Bambang Pamungkas (born 10 June 1980), also known as Bepe, is an Indonesian Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player. As a footballer, he predominantly played for Persija Jakarta and the Indonesia national football team. His natural position is Forward (association football), 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 Indonesian living legend and most successful player in Indonesia. He is known with an outstanding header of the ball, and has a reputation for sharpness in the penalty box. He earn 85 caps and 37 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 FC, ESPN Soccernet.

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 Premier Division, Liga Indonesia with 24 goals. In 2000, he joined EHC Hoensbroek, 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 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 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 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 2004 by one point. The following season Persija reached the 2005 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 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 talents. 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, Bambang moved back to Persija. On 17 December 2019, he announced his retirement from professional football after 19 years. His last match was a 1–3 away win for Persija against Kalteng Putra, Kalteng Putra F.C. at the Tuah Pahoe Stadium. On 17 January 2020, a month after his retirement, Bambang was chosen to become Persija's manager.

International career

In 199,8 Bambang's international career began when he was selected to play for the Indonesian U-19 team. His tally of seven goals at the Asian Cup made him the competition's top scorer. He made his senior international debut the following year in a friendly match against Lithuania national football team, Lithuania, in which he scored one goal. 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 national football team, 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 Tiger Cup, 2004 event. He scored twice in the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup, once against Myanmar national football team, Myanmar and once against Cambodia national football team, 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 AFF Championship, ASEAN Football Championship, making him the 5th-highest goalscorer in AFF Championship, ASEAN Football Championship history.

Controversy

On 18 December 2011, following the match between Sriwijaya F.C., 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.

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, Inc., Nike, Bodrex, and Kuku Bima. The book ''Ketika Jemariku Menari'' details Bambang's life, career and teammates at club and national level, especially during the 2010 AFF Championship. Former Indonesiam national team manager Ivan Venkov Kolev comments in the book that Bambang is "a rare striker in Indonesia. Commitment and professionalism are the hallmarks of these players".

Summer Olympics

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

Career statistics

International

International goals

:''Scores and results list Indonesia's goal tally first.''

Honours

Club

Persija *Liga 1 (Indonesia), Liga 1: 2001 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 2001, Liga 1 (Indonesia), 2018 * Indonesia President's Cup: 2018 Indonesia President's Cup, 2018 Selangor *Malaysia Premier League: 2005 Malaysia Premier League, 2005 *Malaysia Cup: 2005 *Malaysia FA Cup: 2005

International

;Indonesia *Indonesian Independence Cup (1): 2008 Indonesia Independence Cup, 2008 * AFF Championship :* Runners-up (3) : 2000 Tiger Cup, 2000, 2002 Tiger Cup, 2002, 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, 2010

Individual

* AFF Championship Top Scorer: 2002 Tiger Cup, 2002 * Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Liga Indonesia Top Scorer: 1999–2000 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 1999–00 * Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Liga Indonesia Best Player: 2001 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, 2001 * Malaysia Premier League Top Scorer: 2005 * Malaysia Cup Best Foreign Player 2005 * Malaysia FA Cup Top Scorer 2005 * Piala Indonesia, Copa Indonesia Best Player: Piala Indonesia, 2008 *Indonesia Kids' Choice Awards favorite athlete: 2009 * IFFHS Men’s All Time Indonesia Dream Team: 2022

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pamungkas, Bambang 1980 births Living people Javanese people Indonesian footballers Indonesian expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in Malaysia Expatriate footballers in the Netherlands Association football forwards 2000 AFC Asian Cup players 2004 AFC Asian Cup players 2007 AFC Asian Cup players Indonesian expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia Indonesia international footballers Liga 1 (Indonesia) players Persija Jakarta players Pelita Bandung Raya players People from Semarang Selangor FA players Southeast Asian Games bronze medalists for Indonesia Southeast Asian Games medalists in football Competitors at the 1999 Southeast Asian Games EHC Hoensbroek players Sportspeople from Central Java