Emilio Palacios

Emilio José Palacios Luna (born 8 October 1982) is a Nicaraguan former professional footballer best known for his prolific spell as a striker with Diriangén FC and his record‑breaking performances for the Nicaragua national team. Born in the Carazo Department, Palacios grew up amid the modest football culture of Nicaragua and quickly showed a natural aptitude for scoring goals, earning a place in the youth ranks of local clubs before signing his first senior contract with Diriangén in 1999. Over the next three seasons he developed a reputation for clinical finishing, which caught the eye of the short‑lived Parmalat team where he became the Apertura 2002 top scorer with fifteen goals, a feat he repeated in the following two Apertura tournaments, netting seventeen in 2003 and fourteen in 2004 for Diriangén. His goal‑rich form propelled him to the national spotlight and in April 2001 he made his senior debut for Nicaragua in a friendly against Belize, eventually amassing twenty‑six caps and an all‑time record eleven international goals. In February 2007 Palacios etched his name in history by scoring the first hat‑trick for Nicaragua in a competitive setting during the IX UNCAF Copa de Naciones, a performance that attracted interest from abroad and led to a brief stint with Salvadoran side Independiente. After returning home, he contributed to Walter Ferretti and later helped Xilotepelt achieve promotion to the top tier in June 2012 before re‑joining Diriangén for a fourth spell. He finished his club career with brief periods at UNAN Managua, a final return to Diriangén, and a concluding chapter at Managua FC in 2016‑2017. Throughout his career Palacios was celebrated for his aerial ability, positional awareness, and unrelenting work ethic, qualities that made him a beloved figure among Nicaraguan fans and an enduring symbol of the country’s footballing aspirations.