Armando Cooper

Armando Cooper
Armando Enrique Cooper Whitaker (born 26 November 1987) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Israeli club Maccabi Petah Tikva and the Panama national team.
Club career
Cooper began his career in the youth ranks of Panama's Árabe Unido. In 2006, he debuted for the professional side, and went on to help the team to achieve various domestic titles in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol.
In July 2011, he signed with Argentine club Godoy Cruz. For the 2013-14 season, he was loaned out to Romanian club Otelul Galati.
In February 2015, Cooper joined 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli, only to return to Árabe Unido in September 2015 after playing a mere 125 minutes for the German club.
Cooper was loaned to Major League Soccer side Toronto FC on 18 August 2016. He scored his first goal with Toronto FC on 30 November as Toronto FC beat Montreal Impact 7–5 on aggregate to advance to the 2016 MLS Cup Final.
After the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, Cooper signed full-time with Toronto FC.
On 14 December 2017, Cooper's contract option was declined by Toronto, and he subsequently left the club.
International career
Cooper was part of the Panama U-20 squad that participated in the 2007 U-20 World Cup held in Canada.
He made his debut with the full national team on 7 October 2006 against the national team of El Salvador. On 16 January 2011, he scored his first goal for Panama in a 2–0 victory over Nicaragua in a 2011 Copa Centroamericana match played at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City.
In May 2018, he was named in Panama's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Cooper played in Panama's first two games against England and Belgium, but after receiving yellow cards in both games he was suspended for the final match against Tunisia.
Style of play
Cooper is known for his energy on the pitch, as well as his creativity and dribbling skills. A versatile midfielder, he is capable of playing in several midfield positions, although he usually favours a more offensive role.
Career statistics
Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cooper goal.
Honours
Toronto FC
MLS Cup: 2017; runner-up 2016
Eastern Conference Championship (Playoffs): 2016, 2017
Supporters' Shield: 2017
Canadian Championship: 2017
Trillium Cup: 2017
See also
List of footballers with 100 or more caps
References
External links
possofutbol.com Profile
Concacaf Profile
1987 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Colón, Panama
Men's association football midfielders
Panamanian men's footballers
Panamanian expatriate men's footballers
Panama men's international footballers
FIFA Men's Century Club
C.D. Árabe Unido players
Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba footballers
ASC Oțelul Galați players
FC St. Pauli players
Toronto FC players
Club Universidad de Chile footballers
FC Dinamo București players
Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. players
Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. players
Liga Panameña de Fútbol players
Chilean Primera División players
Liga I players
2. Bundesliga players
Israeli Premier League players
Major League Soccer players
Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina
Expatriate men's footballers in Chile
Expatriate men's footballers in Romania
Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Expatriate men's footballers in Israel
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Argentina
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Chile
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Romania
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Israel
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Copa América Centenario players
2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
2018 FIFA World Cup players
2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players