Byron Bonilla Martínez (born 30 August 1993) is a Nicaraguan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Real Estelí and the Nicaragua national team.

Byron Bonilla
Personal information
Full name Byron Bonilla Martínez[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31)[1]
Place of birth Granada, Nicaragua[1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Left winger, left midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
Real Estelí
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Sporting San José
2019Municipal Grecia (loan)
2019–2020Deportivo Saprissa (loan) 18 (0)
2020–2022 Cartaginés 89 (7)
2023– Real Estelí 28 (4)
International career
2016– Nicaragua 35 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:36, 26 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 January 2024

Club career

edit

Early career

edit

Byron Bonilla was born in Granada, Nicaragua, but he moved to Costa Rica along with his mother at the age of nine. During his childhood, Bonilla did not have a football education, and he felt interested in practicing it when he turned sixteen.

Byron played for Costa Rican LINAFA clubs like San Pablo, San Rafael, and JK Sporting. He spelled a two-month period with Saprissa de Corazón of the Second Division, however he had to leave the team because of permanency issues in the country.[3][4][5]

Sporting San José

edit

In mid 2016, Bonilla was acquired by the Second Division team Sporting San José ahead of their inaugural season in the league. He made his official debut on 1 October in the 0−5 victory over Coto Brus.[6] He finished his first season with eight goals.

At the 2017—18 season, he became one of the leaders for the team and was awarded as the best foreign player.[7]

Municipal Grecia

edit

On 11 January 2019, signed a six-month loan deal with First Division club Municipal Grecia.[8][9]

Deportivo Saprissa

edit

On 22 May 2019, Deportivo Saprissa announced that Bonilla joined the club on a two-year contract, on loan from Sporting San José.[10]

International career

edit

On 8 December 2016, Bonilla received his first call-up to the Nicaragua national team managed by Henry Duarte.[11][12][13][14] He debuted on 30 December in a match against Trinidad and Tobago, as a substitution for Daniel Cadena at the beginning of the second half.[15][16]

On 4 June 2019, Bonilla was named to Nicaragua's final 23-man for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[17]

International goals

edit

Scores and results list Nicaragua's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Byron Bonilla
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 October 2019 Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica   Dominica 2–0 4–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B
2 3–0
3 5 June 2021 Estadio Nacional, Managua, Nicaragua   Belize 2–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 3 June 2022 Estadio Nacional, Managua, Nicaragua   Trinidad and Tobago 2–1 2–1 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
5 6 June 2022 Arnos Vale Stadium, Arnos Vale, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1–1 2–2 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B

Honours

edit

Individual

Liga Primera (C2023)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Byron Bonilla at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ Byron Bonilla at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Este es el jugador nicaragüense de la Liga de Ascenso que le llena el ojo a Vladimir Quesada" (in Spanish). La Nación. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Saprissa está cerca de fichar a jugador nicaragüense" (in Spanish). La Teja. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Byron Bonilla ya había sido parte del Saprissa" (in Spanish). Columbia. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Byron Bonilla consolida su ascenso futbolístico con convocatoria a selección nicaragüense" (in Spanish). Liga de Ascenso. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Byron Bonilla pasa gran momento goleador en la Segunda División costarricense" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Municipal Grecia: a mantener la idea ofensiva de "Paté"" (in Spanish). CrHoy.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Grecia le cumple con refuerzos a "Paté" para buscar una soñada clasificación" (in Spanish). Mario Segura. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Deportivo Saprissa confirma la contratación del nicaragüense Byron Bonilla" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  11. ^ Nectalí Mora Zeledón (8 December 2016). "Selección de Futbol convoca tres jugadores con doble nacionalidad" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. ^ Redacción (14 December 2016). "Selección nica jugará amistoso contra Trinidad y Tobago" (in Spanish). La Gente. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  13. ^ Miguel Espinoza (14 December 2016). "Nicaragua contra Trinidad y Tobago el 27 y 30 de Diciembre" (in Spanish). La Nueva Radio Ya. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  14. ^ Haxel Rubén Murillo (27 December 2016). "Nicaragua ante Trinidad y Tobago en amistoso clave" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Diario. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  15. ^ Redacción (30 December 2016). "1-3. Trinidad y Tobago vence a Nicaragua en segundo amistoso" (in Spanish). Contacto Hoy. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  16. ^ Reydavid González (31 December 2016). "Selección pierde ante Trinidad y Tobago en segundo amistoso" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  17. ^ Hermes Solano (4 June 2019). "Nicaragua definió lista para Copa Oro con 4 "ticos"" (in Spanish). CrHoy.com. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  18. ^ Nectalí Mora Zeledón (21 June 2018). "El nicaragüense Byron Bonilla elegido el mejor extranjero de Segunda División tica" (in Spanish). La Prensa. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Best XI of the 2017-18 season". Liga de Ascenso. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Best XI of the week: 4". Liga de Ascenso. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Best XI of the week: 5". Liga de Ascenso. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Best XI of the week: 6". Liga de Ascenso. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Best XI of the week: 11". Liga de Ascenso. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Best XI of the week: 18". Liga de Ascenso. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Best XI of the week: Quarter-finals second leg". Liga de Ascenso. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Best XI of the week: Semi-finals second leg". Liga de Ascenso. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Figure of the week 4". Liga de Ascenso. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  28. ^ "Best XI of the week: 9". Liga de Ascenso. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  29. ^ "Best XI of the week: Quarter-finals second leg". Liga de Ascenso. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Best XI of the week: Semi-finals first leg". Liga de Ascenso. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Best XI of the week: Semi-finals second leg". Liga de Ascenso. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
edit