View source for Alex Bunbury

{{short description|Canadian soccer player (born 1967)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Bunbury
| image = Alexander Bunbury Victoria C.-B.jpg
| caption = Bunbury in 2018
| fullname = Alexander Bunbury
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|6|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Plaisance, Guyana]]
| height = 1.86 m
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1987–1990 | clubs1 = [[Hamilton Steelers (CSL)|Hamilton Steelers]] | caps1 = 71 | goals1 = 27
| years2 = 1990 | clubs2 = [[Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)|Toronto Blizzard]] | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1991 | clubs3 = [[Montreal Supra]] | caps3 = 24 | goals3 = 7
| years4 = 1992–1993 | clubs4 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1993–1999 | clubs5 = [[C.S. Marítimo|Marítimo]] | caps5 = 165 | goals5 = 59
| years6 = 1999–2000 | clubs6 = [[Kansas City Wizards]] | caps6 = 24 | goals6 = 4
| totalcaps = 269 | totalgoals = 110
| nationalyears1 = 1984–1985 | nationalteam1 = [[Canada men's national under-20 soccer team|Canada U20]] | nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1986–1997 | nationalteam2 = [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] | nationalcaps2 = 66 | nationalgoals2 = 15
| manageryears1 = 2000–2008 | managerclubs1 = Bangu Tsunami FC
| manageryears2 = 2008–2012 | managerclubs2 = [[Minnesota Thunder]] (academy)
| manageryears3 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs3 = [[Minnesota Twin Stars]]
}}
'''Alexander Bunbury''' (born 18 June 1967) is a Canadian former professional [[Association football|soccer]] player who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]].<ref>[https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/destino-90s/destinos/alex-lenda-do-maritimo-ate-baggio-me-pediu-a-camisola?_ga=2.226316442.1098483925.1607294723-763065413.1602873581 Alex, lenda do Marítimo: «Até Baggio me pediu a camisola»] maisfutebol.iol.pt</ref>

During a 13-year professional career he played for [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], [[C.S. Marítimo|Marítimo]] and [[Kansas City Wizards]], as well as representing the [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canadian national team]]. Bunbury was inducted into the [[Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame]] in April 2006.<ref name=hall/>

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.<ref name=portosantense>{{cite web |url=https://www.ojogo.pt/5463291021/plano-de-cinco-anos-para-levar-o-portosantense-a-ii-liga/ |title=Five year plan to take Portosantense to the II Liga |date=October 2024 |publisher=[[O Jogo]] |access-date=28 November 2024 | language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref name=madeirafutebol>{{cite web |url=https://www.madeirafutebol.com/alex-bunburry-e-o-novo-dono-da-sad-do-portosantense/ |title=Alex Bunbury is the new owner of Portosantense |date=21 April 2024 |publisher=MadeiraFutebol.com|access-date=28 November 2024 | language=Portuguese}}</ref>

==Club career==
Born in [[Plaisance, Guyana]], Bunbury started playing professionally with the [[Hamilton Steelers (CSL)|Hamilton Steelers]] where he was managed by [[John Charles]], also having one-year spells in the [[Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)|Canadian Soccer League]] with the [[Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)|Toronto Blizzard]] and [[Montreal Supra]].

In 1993, after an unassuming season for [[West Ham United F.C.|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 [[1994–95 Primeira Liga|his second season]], he won the ''Foreign Player of the Year'' award,<ref name=foreign>[http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/weekly0615.html "Rapids rise into top spot for first time ever"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506070859/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/99/weekly0615.html |date=6 May 2004 }}</ref> and he scored a career-best 15 goals in the [[1998–99 Primeira Liga|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.<ref name=hall>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccer.on.ca/osn.nsf/c1bfa845a2dec3bf85256b0b005d4116/b70c12e31d49e6278525713e006b9811?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527123351/http://www.soccer.on.ca/osn.nsf/c1bfa845a2dec3bf85256b0b005d4116/b70c12e31d49e6278525713e006b9811?OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2011 |title=Soccer Hall of Fame – Alex Bunbury |publisher=Soccer.on.ca |access-date=14 October 2016 }}</ref> In 2012, as part of the [[Canadian Soccer Association]]'s centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.<ref>[http://www.canadasoccer.com/association-announces-all-time-canada-xi-men-s-team-p150746&t=article_canadasoccer100 Association announces All-Time Canada XI – men's team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719083856/https://www.canadasoccer.com/association-announces-all-time-canada-xi-men-s-team-p150746%26t%3Darticle_canadasoccer100 |date=19 July 2018 }}; at Canada Soccer</ref>

==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 [[Canada men's national soccer team|the senior side]] in an August 1986 [[Merlion Cup]] match against [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]], and went on to earn 65 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] and score 15 goals during 11 years.<ref name = "CSA"/>

Bunbury ranked fourth in the all-time scorer's list in June 2008, and eighth in appearances.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/can-recintlp.html Canada – Record International Players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314042108/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/can-recintlp.html |date=14 March 2013 }}; at [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]]</ref> He represented the nation in 30 [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifiers, and played at the inaugural [[1989 FIFA Futsal World Championship]].<ref>{{FIFA player|47054}}</ref>

Bunbury's final international was a November 1997 [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|World Cup qualification]] match against [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], a game after which [[Paul Dolan (soccer)|Paul Dolan]], [[Geoff Aunger]], [[Frank Yallop]] and [[Colin Miller (soccer, born 1964)|Colin Miller]] also said farewell to the national team.<ref name = "CSA">{{Canada Soccer player|546|accessdate=May 9, 2021}}</ref>

