Alex Bonetig
{{Short description|Australian football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alex Bonetig
| full_name = Alexander Bonetig{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alex-bonetig/836770/ |title=A. Bonetig: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=3 December 2023}}
| image = Alex Bonetig 2022.png
| caption = Bonetig with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|08|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia
| height = {{height|m=1.87}}{{cite web |title=Alex Bonetig Stats and Ratings |url=https://www.sofascore.com/player/bonetig-alex/1214396 |website=Sofascore |access-date=5 December 2023}}
| position = Central defender
| currentclub = Western Sydney Wanderers
| clubnumber = 4
| youthyears1 = 2016–2023
| youthclubs1 = Western Sydney Wanderers
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Western Sydney Wanderers NPL
| caps1 = 26
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023–
| clubs2 = Western Sydney Wanderers
| caps2 = 30
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 26 January 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Alexander Bonetig (born 20 August 2002) is an Australian footballer who plays as a central defender for A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers. Born in Shellharbour, New South Wales, Bonetig has been playing with the Wanderers since signing with the academy in 2016.{{cite web |title=Alex Bonetig - Western Sydney Wanderers |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/squads/3n3jrt6gx6o1z1q2nq0qmaxhw?competition=7ow2q4agyqskzj6ycukwmhtlg&teams=6h553bwfqkoxayuv80uikkn42&selected=MEN |website=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=8 March 2023}}
Club career
= Youth career =
Bonetig started playing football at the age of 4 for Shellharbour Junior FC.{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Jordan |title=Bonetig achieves lifelong dream but won't stop there |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8060310/bonetig-achieves-lifelong-dream-but-wont-stop-there/ |publisher=Illawarra Mercury |access-date=8 March 2023 |language=en-AU |date=26 January 2023}} By the time he was 9, he had represented the Illawarra under-9s and SAP Southern Branch under-11s.{{cite web |last1=Driscoll |first1=Mike |title=Football fan Alex off to England to meet Tim Cahill |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/112400/football-fan-alex-off-to-england-to-meet-tim-cahill/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |language=en-AU |date=3 April 2012}} In November 2012, Bonetig was selected by a football clinic in Sydney to travel and train with Everton Academy. He had the opportunity to meet Australian international Tim Cahill and attend a Premier League match at Goodison Park against Sunderland. Bonetig soon signed for Western Sydney Wanderers Youth in 2016.{{cite web |title=Wanderers promote Bonetig on two-year scholarship deal |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/wanderers-promote-bonetig-on-two-year-scholarship-deal |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=22 October 2023 |date=9 June 2022}}
= Western Sydney Wanderers =
Bonetig was promoted to the first-team after signing a two-year scholarship contract for Western Sydney Wanderers on 9 June 2022. He made his professional debut as a substitute on 22 January 2023 in a 1–1 draw to Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Jordan |title=Bonetig achieves lifelong dream but won't stop there |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8060310/bonetig-achieves-lifelong-dream-but-wont-stop-there/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=26 January 2023}} Bonetig made two more league appearances as a substitute, which had him feature in a 4–0 Sydney Derby win.{{cite web |title=Bonetig all business on the pitch |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/bonetig-all-business-on-the-pitch |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=22 October 2023 |date=19 October 2023}}
Bonetig made his starting debut for Wanderers on 29 August 2023 in a 5–1 cup victory over Adelaide United. He was soon ruled out until December due to a broken bone in his foot, which was sustained in the opening league match against Wellington Phoenix.{{cite web |title=Isuzu UTE A-League: Wanderers injury update |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/isuzu-ute-a-league-wanderers-injury-update |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=2 December 2023 |date=28 November 2023}} Bonetig extended his contract with the club through a three-year deal on 16 November 2023.{{cite web |title=Bonetig signs two-year contract extension |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/bonetig-signs-two-year-contract-extension |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=2 December 2023 |date=16 November 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Latifi |first1=Agron |title='Really big for me': Shellharbour junior Alex Bonetig extends Wanderers stay |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8426052/really-big-for-me-shellharbour-junior-alex-bonetig-extends-wanderers-stay/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |access-date=5 December 2023 |language=en-AU |date=16 November 2023}}
Personal life
Bonetig was raised in Shellharbour, New South Wales. He has a younger brother, Liam, who plays for Celtic in Scotland.{{cite web |title=Liam Bonetig signs with Celtic |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/liam-bonetig-signs-with-celtic |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=22 October 2023 |date=15 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Lancaster |first1=Will |title=Celtic pull off transfer swoop as Aussie starlet QUITS boyhood club for Parkhead |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/celtic-pull-transfer-swoop-aussie-30943627 |website=Daily Record |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en |date=14 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Macdonald |first1=Aiden |title=Celtic B sign Australian defender Liam Bonetig on three-year deal |url=https://www.celticway.co.uk/news/23790233.celtic-sign-australian-centre-back-three-year-deal/ |website=The Celtic Way |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en |date=14 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Jordan |title=Shellharbour's Liam Bonetig signs with Scottish powerhouse Celtic |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8350773/shellharbours-liam-bonetig-signs-with-scottish-powerhouse-celtic/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=15 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Pisani |first1=Sacha |title=Celtic have announced the signing of another Australian |url=https://keepup.com.au/news/celtic-liam-bonetig-western-sydney-wanderers-a-league/ |website=keepup.com |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=15 September 2023}} The two previously played together at Western Sydney Wanderers Youth.{{cite web |last1=Pisani |first1=Sacha |title=Watch: One of Australia's brightest young talents goes viral with astonishing 'weak foot' goal |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/one-of-australias-brightest-young-talents-an-ex-chelsea-trialist-introducing-the-reds-teen-who-scored-a-goal-for-the-ages/ |publisher=A-League |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=27 March 2023}} Bonetig's father, Mineo, was a former footballer for Wollongong Wolves during their time in the National Soccer League.{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Jordan |title=Shellharbour junior Liam Bonetig to embark on his Celtic adventure |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8359729/shellharbour-junior-liam-bonetig-to-embark-on-his-celtic-adventure/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=22 September 2023}}He is also the cousin of Macarthur FC player Oliver Randazzo.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Euan |last2=Sutherland |first2=Don |title=Cousins set for first Subway Young Socceroos appearance together|url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/cousins-liam-bonetig-and-oliver-randazzo-set-first-international-appearance-together-subway|publisher=Football Australia|access-date=23 November 2024 |language=en-AU |date=23 September 2024}}
Both Alex and Liam attended Edmund Rice College in Wollongong. Alex was awarded the 2020 Sportsman of the Year Award by his school in their Year 12 Graduation.{{cite web |title=Year 12 Awards - 2020 |url=https://www.edmundricecollege.nsw.edu.au/year-12-awards-2020/ |website=Edmund Rice College |publisher=ERC Community Manager |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=en-AU |date=13 November 2020}}