Alex Bunbury


Alexander Bunbury is a Guyanese-born 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, among other clubs, as well as the soccer team|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. He also had one-year spells with the Minnesota Strikers of the Major [Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|Major Indoor Soccer League], where he would later make his home, and the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra of the Canadian Soccer League.
In 1993, after an unassuming season for West Ham United, 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 1998 [FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|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.

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, professional soccer player Teal, and Logan. He has one child with Andrea Hutton Pridgen: Mataeo.
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.

Career statistics

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 September 1986Singapore, Singapore1–01–0Merlion Cup
230 September 1987Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador1–01–2Friendly
315 November 1992Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada1–04–21994 [FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]
415 November 1992Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada2–04–2World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]
515 November 1992Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada3–04–21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
64 April 1993Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras2–12–21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
711 April 1993Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada1–02–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
89 May 1993Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada1–01–21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
915 July 1993Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico2–02–21993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1026 January 1995SkyDome, Toronto, Canada1–11–1SkyDome Cup
1110 October 1996Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada1–02–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
123 November 1996Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, Canada1–01–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1315 December 1996Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador2–02–01998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1414 September 1997Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador1–11–41998 FIFA World Cup qualification
1512 October 1997Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada1–22–21998 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Marítimo
Kansas City Wizards
Individual