Alex Bunbury

Alexander Bunbury (born 18 June 1967) is a former professional soccer player who played as a striker. Born in Guyana, he represented the Canadian men's national team.

During his 13-year professional career he played for West Ham United, Marítimo and Kansas City Wizards, among other clubs, as well as the Canadian national team. Bunbury was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in April 2006.

Early life Bunbury was born on 18 June 1967 in Plaisance, Guyana. He has twelve siblings. He moved with his family to Canada at the age of nine.

Club career 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, 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 (only six appearances overall), he moved to Portugal's C.S. Marítimo, going on to become the club's all-time leading goal scorer 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. 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.

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 led negotiations with former club Marítimo in 2023 regarding financial investment in the Madeira-based team. A year later, in 2024, Bunbury led 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 Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bunbury goal.

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