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Mataeo Bunbury

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Mataeo Bunbury
Personal information
Full name Mataeo Chandler Razario Bunbury[1]
Date of birth (2005-06-13) June 13, 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Northfield, Minnesota, United States
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Portland Timbers 2
Number 47
Youth career
2008–2016 Lakeville SC
2016–2019 Sporting CP
2019 Minneapolis United SC
2019–2020 Minnesota United FC
2020–2021 Sporting Kansas City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Sporting Kansas City II 17 (4)
2022–2023 Birmingham Legion 13 (1)
2023 → Columbus Crew 2 (loan) 18 (4)
2024– Portland Timbers 2 14 (2)
International career‡
2022–2024 Canada U20 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 14, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 26, 2024

Mataeo Chandler Razario Bunbury (born June 13, 2005) is a professional soccer player who currently plays for MLS Next Pro side Portland Timbers 2. Born in the United States, he represents Canada at youth international level.

Early life

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Bunbury began playing soccer at age three with Lakeville SC.[2] In 2016, he joined the Sporting CP Youth Academy in Portugal.[3] Later, he played for Minneapolis United SC,[4] before joining the Minnesota United academy, leaving the club in 2020 when the academy ceased operating.[5] Afterwards, he joined the Sporting Kansas City academy, playing for the club's Under-17 and Under-19 age groups.[6] He became the third member of his family to join the organization, after his father Alex and older brother Teal previously played for the MLS side.[7]

Club career

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On September 22, 2021, Bunbury signed a USL academy contract with USL Championship side Sporting Kansas City II, allowing him to retain his NCAA eligibility.[6] He made his professional debut on September 24, 2021, appearing as an 85th-minute substitute during a 1–1 draw with FC Tulsa.[8] After SKC II's move to MLS Next Pro for 2022, he signed another non-professional academy contract,[7] Bunbury scored his first professional goal on April 3, 2022, against Minnesota United 2.[9][10] In July 2022, Bunbury had departed Sporting Kansas City, after requesting a first-team contract, but being deemed unready by senior team coach Peter Vermes.[11][12]

Bunbury signed with USL Championship club Birmingham Legion FC on July 8, 2022.[13] He made his debut the next day in a substitute appearance against the Charleston Battery.[14] He scored his first goal on July 27, scoring a penalty kick against Loudoun United.[15] Bunbury would make a return to MLS Next Pro on April 7, 2023, joining Columbus Crew 2 on loan.[16]

International career

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Bunbury is eligible for both the United States and Canada.

In March 2019, he attended a camp with the United States U14 team.[4]

In April 2022, Bunbury accepted a call-up to the Canadian Under-20 side for two friendly matches against Costa Rica.[17] In July 2024, he was named to the 21-man squad for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[18]

Personal

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Mataeo is the son of former professional soccer player Alex Bunbury and the younger brother of fellow professional soccer player Teal Bunbury and actress Kylie Bunbury.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "2022 CONCACAF U20 Championship Preliminary Squads" (PDF). CONCACAF.
  2. ^ Mataeo Bunbury at the Canadian Soccer Association
  3. ^ "Mataeo Bunbury age 10 has been accepted into the Sporting Lisbon 2005 Academy team". 442 Sports Management. Facebook. May 25, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "MU's Mataeo Bunbury named to the U14 US National Team camp roster". Minneapolis United. March 13, 2019.
  5. ^ McDowell, Bridget (July 9, 2020). "The True Peril of Cutting Costs at Minnesota United FC". Switch the Pitch.
  6. ^ a b Bergabo, Patrik (September 22, 2021). "Sporting Kansas City II signs 16-year-old Academy forward Mataeo Bunbury to Academy contract". Sporting Kansas City.
  7. ^ a b Kovzan, Sam (March 25, 2022). "Sporting KC II signs seven Academy products to MLS NEXT Pro amateur contracts ahead of 2022 season". Sporting Kansas City.
  8. ^ Bergabo, Patrik (September 24, 2021). "Recap: Kayden Pierre scores first professional goal as Sporting II draws 1-1 with FC Tulsa". Sporting Kansas City.
  9. ^ Belzer, Jared (April 3, 2022). "Recap: Sporting Kansas City II claims 2-0 victory over MNUFC 2 at Allianz Field". Sporting Kansas City.
  10. ^ "MNUFC2 loses its home opener to Sporting Kansas City II 2-0 at snowy Allianz Field". Star Tribune. April 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Smith, Chad (July 4, 2022). "Mataeo Bunbury Parts Ways with Sporting Kansas City". The Blue Testament.
  12. ^ Jacques, John (July 4, 2022). "Could The CPL Be A Good Fit For Mataeo Bunbury?". Northern Tribune.
  13. ^ Humphries, Clayton. "Legion FC Signs Forward Mataeo Bunbury". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Fuller, John (July 11, 2022). "Player Ratings: Charleston Battery 0-3 Birmingham Legion". The Football Forge.
  15. ^ "Match Recap: Three for Lapa, Six for Legion in Resounding Win". Birmingham Legion.
  16. ^ Humphries, Clayton. "Mataeo Bunbury Joins Columbus Crew 2 on Season-Long Loan". Birmingham Legion.
  17. ^ Belzer, Jared (April 5, 2022). "Sporting KC II forward Mataeo Bunbury to join Canada U-20s for first Youth National Team Camp in over two years". Sporting Kansas City.
  18. ^ "CANM20 squad announced for 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship". Canadian Soccer Association. July 11, 2024.
  19. ^ Fanfair, Ron (November 7, 2018). "Bunbury gets wish to contribute to soccer in Canada". RonFanfair.
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