Alberth Elis

Alberth Josué Elis Martínez (born 12 February 1996), nicknamed La Panterita (The Little Panther), is a Honduran professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Portuguese Primeira Liga side Boavista and the Honduras national team. He also played for Honduras in the 2016 Summer Olympics and helped them finished 4th.

Alberth Elis
Elis with the Dynamo in 2018
Personal information
Full name Alberth Josué Elis Martínez
Date of birth (1996-02-12) 12 February 1996[1]
Place of birth San Juan Tela, Honduras[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Boavista
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Olimpia 62 (25)
2016–2017 Monterrey 5 (0)
2017 → Houston Dynamo (loan) 26 (10)
2018–2020 Houston Dynamo 62 (24)
2020– Boavista 14 (3)
National team‡
2013 Honduras U17 11 (5)
2015 Honduras U20 8 (4)
2014 Honduras U21 2 (0)
2015–2016 Honduras U23 11 (6)
2014– Honduras 42 (10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2019

Club career

Youth

He first played for the youth team of Real C.D. España in San Pedro Sula. He then moved to Olimpia, where he made his professional debut in September 2013.

Olimpia

Elis made his professional debut on 2 September 2013 in a Liga Nacional match against F.C. Motagua. Elis came on as substitute for Anthony Lozano to help secure a 2–1 win in the Clasico Capitalino.[3] He scored his first professional goal on 5 August 2014 to give Olimpia a 1–0 win over Alpha United in a CONCACAF Champions League match. His first league goal came on 24 August 2014 in a 4–0 win over C.D. Marathón. Elis would score again on September 21 against C.D.S. Vida as well as score the winner in a 2–1 victory against his former team Real España on 28 September.[3]

Monterrey

After 61 games and 25 goals with Olimpia, Elis joined Monterrey on 26 August 2016.[4] He made his debut for Monterrey on 10 September 2016 in a 0–0 draw with Club Tijuana.[5] After only 5 appearances and 0 goals or assists, Monterrey loaned Elis to MLS club Houston Dynamo for the 2017 season.[6]

Houston Dynamo

On 4 March, Elis made his debut with the Dynamo in the first game of the 2017 season; a 2–1 win over the defending champions Seattle Sounders.[7] Elis scored his first Dynamo goal in the team's next game as they won 3–1 against the Columbus Crew.[8] He picked up his first assist for Houston on 18 March in a 2–4 loss to Portland Timbers. On 27 September Elis scored 2 late goals to help the Dynamo overcome a 3–1 deficit. He helped the team qualify for the MLS Playoffs for the first time since 2013.[9] In the opening game of the playoffs, Elis scored the winning goal in extra time against Sporting Kansas City.[10] Overall, he had a strong debut season, scoring 11 goals and recording 4 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions.[8] On 13 December, the Dynamo announced that they had acquired Elis on a full transfer from Monterrey.[11]

Elis recorded 2 assists in the first game of the 2018 season, a 4–0 win over Atlanta United.[12] He enjoyed a strong start to the season, scoring 8 times and assisting 5 others in the first 12 matches and being named to the MLS Team of the Week 4 times during the stretch.[13][14] On 29 June 2018, Elis was named in the team to play against Juventus F.C. in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game.[15] He came on as a halftime substitute for Carlos Vela. On 3 July picked up an assist in the 96th minute to help rescue a 2–2 draw with LAFC.[14] Elis had 2 assists in the US Open Cup Final on 26 September as the Dynamo defeated the Philadelphia Union 3–0 to win their first ever US Open Cup.[8] Elis finished the year with 21 combined goals and assists in MLS, a club single season record.[16]

