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Valletta F.C.

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Valletta FC
Full nameValletta Football Club
Nickname(s)Lilywhites
Tal-Palestina
Citizens[1]
Founded1943; 81 years ago (1943)
ChairmanClaudio Grech
ManagerThane Micallef
LeagueMaltese Challenge League
2023–24Maltese Premier League, 12th (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.vallettafc.net/

Valletta F.C. is a professional football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. They compete in the Maltese Challenge League, the second tier of Maltese football, following relegation from the Maltese Premier League in 2024.[2] The club was founded in 1943 after a merge of Valletta Prestons, Valletta St. Paul's and Valletta United, the latter being a two-time league winner before the Second World War.

Considered one of the most supported and successful clubs in Maltese football,[3] the club has won 25 league titles, 14 FA Trophies and a record 13 Super Cups. During the 2021/22 season the club was sponsored by Meridianbet.[4]

History

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There is no clear evidence on when Valletta F.C. started, hence the fact that Valletta possessed two clubs at that era. The foundation of Valletta F.C. was laid with the creation of the Valletta United team. Valletta United was known as the "team of the square" since the club was located in St. George's Square. Valletta United represented the city from 1904 to 1932.

The city of Valletta in Malta has a long footballing history, between 1886 and 1919 at some point or another, around fourteen teams had competed representing the city. Amongst these early teams included the popular Boys Empire League, Valletta College, St. George's Square, Dockyard Albion and Malta Athletic Club.

An early step in the history of the current club was the founding of Valletta United Football Club in 1903 by local youngsters. Despite their enthusiasm for the game which had been brought to the island by the British, the youngsters had a rough start with limited supplies. They cut their white trousers into long shorts and dyed their shirts into that of the club colours (brown, with yellow sleeves) for their uniforms.

The Ditch at Porte des Bombes, which itself had been the scene of the first ever recorded Maltese football match in 1886, was chosen to host Valletta United's first match on 9 January 1904.[5] United faced off against a team from the Collegiate School and won 1–0 with a strike from a forward named L. Agius. The full Valletta United team that day included;[5]

 
  • M.H. Laferla (Captain)
  • P. Ferrante
  • E. Galea
  
  • E. Vella
  • L. Agius
  • L. Preziosi
  
  • C. Vella
  • V. Casolani
  • R. Vadala
  
  • V. Camilleri
  • L. Castaldi

The club soon found a more permanent home at St. George's Square, just opposite the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta; they gained the nickname "the team of the square" because of this. Valletta first gained silverware during the 1914–15 season, when they won both the Cousis Shield and the Maltese League championship, it was only the fifth season the league had been competed in Malta.

Much of Maltese football was dominated by Floriana and Sliema Wanderers up until the Second World War, Valletta attempted to upset the status quo several times; they won the Cousis Shield for the second time in 1920–21 and finished as runners-up in the Maltese League during both 1925–26 and 1926–27. During their last season, Valletta United upset the two main clubs in Malta of the time, by winning the Maltese League in 1931–32, however they did not enter the following season.

Although Sliema and Floriana dominated the local scene in those times, by winning these trophies it was Valletta United that started to break into this duopoly and induce greater competition. Valletta United were very active in the Championship of the first division and in fact played 97 games.

During the period that Valletta United played within the Malta Football Association (i.e., from 1909 to 1932), Valletta United won the championship in 1931–32. However, for some reason in the following season, Valletta United disappeared from the football scene and thus the monopoly of Sliema and Floriana football clubs recommenced.

Valletta United was not the only team from the city that played in the highest Division of the M.F.A. In the 1925–26 and the 1926–27 seasons there were Valletta Rovers who played in the highest Division of the M.F.A., then in the season 1937–38 and 1938–39 there was Valletta City.

The winning of five cups in one season

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In 1996–97 Valletta F.C. won all five competitions that the Maltese football offers. This was done by succeeding to win the Premier League, Rothmans Trophy, Super Five Cup, Lowenbrau Cup and Super Cup.

The historic season – 2000–01 – Six cups in one season

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In the season 2000–01, Valletta F.C. succeeded in breaking their own record from 1996 to 1997. This time they won the six competitions offered by the M.F.A. This particular season there was an additional one, namely the Centenary Cup. It had been added to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the M.F.A.

2007–08: Champions again

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Hope for their first trophy in seven years was a huge thought running through Valletta fans in the summer of 2007. Valletta spent a lot of money in the transfer market and expectations were high. Valletta began the season in the worst possible fashion, with a 3–2 defeat to Eternal rivals, Floriana. Valletta's poor start continued with a 1–1 draw against Hibernians, defeat to Sliema, a 0–0 draw with Hamrun Spartans and Msida respectively. However, eventually Valletta hit good form with a 1–0 win over Birkirkara, a 7–0 trashing over champions Marsaxlokk and they gained revenge over Floriana with a 4–0 win on 8 December. After wins over Msida, Mqabba, Hamrun, Sliema and Marsaxlokk the club showed its winning pedigree. Valletta headed to the final round of the season on a high note.

