Mataeo Bunbury

Mataeo Chandler Razario Bunbury (born June 13, 2005) is a Canadian professional soccer player who currently plays for MLS Next Pro side Columbus Crew 2, on loan from Birmingham Legion FC.

Mataeo Bunbury
Personal information
Full name Mataeo Chandler Razario Bunbury[1]
Date of birth (2005-06-13) June 13, 2005
Place of birth Northfield, Minnesota, United States
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Columbus Crew 2
(on loan from Birmingham Legion)
Number 29
Youth career
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– Birmingham Legion 13 (1)
2023– → Columbus Crew 2 (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2022– Canada U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 9, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 19, 2022

Early life

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

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] Mataeo made a return to MLS Next Pro on April 7, 2023, joing Columbus Crew 2 on loan.[16]

International career

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]

Personal

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.[18]

References
  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. "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. Bergabo, Patrik (September 22, 2021). "Sporting Kansas City II signs 16-year-old Academy forward Mataeo Bunbury to Academy contract". Sporting Kansas City.
  7. 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. Fanfair, Ron (November 7, 2018). "Bunbury gets wish to contribute to soccer in Canada". RonFanfair.
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