| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 8, 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Date of death | June 11, 2008 (aged 56) | ||
| Place of death | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Playing position | centre forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ? – 1974 | UBC Thunderbirds | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1974–1978 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 39 | (7) |
| 1978 | Caribous of Colorado | 2 | (0) |
| 1978 | Toronto Metros-Croatia | 11 | (5) |
| 1978-1979 | Cleveland Force (indoor) | 19 | (24) |
| 1979-80 | Toronto Blizzard | 5 | (1) |
| 1980 | Houston Hurricane | 11 | (0) |
| 1980-1981 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 17 | (6) |
| National team | |||
| 1976–1977 | Canada | 7 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Brian Budd (April 8, 1952 – June 11, 2008) was a Canadian professional soccer player best known for winning the World Superstars competition three years in a row from 1978 to 1980. He was also a soccer sportscaster.
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Born in Toronto[1] and raised in Delta, British Columbia to an Atlantic Canadian couple, Brian was the second of four children and only son. His father Leighton was strict and the two did not have a very good relationship[2].
Budd was an all-around athlete in his youth. He was a competitive swimmer and was training to be a figure skater until he quit at age 14. He did not focus on soccer until he was 19 years old.
From 1977 to 1979, Budd won three straight Canadian Superstars competitions. His victories earned him a spot in the annual World Superstars contests, produced by U.S. broadcasters ABC Sports, which Budd won each time. That prompted the creation of a rule barring anyone from competing in a Superstars competition after their third victory—unofficially called the "Budd rule." Budd believed that ABC wanted him removed from the show because he was not well known to the American TV audience. His total winnings from the Superstars contests were about $170,000.
Budd was an excellent all-rounder, doing well in each event that he competed. His best event however was the chin-ups.
| Year | Event | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Canadian Final | 1st |
| 1978 | Canadian Final | 1st |
| 1978 | World Final | 1st |
| 1979 | Canadian Final | 1st |
| 1979 | World Final | 1st |
| 1980 | World Final | 1st |
Budd won a CIAU championship medal as a member of the UBC Thunderbirds in 1974.
Budd played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League. He began his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1974 in the team's inaugural season and remained with the squad until 1978, when he was acquired by the Colorado Caribou in that team's only season. After languishing on the bench and playing in just two games, Budd requested a trade to the Toronto Metros-Croatia, and the deal was made in May 1978. He scored five goals in his first four games with Toronto. In 1979, Budd returned to the team, renamed the Toronto Blizzard under new owners, but did not play regularly. With a year left on his contract, he was offered an outright release by the Blizzard in November so he could play a full season of indoor soccer. He chose to remain with the Blizzard. Budd began the 1980 season in Toronto but was released in June. He then signed with the Houston Hurricane and played there for the remainder of the season, finishing his NASL career. Budd may have played for the reserve team of Ayr United at some point in the mid-1970s. Budd played indoor soccer professionally with the Cleveland Force of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. He led the Force in scoring in their maiden season, 1978–79, with 29 points (25 goals, 4 assists) and was named the team's MVP. The Force finished the year in last place in the six-team league with the weakest offence in the MISL. He did not return the following year because it would have overlapped with training camp for the outdoor season. In 1980, Budd signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Blast.
Budd was a member of the Canadian national soccer team. He scored two goals in earning seven caps, including one against the Americans in a 1978 World Cup qualifying match played in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on December 22, 1976, in which Canada prevailed 3-0.
Following his retirement, Budd became a color commentator on Toronto Blizzard broadcasts in 1982 and was the club's director of public affairs until the end of 1983. He also provided reports from Spain of the 1982 FIFA World Cup for CKEY (AM) in Toronto.
"Budgie", as he became known in the mid-2000s, was from 2002 until his death a soccer analyst on The Score's The Footy Show, along with James Sharman and, from 2004, fellow former international Paul James.
As of 2006, Budd worked in sales management for InBev, owners of Labatt Brewing Company.
Budd was found collapsed at his Toronto home on the evening of Wednesday, June 11, 2008 and that late night. He was survived by his wife Brenda, a son, Riley, and a daughter, Bridget.
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