Bambang Pamungkas (born 10 June 1980) is an Indonesian football manager and former player. As a footballer, he predominantly played for Persija Jakarta and the Indonesia national football team. His natural position is striker. Bambang made his name in South East Asian football when he scored the only goal for Indonesia at the 2002 Tiger Cup semifinal against Malaysia,[2] and was the tournament's top scorer with eight goals.[3] Once regarded as one of the best striker in South East Asia.
Bambang is considered to be an Indonesian living legend and most successful player in Indonesia. He is known with an outstanding header of the ball, and has a reputation for sharpness in the penalty box. He earned 85 caps and 37 goals[4] with the Indonesia national team,[5] and is perhaps the team's most popular player among its supporters.[6] He was considered one of top ten Asian players of 2012 by ESPN Soccernet.[7]
Club career
Bambang with Persija Jakarta in 2017
Bambang played for several clubs around his hometown as a youth, before beginning his senior career with Persija Jakarta. He was the club's top goalscorer in 1999–2000 Liga Indonesia with 24 goals. In 2000, he joined EHC Norad in the Dutch Third Division. But after only 4 months he returned to Persija, the only Indonesian club he ever played for.
Bambang helped his club to win the Liga Indonesia in 2001, and he was awarded the accolade of that season's best player. Persija Jakarta narrowly missed out on winning the championship again in 2004, by one point. The following season Persija reached the 2005 final, but lost 2–3 to Persipura Jayapura.
On 3 December 2014, Bambang moved back to Persija.[10][11] On 17 December 2019, he announced his retirement from professional football after 19 years. His last match was a 1–3 away win for Persija against Kalteng Putra F.C. at the Tuah Pahoe Stadium.
On 17 January 2020, a month after his retirement, Bambang was chosen to become Persija's manager.
International career
In 1998 Bambang's international career began when he was selected to play for the Indonesian U-19 team. His tally of seven goals at the Asian Cup made him the competition's top scorer. He made his senior international debut the following year in a friendly match against Lithuania, in which he scored one goal.[12]
Bambang has taken part in four FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014), playing in 14 matches and scoring 3 times.[13] Bambang has also been involved in three AFC Asian Cups: 2000, 2004 and 2007. He scored a goal against Bahrain in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, in a match Indonesia won 2–1.[14]
Bambang is married to Tribuana Tungga Dewi, with whom he has three daughters: Salsa Alicia, Jane Abel, Syaura Abana. The second youngest of 7 children. He initially had no thoughts of becoming a footballer. He likes reading and cooking, and has ambitions to become a teacher or a chef once his footballing career is over.[16]
Philanthropy
Bambang devotes some of his free time to charity work, promoting the Bambang Pamungkas Foundation that he set up to provide financial assistance and resources to schools in Indonesia. He is also involved in raising funds for children's cancer charities.[6]
As a well-known public figure, Bambang has appeared in many product endorsements, including for Biskuat, Ti Phone, Nike, Bodrex, and Kuku Bima.
The book Ketika Jemariku Menari details Bambang's life, career and teammates at club and national level, especially during the 2010 AFF Championship. Former Indonesiam national team manager Ivan Venkov Kolev comments in the book that Bambang is "a rare striker in Indonesia. Commitment and professionalism are the hallmarks of these players".[18]
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