Alexander Bunbury (born 18 June 1967) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a striker.[1]
 Bunbury in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Bunbury | ||
| Date of birth | 18 June 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Plaisance, Guyana | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1990 | Hamilton Steelers | 71 | (27) |
| 1990 | Toronto Blizzard | 6 | (1) |
| 1991 | Montreal Supra | 24 | (7) |
| 1992–1993 | West Ham United | 4 | (0) |
| 1993–1999 | Marítimo | 165 | (59) |
| 1999–2000 | Kansas City Wizards | 24 | (4) |
| Total | 269 | (110) | |
| International career | |||
| 1984–1985 | Canada U20 | 9 | (3) |
| 1986–1997 | Canada | 66 | (15) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2008 | Bangu FC | ||
| 2008–2012 | Minnesota Thunder (academy) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Minnesota Twin Stars | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He played mainly for Marítimo in Portugal during a 13-year professional career, and represented the Canadian national team during 11 years. In 2000, Bunbury became a manager.
Club career
editBorn in Plaisance, Guyana, Bunbury started playing professionally with the Hamilton Steelers where he was managed by John Charles, also having one-year spells in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra.
In 1993, after an unassuming season for West Ham United (only six appearances overall), he moved to Portugal's C.S. Marítimo, going on to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the Primeira Liga with 59 goals. In his second season, he won the Foreign Player of the Year award,[2] and he scored a career-best 15 goals in the 1998–99 campaign, helping his team to the tenth position in what was his final year in Madeira.
In early 1999, after requesting a move to play closer to his hometown of Montreal, Bunbury returned to North America, and retired after two seasons with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. Subsequently, he took up coaching in Minnesota, first with youth team Bangu FC and later at the Minnesota Thunder Academy.
Bunbury was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.[3] In 2012, as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.[4]
International career
editBunbury played in all three of Canada's games at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union. He made his debut with the senior side in an August 1986 Merlion Cup match against Singapore, and went on to earn 65 caps and score 15 goals during 11 years.[5]
Bunbury ranked fourth in the all-time scorer's list in June 2008, and eighth in appearances.[6] He represented the nation in 30 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and played at the inaugural 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship.[7]
Bunbury's final international was a November 1997 World Cup qualification match against Costa Rica, a game after which Paul Dolan, Geoff Aunger, Frank Yallop and Colin Miller also said farewell to the national team.[5]
International goals
edit- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 1986 | Singapore, Singapore |  Singapore |
1–0 | 1–0 | Merlion Cup |
| 2 | 30 September 1987 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador |  El Salvador |
1-0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 November 1992 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada |  Bermuda |
1–0 | 4–2 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 15 November 1992 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | Bermuda |
2–0 | 4–2 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 15 November 1992 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | Bermuda |
3–0 | 4–2 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 4 April 1993 | Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras |  Honduras |
2–1 | 2–2 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 11 April 1993 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | El Salvador |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 9 May 1993 | Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada |  Mexico |
1–0 | 1–2 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 15 July 1993 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |  Martinique |
2–0 | 2–2 | 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 10 | 26 January 1995 | SkyDome, Toronto, Canada |  Portugal |
1–1 | 1–1 | SkyDome Cup |
| 11 | 10 October 1996 | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada |  Cuba |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 3 November 1996 | Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada | El Salvador |
1–0 | 1–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 15 December 1996 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | El Salvador |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 14 September 1997 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | El Salvador |
1–1 | 1–4 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 12 October 1997 | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada | Mexico |
1–2 | 2–2 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
Personal life
editAfter his retirement, Bunbury made Prior Lake, Minnesota, his home, where he worked as a youth soccer coach and trainer. He has four children with his ex-wife Kristi: actress Kylie, professional soccer players Teal and Mataeo, and Logan.[8][9][10][11]
Honours
editMarítimo
- Taça de Portugal: runner-up 1994–95
Kansas City Wizards
- MLS Cup: 2000
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 2000
Individual
- Canadian International Player of the Year: 1993, 1995
- Primeira Liga: Foreign Player of the Year 1994–95
References
edit- ^ Alex, lenda do Marítimo: «Até Baggio me pediu a camisola» maisfutebol.iol.pt
- ^ "Rapids rise into top spot for first time ever" Archived 6 May 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Soccer Hall of Fame – Alex Bunbury". Soccer.on.ca. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ Association announces All-Time Canada XI – men's team Archived 19 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine; at Canada Soccer
- ^ a b Alex Bunbury at the Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ Canada – Record International Players Archived 14 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine; at RSSSF
- ^ Alex Bunbury – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ Bunbury follows in father's footsteps ; ESPN, 5 May 2011
- ^ "Kylie Bunbury on Instagram: "Favorite photo of my mom and I (& baby Logan in her belly) when we lived in Madeira, Portugal 🇵🇹 Mom, thank you for your love that is unconditional, absolute and profound. Beijinhos para a minha mãe 😘🌹 I love you"". Instagram. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ The Bunbury Bunch: Soccer's Most Talented Family?, retrieved 16 January 2023
- ^ "Schaerlaeckens: Teal Bunbury follows in father's footsteps". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
External links
edit- Alex Bunbury at the Canadian Soccer Association / Canada Soccer Hall of Fame
- Alex Bunbury at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- The Wonderful World of West Ham United statistics
- Alex Bunbury at National-Football-Teams.com
