Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 10 May 1958 | ||
Place of birth | Msida, Malta | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
-1972 | Fgura United | ||
1972-1974 | Hibernians | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1974–1980 | Hibernians | 62 | (0) |
1980–1981 | SC Herford | 6 | (0) |
1981–1993 | Hibernians | 151 | (0) |
1996–1999 | Ħamrun Spartans | 32 | (0) |
Total | 251 | (0) | |
International career‡ | |||
1979–1987 | Malta | 29 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 March 2012 |
John Bonello (born 10 May 1958) is a Maltese retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Born in Msida, Bonello has played the majority of his career at Hibernians Paola, whom he joined from Fgura United. After being sidelined by Hibs for a few seasons he joined Ħamrun Spartans in 1996. [1] He also had a season abroad at West German lower league side SC Herford. [2] He was voted Malta Footballer of the Month in March 1986. [3]
Bonello made his debut for Malta in an August 1979 friendly match against Tunisia. He earned a total of 29 caps, scoring no goals. He has represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. [4] Bonello was the goalkeeper in the infamous December 1983 European Championship qualification defeat by Spain, which Malta lost 1–12, ensuring that Spain qualified for Euro 1984 ahead of the Netherlands. [5]
His final international was a January 1987 European Championship qualification match against Italy. [6]