On 27 February 2019, Elis came on as a sub in the second leg of the Dynamo's CONCACAF Champions League tie with CD Guastatoya and assisted Mauro Manotas's goal that gave the Dynamo the lead on aggregate.[17] On 16 March, Elis scored one and assisted on both of Memo Rodriguez's goals as the Dynamo beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–2.[18] His performance saw him named to the MLS Team of the Week.[19] In Houston's next game, Elis helped the Dynamo get off to a fast start when he set up Memo Rodriguez for a goal in the 4th minute against the Colorado Rapids. He wasn't done terrorizing the defense however as he also scored one himself and hit 2 dangerous crosses that resulted in own goals, giving the Dynamo a 4–1 win over Colorado.[20] Elis was again named to the MLS Team of the Week.[21] In the Dynamo's next game, Elis stayed hot, scoring on a Manotas pass to give Elis a goal in his third straight game and to help the Dynamo get a 2–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.[22] On 19 April, Elis converted a penalty to score in his 4th straight game, however the Dynamo would fall to the LA Galaxy 2–1.[3][23] On 27 April, Elis helped the Dynamo continue their good start to the season when he stole the ball, ran down the right wing before sending in a low cross that Manotas put into the net in the 3rd minute. Houston would go onto defeat the Columbus Crew 2–0.[24] On 4 May, Elis helped the Dynamo defeat rivals FC Dallas in a Texas Derby match, picking up an assist in root to a 2–1 win.[25] He made 4 appearances in the Dynamo's next 5 games, picking up 1 goal and 1 assist, before leaving to join the Honduras national team for the 2019 Gold Cup.[26][27] In his first game game back with the Dynamo after the Gold Cup, Elis scored once and collected 2 assists in a 4–0 win over the New York Red Bulls.[26] His performance saw him named to the MLS Team of the Week.[28] On 17 July, Elis received a red card after getting in the face of a referee in the 6th minute of a match with Atlanta United. The Dynamo went on to lose the game 5–0.[29] On top of the automatic one-game suspension, Elis was issued an additional one-game suspension by the league.[30] Elis returned from his suspension in 1–0 loss to the Chicago Fire on 3 August, however he picked up a yellow card, meaning he was suspended for the Dynamo's next match due to yellow card accumulation.[31] He struggled after he returned to the team, scoring once and collecting 0 assists in his next 8 matches. Elis ended the season on a strong note, scoring once and assisting 2 others in a 4–2 win over the Galaxy in the final game of the season.[32] He was named to the Team of the Week for the 4th time of the season.[33]

Elis missed the first 2 games of the 2020 season due to a hamstring injury he suffered during preseason. The MLS season was paused after 2 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MLS returned to play in July with the MLS is Back Tournament.[34] On 13 July, Elis made his season debut in Houston's first game of the tournament, a 3–3 draw against LAFC with Elis scoring once in the match. He scored again in Houston's next game, but was also sent off for two yellow cards as Houston lost 2–1 to the Portland Timbers.[35] On 25 August Elis had a goal and an assist in a 5–2 win over Sporting Kansas City, but was also subbed off at halftime after hurting his back.[36] He made 2 substitute appearances in the Dynamo's next two matches, recording 2 assists in a 3–0 win over Minnesota United and scoring once in a 2–1 over Kansas City.[35] With transfer rumors surrounding Elis, the Dynamo held him out of their next three games. He was seen at the airport in Houston on 17 September and announced his goodbyes on social media two days later.[37][38]

Boavista

On 21 September 2020, Elis was sold to Portuguese Primeira Liga club Boavista[39] The terms of the transfer were undisclosed, but the fee was reportedly around $1 million plus a future sell-on percentage along with performance-based add-on incentives.[40][41] Elis scored his first goal for the Portuguese outfit the following 2 November, the second goal in a 3–0 home win over Benfica.[42]

International career
Elis playing for Honduras at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Elis first represented Honduras at the U-17 level in a 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying match on 7 December 2012, picking up a goal in a 5–2 win over El Salvador. In their next match, Elis scored a hat trick to help Honduras defeat Costa Rica 3–0.[3] He finished as top scorer with four goals and help Honduras finish top of the Central American group.[43] Elis featured in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, where he scored once and helped Honduras finish 4th. At the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Elis made four appearances and helped Honduras reach the quarter-finals.[44]

On September 30, 2014, Elis was called up by head coach Hernán Medford to the Honduras national football team. He made his senior debut on 9 October 2014 in a friendly against Mexico, a 2–0 loss.[45]

