 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 professionalsoccer player who played as astriker.[1]
During a 13-year professional career he played forWest Ham United,Marítimo andKansas City Wizards, as well as representing theCanadian national team. Bunbury was inducted into theCanadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.[2]
Following a coaching career, Bunbury lead an investment group and purchasedC.D. Portosantense in April 2024, becoming the club's new President with a 90% ownership stake.[3][4]
Born inPlaisance, Guyana, Bunbury started playing professionally with theHamilton Steelers where he was managed byJohn Charles, also having one-year spells in theCanadian Soccer League with theToronto Blizzard andMontreal Supra.
In 1993, after an unassuming season forWest Ham United (only six appearances overall), he moved to Portugal'sC.S. Marítimo, going on to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer in thePrimeira Liga with 59 goals. Inhis second season, he won theForeign Player of the Year award,[5] and he scored a career-best 15 goals in the1998–99 campaign, helping his team to the tenth position in what was his final year inMadeira.
In early 1999, after requesting a move to play closer to his hometown ofMontreal, Bunbury returned to North America, and retired after two seasons with theKansas City Wizards ofMajor League Soccer. Subsequently, he took up coaching inMinnesota, first with youth team Bangu Tsunami FC and later at theMinnesota Thunder Academy.
Bunbury was inducted into theCanadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.[2] In 2012, as part of theCanadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.[6]
Bunbury played in all three of Canada's games at the1985 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union. He made his debut withthe senior side in an August 1986Merlion Cup match againstSingapore, and went on to earn 65caps 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 30FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and played at the inaugural1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship.[9]
Bunbury's final international was a November 1997World Cup qualification match againstCosta Rica, a game after whichPaul Dolan,Geoff Aunger,Frank Yallop andColin Miller also said farewell to the national team.[7]
| 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 |
After his retirement, Bunbury madePrior 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: actressKylie, professional soccer playersTeal andMataeo, and Logan.[10][11][12][13]
In 2018, Bunbury lead an investment group in purchasing Portuguese lower league clubS.U. 1º Dezembro.[14]
Bunbury lead negotiations with former clubMarítimo in 2023 regarding financial investment in theMadeira-based team.[15] A year later, in 2024, Bunbury lead an investment group and purchasedC.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 thesecond division within 5 years.[3][4]
Marítimo
Kansas City Wizards
Individual
Canada squads | |||||||||||||
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