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 6 September 1986 || Singapore, Singapore || {{fb|SIN}} || 1–0 || 1–0 || Merlion Cup
|-
| 2 || 30 September 1987 || [[Estadio Cuscatlán]], [[San Salvador]], El Salvador || {{fb|SLV}} || 1-0 || 1–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 3 || 15 November 1992 || [[Swangard Stadium]], [[Burnaby]], Canada || {{fb|BER}} || 1–0 || 4–2 || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|1994 World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 4 || 15 November 1992 || Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada || {{fb|BER}} || 2–0 || 4–2 || 1994 World Cup qualification
|-
| 5 || 15 November 1992 || Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada || {{fb|BER}} || 3–0 || 4–2 || 1994 World Cup qualification
|-
| 6 || 4 April 1993 || [[Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino|Estadio Nacional]], [[Tegucigalpa]], Honduras || {{fb|HON|1949}} || 2–1 || 2–2 || 1994 World Cup qualification
|-
| 7 || 11 April 1993 || Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada || {{fb|SLV}} || 1–0 || 2–0 || 1994 World Cup qualification
|-
| 8 || 9 May 1993 || [[Varsity Stadium]], [[Toronto]], Canada || {{fb|MEX}} || 1–0 || 1–2 || 1994 World Cup qualification
|-
| 9 || 15 July 1993 || [[Estadio Azteca]], [[Mexico City]], Mexico || {{fb|MTQ|snake}} || 2–0 || 2–2 || [[1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]
|-
| 10 || 26 January 1995 || [[SkyDome]], Toronto, Canada || {{fb|POR}} || 1–1 || 1–1 || [[SkyDome Cup]]
|-
| 11 || 10 October 1996 || [[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Commonwealth Stadium]], [[Edmonton]], Canada || {{fb|CUB}} || 1–0 || 2–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|1998 World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 12 || 3 November 1996 || Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada || {{fb|SLV}} || 1–0 || 1–0 || 1998 World Cup qualification
|-
| 13 || 15 December 1996 || Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador || {{fb|SLV}} || 2–0 || 2–0 || 1998 World Cup qualification
|-
| 14 || 14 September 1997 || Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador || {{fb|SLV}} || 1–1 || 1–4 || 1998 World Cup qualification
|-
| 15 || 12 October 1997 || Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada || {{fb|MEX}} || 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 three children with his ex-wife, Kristi Novak-Bunbury: actress [[Kylie Bunbury|Kylie]], professional soccer player [[Teal Bunbury|Teal]], and Logan. He has one child with Andrea Hutton Pridgen: [[Mataeo Bunbury|Mataeo]]. <ref>[https://canadasoccer.com/profile/?id=55767&teamId=2119] </ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6470603/teal-bunbury-follows-father-footsteps-kansas-city Bunbury follows in father's footsteps] ; [[ESPN]], 5 May 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=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" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BUE9Gi6F8Dc/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Instagram |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=The Bunbury Bunch: Soccer's Most Talented Family? | date=28 September 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p3Uz8MVIFA |language=en |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Schaerlaeckens: Teal Bunbury follows in father's footsteps |url=http://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6470603/teal-bunbury-follows-father-footsteps-kansas-city |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

In 2018, Bunbury lead an investment group in purchasing Portuguese lower league club [[S.U. 1º Dezembro]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bunbury lands ownership of Portuguese Third Division Club  |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/05/09/sports/bunbury-lands-ownership-of-portuguese-third-division-club/ |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=Stabroek News|date=9 May 2018 }}</ref>

Bunbury lead negotiations with former club [[C.S. Marítimo|Marítimo]] in 2023 regarding financial investment in the [[Madeira]]-based team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Bunbury moves forward with project and says "enough of mediocrity at Marítimo" |url=https://www.dnoticias.pt/2023/3/28/354021-alex-bunbury-avanca-com-projecto-e-diz-que-chega-de-mediocridade-no-maritimo/ |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=[[Diário de Notícias]] |language=Portuguese}}</ref> 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 [[Liga Portugal 2|second division]] within 5 years.<ref name=portosantense/><ref name=madeirafutebol/>

==Honours==
'''Marítimo'''
*[[Taça de Portugal]]: runner-up 1994–95

'''Kansas City Wizards'''
*[[MLS Cup]]: [[MLS Cup 2000|2000]]
*[[MLS Supporters' Shield]]: 2000

'''Individual'''
*[[Canadian International Player of the Year]]: 1993, 1995
*[[Primeira Liga]]: Foreign Player of the Year [[1994–95 Primeira Liga|1994–95]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Canada Soccer player|id=546}} / [[Canada Soccer Hall of Fame]]
* {{ForaDeJogo}}
* [http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=91&united=Alex_Bunbury The Wonderful World of West Ham United statistics]
* {{NFT|13673}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Canada squads
| bg = red
| fg = white
| list1 = 
{{Canada futsal squad 1989 World Cup}}
{{Canada squad 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Canada squad 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}
{{Canadian Player of the Year}}
{{Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunbury, Alex}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Demerara-Mahaica]]
[[Category:Guyanese emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Hamilton, Ontario]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Montreal]]
[[Category:Anglophone Quebec people]]
[[Category:Black Canadian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Guyanese people of African descent]]
[[Category:Canadian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) players]]
[[Category:Hamilton Steelers (1981–1992) players]]
[[Category:Montreal Supra players]]
[[Category:Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993) players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:C.S. Marítimo players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Sporting Kansas City players]]
[[Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players]]
[[Category:Canada men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal]]
[[Category:Canada Soccer Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Canadian men's futsal players]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen]]