After making 4 senior appearances, Elis played on the Honduras U-21 team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, where he made 2 appearances as Honduras finished 4th.[44] He was also part of the Honduras U-20 team that played at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Elis scored four goals in six games to help Honduras to a 3rd-place finish and qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the U-20 World Cup, Elis appeared in all three group games, but was unable to help Honduras advance past the group stage. Elis led the Honduras U-23 team to a second-place finish at the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship by scoring four goals in five games, including a brace in a 2–0 semifinals win over the United States.[44][46] He was named to the Best XI of the tournament and finished as top scorer.[47]

Elis returned to the senior national team in December 2015. He scored his scored his first and second international goals in a friendly match against Cuba on 16 December 2015.[3] On 25 March 2016, Elis scored his first goal in a competitive senior match, scoring once in a 2–2 draw with El Salvador in a World Cup qualification match.[3]

On 25 July 2016, Elis was named to the Honduras U-23 squad to play at the 2016 Olympics.[48] He appeared all six of Honduras's games and scored two goals, including the winning goal in the quarterfinals match against South Korea, as he helped Honduras finish in 4th place.[3]

On June 29 2017, Elis was named to the 23 man squad for the 2017 Gold Cup.[49] He made four appearances and helped Honduras reach the quarterfinals, where they fell 1–0 to Mexico.

On June 6, 2019, Fabián Coito named Elis to the 23 man squad for the 2019 Gold Cup.[50] However, it was a disappointing tournament for Honduras and Elis, as he failed to score in his 3 appearances and Honduras finished last in their group.[44]

Career statistics
As of 6 February 2021[51][52][53]
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other[lower-alpha 3] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
CD Olimpia 2013–14 Liga Nacional 90——00—90
2014–15 Liga Nacional 18631—6[lower-alpha 4]1—278
2015–16 Liga Nacional 351921—4[lower-alpha 4]2004122
Total 62255200103007730
C.F Monterrey 2016–17 Liga MX 5000———50
Houston Dynamo (loan) 2017 MLS 26100041——3011
Houston Dynamo 2018 MLS 301140———3411
2019 MLS 26900—5[lower-alpha 5]0—319
2020 MLS 640000——64
Total 88344041500010135
Boavista 2020–21 Primeira Liga 1430000——143
Career Total 1696292411530019768
  1. Includes Honduran Cup, Copa MX, and U.S. Open Cup
  2. Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. Includes Honduran Supercup
  4. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  5. Four appearances in CONCACAF Champions League, one appearance in the Leagues Cup

International
As of match played 18 December 2019[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Honduras 201440
201512
2016101
2017134
201830
2019113
Total4210

International goals
Scores and results list Honduras' goal tally first.[55]
N.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 December 2015Estadio Juan Ramón Brevé Vargas, Juticalpa, Honduras Cuba1–02–0Friendly
2.2–0
3.25 March 2016Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador El Salvador1–02–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.13 June 2017Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama Panama2–12–2
5.1 September 2017Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago2–02–1
6.10 October 2017Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Mexico1–13–2
7.15 November 2017Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia Australia1–31–3
8.10 September 2019Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Chile1–12–1Friendly
9.17 November 2019Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Trinidad and Tobago3–04–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
10.4–0

Honors

Club
CD Olimpia
Houston Dynamo

Individual

Personal life

Although born in San Juan Tela, Elis grew up in San Pedro Sula.[2] His older brother, Osman Elis Martínez, is a professional footballer that plays for C.D. Honduras Progreso.[58] His father was a professional footballer; a right midfielder who played in the Honduran second division. He is of Garifuna heritage. Elis's nickname of "La Panterita", Spanish for the little panther, is in reference to a former Honduras striker from San Pedro Sula David Suazo, who was known as "La Pantera" and also from San Pedro Sula. Elis is also into fashion and owns over 100 pairs of shoes.[2] Elis has done charity work such as donating computers to his old school in Honduras.[59]

References
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  2. Cardenas, Felipe. "How Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas formed a strong on-field..." The Athletic. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. "Honduras – A. Elis – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
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