# Alex Bunbury

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

## 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, 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. In 2012, as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.

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

### 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.
In 2018, Bunbury lead an investment group in purchasing Portuguese lower league club S.U. 1º Dezembro.
Bunbury lead negotiations with former club Marítimo in 2023 regarding financial investment in the Madeira-based team. 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/>

## Honours

Marítimo
* Taça de Portugal: runner-up 1994–95
Kansas City Wizards
* MLS Cup: 2000
* MLS Supporters' Shield: 2000
Individual
* Canadian International Player of the Year: 1993, 1995
* Primeira Liga: Foreign Player of the Year 1994–95