Bambang Pamungkas

Bambang Pamungkas (born 10 June 1980), also known as Bepe, is a retired Indonesian professional footballer who predominately played for Persija Jakarta and the Indonesia national football team. His natural position is striker. Bambang made his name in South East Asian football when he scored the only goal for Indonesia at the 2002 Tiger Cup semifinal against Malaysia, and was the tournament's top scorer with eight goals.

Bambang is considered to be an outstanding header of the ball, and has a reputation for sharpness in the penalty box. He is Indonesia's record holder in terms of both appearances and goalscoring, earning 86 caps and 38 goals with the Indonesia national team, and is perhaps the team's most popular player among its supporters. He was considered one of top ten Asian players of 2012 by ESPN Soccernet. and with 20 in his back

Club career

Bambang played for several clubs around his hometown as a youth, before beginning his senior career with Persija Jakarta. He was the club's top goalscorer in 1999–2000 Liga Indonesia with 24 goals. In 2000, he joined EHC Norad in the Dutch Third Division. But after only 4 months he returned to Persija, the only Indonesian club he ever played for.

Bambang helped his club to win the Liga Indonesia in 2001, and he was awarded the accolade of that season's best player. Persija Jakarta narrowly missed out on winning the championship again in 2004 by one point. The following season Persija reached the 2005 final, but lost 2–3 to Persipura Jayapura.

Shortly afterwards Bambang accepted an offer to play in the Malaysian Football League with Selangor FA, along with national teammate Elie Aiboy. In his first season in Malaysia he won the Premier League Malaysia, FA Cup Malaysia, and Malaysia Cup, and became the league's top-scorer with 23 goals in 24 matches. During two seasons in Malaysia he scored 63 goals in four competitions: Malaysia Premier League, Malaysia Super League, FA Cup Malaysia, Malaysia Cup, AFC Cup. Despite having scored a total of 178 goals in Liga Indonesia, like Singaporean forward Indra Sahdan Daud, Bambang lost his place in the nation team to foreign-born talent.

In 2008, despite interests from English club Derby County, he opted to stay in Indonesia.

In 2010, he had a trial at FC Ingolstadt 04, but failed to secure a contract.

On 9 December 2013, he signed a one-year contract with Pelita Bandung Raya.

On 3 December 2014, he moved back to Persija Jakarta.

On 17 December 2019, he decided to retire from football after 19 years in professional football. His last game was a 1-2 defeat of Persija Jakarta to Persebaya Surabaya in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. On 17 January 2020, suddenly after retirement, he was chosen to become the manager of Persija Jakarta

International career

In 1998 Bambang's international career began when he was selected to play for the Indonesian youth team; his tally of seven goals in the Asian Cup U-19 Group V made him the competition's top scorer. He made his senior international debut the following year in a friendly match against Lithuania, in which he scored one goal. His total of 38 goals for his country make him the national team's highest-ever goalscorer.

Bambang has taken part in four FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014), playing in 14 matches and scoring 3 times. Bambang has also been involved in three AFC Asian Cups: 2000, 2004 and 2007. He scored a goal against Bahrain in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, in a match Indonesia won 2–1.

In the 2002 Tiger Cup, Bambang was the top scorer with 8 goals, but an injury ruled him out of the Indonesian squad for the 2004 event. He scored twice in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup, once against Myanmar and once against Cambodia. In 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup Bambang scored two goals in a match against Thailand, both from penalty kicks. He has scored a total of 12 goals in the ASEAN Football Championship, making him the 5th-highest goalscorer in ASEAN Football Championship history.

Controversy

On 18 December 2011, following the match between Sriwijaya and Persija Jakarta, Bambang, Ismed Sofyan and Leo Saputra were involved in an assault on Hilton Moreira at his hotel, allegedly provoked by Hilton's behaviour during the match.

Bambang is one of the leading advocates for player welfare and rights in Indonesia.

Personal life

Bambang is married to Tribuana Tungga Dewi, with whom he has three daughters: Salsa Alicia, Jane Abel, Syaura Abana. The second youngest of 7 children. he initially had no thoughts of becoming a footballer. He likes reading and cooking, and has ambitions to become a teacher or a chef once his footballing career is over.

Bambang devotes some of his free time to charity work, promoting the Bambang Pamungkas Foundation that he set up to provide financial assistance and resources to schools in Indonesia. He is also involved in raising funds for children's cancer charities.

Public figure

As a well-known public figure, Bambang has appeared in many product endorsements, including for Biskuat, Ti Phone, Nike, Bodrex, and Kuku Bima.

Bambang has written a book in Bahasa Indonesia, Ketika Jemariku Menari, relating his life, his career, and his teammates at club and national level, especially during the AFF 2010 campaign. Former Indonesia national team manager Ivan Venkov Kolev comments in the book that Bambang is "One of rare striker in Indonesia. Commitment and professionalism are hallmarks of rare skill players in Indonesia".

Summer Olympics

Pamungkas has been chosen as a torch bearer for 2012 Summer Olympics flame passage through Calderdale on 24 June 2012.

International goals

Honours

Club