Valletta won their 19th Premier League title after Marsaxlokk failed to beat Birkirkara on Saturday 3 May after a very successful Championship Pool campaign. However, with the title in the bag the long unbeaten streak soon came to an end, and the season ended with a number of defeats. The team also failed to reach the U*Bet F.A. Trophy 2008 final, after losing 4–2 to rivals Birkirkara in the semi-final. But except for the early stages and the post-championship games, Valletta had been the most consistent side.

20th Title

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Valletta won the 2010–11 BOV Premier League as an unbeaten team which brought the 20th title to Valletta FC's history.

21st Title (3/4 cups)

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Valletta won The 2011–12 BOV Premier League with two matches still to go after beating Sliema Wanderers 3–0, this was the 21st title in the history of Valletta.

They won three cups out of four cups in the domestic league: The 2011–12 BOV Premier League, The 2011–12 Maltese Super Cup, and the Euro Challenge Cup. They were champions of Malta again in 2013–14, 2015–16 and 2 year in a row 2017-18 and 2018-19 for a total of 25 titles

Relegation

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Valletta were relegated for the first time in the club's history in the 2023-24 Maltese Premier League season. Valletta spent most of the season in the bottom half of the league. Towards the end of the season, a 1-1 draw against Ħamrun Spartans and a 1-0 win against Balzan showed a glimmer of hope for salvation. This did not happen however and a 4-0 defeat against Naxxar Lions condemned Valletta to relegation.

Players

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Current squad

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As of 22 January 2024[6][7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF Colombia COL Juan Bolaños
6 DF Argentina ARG Enzo Ruiz
8 MF Argentina ARG Fernando Barrientos
9 MF Argentina ARG Santiago Ferraris
11 MF Portugal POR Gonçalo Vieira
14 DF Malta MLT Christian Gauci
16 GK Malta MLT Jake Galea
18 MF Malta MLT Sheldon McKay
20 FW Argentina ARG Federico Falcone
21 MF Malta MLT Klose Conti
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 MF Malta MLT Brandon Paiber
23 DF Serbia SRB Milan Jezdimirovic
24 MF Malta MLT Rowen Muscat
26 GK Italy ITA Alessandro Guarnone
30 DF Brazil BRA Victor Luiz
44 DF Argentina ARG Federico Vega
66 DF Malta MLT Neil Micallef
77 FW Brazil BRA Jhonnattann
80 MF Nigeria NGA Silas Alfred
88 FW Nigeria NGA David Garba
93 FW Brazil BRA Diego Cardoso

Youth Players in use

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
13 MF Malta MLT Jake Azzopardi
15 MF Malta MLT Keyon Ewurum
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW Malta MLT Zak Barbara
28 DF Malta MLT Peter Ohaka

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player

Retired numbers

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Personnel

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Coaching staff

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Position[6] Staff
Manager Malta Thane Micallef
Assistant Manager Malta Jesmond Zerafa
Goalkeeping coach Malta Romeo Schembri
Team manager Malta Gerard Ellul
Training assistant Malta Jason Galea Lucas
Physical trainer Malta Karl Sciortino
Physio Spain Oscar Alonso
Kit manager Malta Clint Mizzi

Managerial history

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Dates[8] Name
1949–1950 England Harry Tedder
1958–1959 Scotland Bob Gilmour
1959–1960 England William Dingwall
1962–1964 Malta Carm Borg
1968–1970 Malta Tony Formosa
1970–1972 Malta Josie Urpani
1973–1975 Malta Tony Formosa
1976–1977 Italy Terenzio Polverini
1977–1978 Malta Lolly Debattista
1978–1982 Malta John Calleja
1982–1984 Malta Joe Cilia
1986–1988 Malta Tony Formosa
Malta Joe Micallef
1989–1990 Malta George Busuttil
1989–1990 Malta Eddie Vella
1991–1993 Malta Tony Euchar Grech
1993–1994 Malta Lawrence Borg
1994–1995 Malta Joe Cilia
Malta Edward Aquilina
1995–1998 Malta Edward Aquilina
1998–2001 Bulgaria Krasimir Manolov
2001–2002 Bulgaria Georgi Deanov
2003–2004 Bulgaria Atanas Marinov
2004–2005 Malta Joseph John Aquilina
2004–2009 Malta Paul Zammit
2009–2010 Netherlands Ton Caanen
2010–2012 Malta Jesmond Zerafa
2012–2013 England Mark Miller
2014 Netherlands André Paus
2014–2015 Malta Gilbert Agius
Malta Ivan Zammit
2015–2017 Malta Paul Zammit
2015–2017 Serbia Zoran Popović
2017– 2019 Serbia Danilo Dončić
2019 Malta Gilbert Agius (Caretaker)
2019–2020 Malta Darren Abdilla[9]
2020 Italy Giovanni Tedesco[10]
2020 Malta Jesmond Zerafa[11]
2020 Malta Gilbert Agius (Caretaker)[12]
2020-2022 Portugal Tozé Mendes[13]
2022 Serbia Danilo Dončić[14]
2022-2023 Malta Thane Micallef
2023-2024 Italy Enzo Potenza
2024 Argentina Juan Cruz Gill (Caretaker)
2024- Malta Thane Micallef

