Alfredo Bonnard Jara (3 November 1930 – 16 April 2024) was an Ecuadorian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Ecuadorian football.
Biography
Alfredo Bonnard broke into the top flight in 1947 while still a youth player. He was 16 years old when Dantón Marriott placed him between the posts for Panamá. The team's regular starters had left for Barcelona, where they would go on to achieve legendary status. He lacked extensive experience in the position, having started out as a forward for México—a small neighborhood team from La Concordia. Alfredo Bonnard was considered the best goalkeeper of the 1953 South American Championship and, for many, the greatest Ecuadorian goalkeeper of all time.
Early life and club career
Bonnard began playing football in Guayaquil in 1947 with Panamá Sporting Club. He had initially played as a forward for México before establishing himself as a goalkeeper.
In 1951 he joined Everest. In 1952 he moved to Norte América, with whom he won the Campeonato de Guayaquil.
He subsequently played for Unión Deportiva Valdez, winning the Guayaquil championship in 1953 and 1954. He later played for Barcelona S.C. and Patria. He won the Guayaquil championship with Patria in 1959 and with Barcelona in 1961.
International career
Bonnard represented the Ecuador national football team at the 1953 South American Championship, 1955 South American Championship, 1957 South American Championship and 1959 South American Championship. He also represented Ecuador in the qualifying campaigns for the 1962 FIFA World Cup and 1966 FIFA World Cup.
He made 20 international appearances for Ecuador between 1953 and 1965.
1953 South American Championship
Bonnard was one of the outstanding players of Ecuador at the 1953 South American Championship in Lima, Peru.
His performances against Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil were particularly praised by contemporary international press reports. Journalists covering the tournament subsequently selected Bonnard as the best goalkeeper of the competition, ahead of Paraguay's Adolfo Riquelme.
1959 South American Championship
Bonnard represented Ecuador at the 1959 South American Championship held in Guayaquil.
He started Ecuador's opening matches of the tournament before Cipriano Yu Lee took his place in the final match against Paraguay.
Honours
Club
Norteamérica Campeonato de Guayaquil: 1952
Unión Deportiva Valdez Campeonato de Guayaquil: 1953, 1954
Patria Campeonato de Guayaquil: 1959
Barcelona S.C. Campeonato de Guayaquil: 1961
Individual
Best goalkeeper of the 1953 South American Championship Selected in the representative 1959 South American Championship Team of the Tournament
Death
Bonnard died in Guayaquil on 16 April 2024, aged 93.
References