroad, and a long-serving member of the Panama national team, participating in multiple CONCACAF Gold Cups and the FIFA World Cup. Cooper is noted for his versatility, leadership, and experience across leagues in North America, South America, and Europe.
Born in Panama City, Cooper developed in local youth setups including Sporting Coclé and Tauro F.C.'s academy. As a youth he trained in Panama's capital alongside contemporaries who later featured for clubs such as San Francisco F.C. and Plaza Amador. Early appearances in national youth tournaments led to call-ups into Panama's youth national teams, where he faced opposition from squads like Honduras national under-20 football team, Costa Rica national under-20 football team, and Mexico national under-20 football team in regional competitions. Scouts from clubs in Argentina, Colombia, and Major League Soccer noted Cooper's performances in international youth competitions and domestic league play.
Cooper made his professional debut with Tauro F.C. in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol before moving abroad. He joined D.C. United in Major League Soccer where he featured alongside teammates such as Freddy Adu and faced rivals including LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls. After MLS, Cooper transferred to Club Nacional de Football in Uruguay, competing in the Primera División Uruguaya and participating in continental fixtures against clubs like Club Atlético Independiente and Club Atlético River Plate (Montevideo). His South American spell included a move to Universidad de Chile, where he was part of squads competing in the Copa Libertadores and facing teams such as Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield and Santos FC.
Subsequent stints saw Cooper sign for Emelec in Ecuador and later for Deportes Tolima in Colombia, encountering opponents like LDU Quito and Atlético Nacional. He also played in Greece for OFI Crete F.C., appearing in Super League Greece fixtures versus sides including Olympiacos F.C. and PAOK FC. Cooper returned to Tauro F.C. during intervals of his career, contributing to domestic title campaigns and continental qualifying matches, and later joined clubs in Mexico's lower divisions and other Latin American leagues, demonstrating adaptability across diverse tactical systems employed by managers such as those from Uruguay and Chile.
Cooper earned his first senior cap for the Panama national football team after progressing from Panama's youth setup. He represented Panama in multiple editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, playing against nations like United States national soccer team, Mexico national football team, Costa Rica national football team, and Honduras national football team. A regular selection across qualification cycles, Cooper contributed to Panama's historic qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup where Panama faced Belgium national football team, England national football team, and Tunisia national football team in the group stage. His international career also included World Cup qualifying matches across CONCACAF against teams such as Jamaica national football team and Trinidad and Tobago national football team, as well as friendlies versus Argentina national football team and Chile national football team. Cooper has been utilized by successive Panama managers in various midfield roles and has served as a senior figure when captaining the side in regional tournaments.
Cooper is characterized as a combative, box-to-box midfielder with the ability to play as a defensive pivot or more advanced in transition. Analysts have compared his work rate and positional intelligence to midfielders who excel in pressing systems used by clubs like Atlético Madrid and managers from South America who favor high-intensity tactics. Coaches have praised his stamina, tackling, and short-passing range suited to possession phases against teams such as Cruz Azul and Club América. Pundits in Panama and abroad have noted his leadership qualities, resilience in physical duels, and capacity to influence tempo, while critics have pointed to occasions where decision-making in the final third limited goal contributions against elite opponents like Brazil national football team and Argentina national football team.
Cooper was raised in Panama City and remains connected to local community initiatives and youth development projects associated with clubs like Tauro F.C. and academies in the Panamá Oeste Province. Off the pitch he has engaged with charitable activities tied to sports education and has been featured in Panamanian media outlets, discussing topics with figures from CONCACAF and personalities involved with Panama national football team administration. Family members have attended international fixtures, and Cooper has been involved in mentoring younger players who later progressed to squads such as San Jose Earthquakes and CF Montréal.
Club Cooper's club career spans appearances in Liga Panameña de Fútbol, Major League Soccer, Primera División Uruguaya, Copa Libertadores, Super League Greece, Categoría Primera A, and Ecuadorian Serie A with cumulative appearances across competitions numbering in the hundreds and goal contributions from midfield recorded for clubs including Tauro F.C., D.C. United, Club Nacional de Football, and Universidad de Chile.
International He has over a century of caps for the Panama national football team, featuring in World Cup finals, multiple CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, and CONCACAF qualifying campaigns, with several international goals and key assists recorded in competitive fixtures.
Cooper's honours include domestic league titles with Tauro F.C. and league or cup successes during spells with South American clubs such as Club Nacional de Football and Universidad de Chile. Internationally he was part of Panama squads that achieved historic milestones including qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and notable CONCACAF tournament runs.
Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Panamanian footballers Category:Association football midfielders Category:Panama international footballers