Byron Bonilla Martínez (born 30 August 1993) is a Nicaraguan professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Cartaginés.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Byron Bonilla Martínez[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 28)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Granada, Nicaragua[1] | ||
Height | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Left winger, left midfielder[1] | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Cartaginés | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2018 | Sporting San José | ||
2019 | → Municipal Grecia (loan) | ||
2019–2020 | → Deportivo Saprissa (loan) | 18 | (0) |
2020– | Cartaginés | 38 | (5) |
National team‡ | |||
2016– | Nicaragua | 12 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 July 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019 |
Byron Bonilla was born in Granada, Nicaragua, but he moved to Costa Rica along with his mother at the age of nine. During his childhood, Bonilla did not have a football education, and he felt interested in practicing it when he turned sixteen.
Byron played for Costa Rican LINAFA clubs like San Pablo, San Rafael, and JK Sporting. He spelled a two-month period with Saprissa de Corazón of the Second Division, however he had to leave the team because of permanency issues in the country.[3][4][5]
In mid 2016, Bonilla was acquired by the Second Division team Sporting San José ahead of their inaugural season in the league. He made his official debut on 1 October in the 0−5 victory over Coto Brus.[6] He finished his first season with eight goals.
At the 2017—18 season, he became one of the leaders for the team and was awarded as the best foreign player.[7]
On 11 January 2019, signed a six-month loan deal with First Division club Municipal Grecia.[8][9]
On 22 May 2019, Deportivo Saprissa announced that Bonilla joined the club on a two-year contract, on loan from Sporting San José.[10]
On 8 december 2016, Bonilla received his first call–up to the Nicaragua national team managed by Henry Duarte.[11][12][13][14] He debuted on 30 December in a match against Trinidad and Tobago, as a substitution for Daniel Cadena at the beginning of the second half.[15][16]
On June 4, 2019, he was named to Nicaragua's final 23-man for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[17]
Individual
Nicaragua squad – 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup | ||
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