Alex Bunbury

Alex Bunbury
Bunbury in 2018
Personal information
Full name Alexander Bunbury
Date of birth (1967-06-18) 18 June 1967 (age 57)
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 Tsunami FC
2008–2012 Minnesota Thunder (academy)
2014–2015 Minnesota Twin Stars
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Bunbury (born 18 June 1967) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a striker.[1]

During a 13-year professional career he played for West Ham United, Marítimo and Kansas City Wizards, as well as representing the Canadian national team. Bunbury was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.[2]

Following a coaching career, Bunbury lead an investment group and purchased C.D. Portosantense in April 2024, becoming the club's new President with a 90% ownership stake.[3][4]

Club career

Born 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,[5] 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 Tsunami FC and later at the Minnesota Thunder Academy.

Bunbury was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.[2] In 2012, as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.[6]

International career

Bunbury 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.[7]

Bunbury ranked fourth in the all-time scorer's list in June 2008, and eighth in appearances.[8] He represented the nation in 30 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and played at the inaugural 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship.[9]

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.[7]

International goals

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

After 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 Novak-Bunbury: actress Kylie, professional soccer players Teal and Mataeo, and Logan.[10][11][12][13]

In 2018, Bunbury lead an investment group in purchasing Portuguese lower league club S.U. 1º Dezembro.[14]

Bunbury lead negotiations with former club Marítimo in 2023 regarding financial investment in the Madeira-based team.[15] A year later, in 2024, Bunbury lead an investment group and purchased C.D. Portosantense, becoming the club's new President with a 90% ownership stake. The Canadian stated his aim to develop a new stadium for the club and take the team to the second division within 5 years.ref name=portosantense/>[4]

Honours

Marítimo

Kansas City Wizards

Individual

References

  1. ^ Alex, lenda do Marítimo: «Até Baggio me pediu a camisola» maisfutebol.iol.pt
  2. ^ a b "Soccer Hall of Fame – Alex Bunbury". Soccer.on.ca. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Five year plan to take Portosantense to the II Liga" (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Alex Bunbury is the new owner of Portosantense" (in Portuguese). MadeiraFutebol.com. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Rapids rise into top spot for first time ever" Archived 6 May 2004 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Association announces All-Time Canada XI – men's team Archived 19 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine; at Canada Soccer
  7. ^ a b Alex Bunbury at the Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Canada – Record International Players Archived 14 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine; at RSSSF
  9. ^ Alex Bunbury – FIFA competition record (archived)
  10. ^ Bunbury follows in father's footsteps ; ESPN, 5 May 2011
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ The Bunbury Bunch: Soccer's Most Talented Family?, retrieved 16 January 2023
  13. ^ "Schaerlaeckens: Teal Bunbury follows in father's footsteps". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Bunbury lands ownership of Portuguese Third Division Club". Stabroek News. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Alex Bunbury moves forward with project and says "enough of mediocrity at Marítimo"". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 November 2024.