Elmer Cardoza (born 29 July 2002) is a Guatemalan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Super League Greece 2 club Panargiakos, on loan from Liga Nacional club Xelajú and the Guatemala national team.

Elmer Cardoza
Personal information
Full name Elmer William Amado Cardoza Herrera[1]
Date of birth (2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Joyabaj, Quiché Department, Guatemala
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Panargiakos (on loan from Xelajú)
Number 26
Youth career
-2019 Xelajú
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019- Xelajú 114 (9)
2024-Panargiakos (loan) 4 (0)
International career
2019 Guatemala U17 3 (0)
2023 Guatemala U23 3 (0)
2022- Guatemala 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 October 2024

Club career

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Xelajú

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Elmer Cardoza has been with Xelajú since his youth career. He made his Liga Nacional professional senior debut on 23 October 2019, against Iztapa in a 3-1 defeat.[3] On 27 May 2023, Cardoza would be a key player to Xelajú’s Liga Nacional de Guatemala Clausura 2023 win after defeating Antigua, his first achievement with the club.[4]

Loan to Panargiakos

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In July 2024, Xelajú would loan Cardoza to Super League Greece 2 club Panargiakos. He would become the first player in the clubs history to join a European club.[5] He was officially announced by the club on 22 August 2024.[6]

International career

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Youth career

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Elmer Cardoza would start his international career representing Guatemala at the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.[7]

Senior career

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Elmer Cardoza would debut for the senior team on 19 November 2022 in a friendly against Nicaragua, his side would win 3-1.[8]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 22 September 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Xelajú 2019-20 Liga Nacional 4 0 4 0
2020-21 Liga Nacional 5 0 5 0
2021-22 Liga Nacional 32 2 32 2
2022-23 Liga Nacional 43 4 43 4
2023-24 Liga Nacional 30 3 2[a] 0 32 3
Total 114 9 0 0 2 0 0 0 116 9
Panargiakos (loan) 2024-25 Superleague 2 1 0 1 0
Total 115 9 0 0 2 0 0 0 117 9
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Central American Cup

International

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As of match played 11 October 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Guatemala 2022 1 0
2023 1 0
2024 10 0
Total 12 0

Honours

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Xelajú

References

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  1. ^ a b Elmer Cardoza at Soccerway
  2. ^ Elmer Cardoza at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "IZTAPA VS. XELAJÚ 3 - 1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Xelajú venció a Antigua en épica remontada y se proclamó campeón del Torneo Clausura 2023" (in Spanish). Guatemala.com. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ^ "¿Cómo se dio la vinculación de Elmer Cardoza al Club Panargiakos? Presidente de Xelajú brinda detalles" (in Spanish). ESPN Guatemala. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Legionario: Elmer Cardoza es presentado oficialmente con su nuevo club en Grecia". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 22 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ Tamayac, Jonathan (23 April 2019). "Se oficializa la convocatoria para el premundial Sub17" [The call for the U17 World Cup Qualifiers is made official]. Guatefutbol (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Guatemala 3-1 Nicaragua (Nov 19, 2022) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  9. ^ Elmer Cardoza at National-Football-Teams.com
  10. ^ "¡Xelajú MC remonta y es el campeón del Torneo Clausura 2023!". ESPN Guatemala. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2024.