European record

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As of 10 August 2020[15]
Competition Played Won Drew Lost GF GA GD Win%
European Cup / Champions League 45 8 6 31 37 112 −75 017.78
Cup Winners' Cup 14 0 2 12 6 54 −48 000.00
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 36 5 7 24 35 80 −45 013.89
UEFA Intertoto Cup 4 0 2 2 3 9 −6 000.00
Total 99 13 17 69 75 255 −180 013.13

Legend: GF = Goals For. GA = Goals Against. GD = Goal Difference.

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1963–64 European Cup PR Czechoslovakia Dukla Prague 0–2 0–6 0–8
1964–65 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Spain Real Zaragoza 0–3 1–5 1–8
1972–73 UEFA Cup 1R Italy Inter Milan 0–1 1–6 1–7
1974–75 European Cup 1R Finland HJK Helsinki 1–0 1–4 2–4
1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Hungary Haladás VSE 1–1 0–7 1–8
1977–78 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Soviet Union Dynamo Moscow 0–2 0–5 0–7
1978–79 European Cup 1R Switzerland Grasshopper 3–5 0–8 3–13
1979–80 UEFA Cup 1R England Leeds United 0–4 0–3 0–7
1980–81 European Cup PR Hungary Budapest Honvéd 0–3 0–8 0–11
1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Scotland Rangers 0–8 0–10 0–18
1984–85 European Cup 1R Austria Austria Wien 0–4 0–4 0–8
1987–88 UEFA Cup 1R Italy Juventus 0–4 0–3 0–7
1989–90 UEFA Cup 1R Austria First Vienna 1–4 0–3 1–7
1990–91 European Cup 1R Scotland Rangers 0–4 0–6 0–10
1991–92 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Portugal Porto 0–3 0–1 0–4
1992–93 UEFA Champions League PR Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–2 0–1 1–3
1993–94 UEFA Cup 1R Turkey Trabzonspor 1–3 1–3 2–6
1994–95 UEFA Cup PR Romania Rapid București 2–6 1–1 3–7
1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup QR Slovakia Inter Bratislava 0–0 2–5 2–5
1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup QR Romania Gloria Bistrița 1–2 1–2 2–4
1997–98 UEFA Champions League 1QR Latvia Skonto Riga 1–0 0–2 1–2
1998–99 UEFA Champions League 1QR Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta 0–2 0–6 0–8
1999–00 UEFA Champions League 1QR Wales Barry Town 3–2 0–0 3–2
2QR Austria Rapid Wien 0–2 0–3 0–5
2000–01 UEFA Cup 1QR Croatia Rijeka 4–5 2–3 6–8 (a.e.t.)
2001–02 UEFA Champions League 1QR Finland Haka 0–0 0–5 0–5
2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Albania Teuta 1–2 0–0 1–2
2003–04 UEFA Cup 1QR Switzerland Neuchâtel Xamax 0–2 0–2 0–4
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Serbia and Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica 0–5 2–2 2–7
2008–09 UEFA Champions League 1QR Slovakia Artmedia 0–2 0–1 0–3
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 1QR Iceland Keflavík 3–0 2–2 5–2
2QR Republic of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 1–1 1–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 2QR Poland Ruch Chorzów 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 1QR San Marino Tre Fiori 2–1 3–0 5–1
2QR Lithuania Ekranas 2–3 0–1 2–4
2012–13 UEFA Champions League 1QR Andorra Lusitanos 8–0 1–0 9–0
2QR Serbia Partizan 1–4 1–3 2–7
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 1QR San Marino Fiorita 1–0 3–0 4–0
2QR Belarus Minsk 1–1 0–2 1–3
2014–15 UEFA Champions League 2QR Azerbaijan Qarabağ 0–1 0–4 0–5
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1QR Wales Newtown 1–2 1–2 2–4
2016–17 UEFA Champions League 1QR Faroe Islands B36 Tórshavn 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a)
2QR Serbia Red Star Belgrade 1–2 1–2 2–4
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1QR San Marino Folgore 2–0 1–0 3–0
2QR Netherlands FC Utrecht 0–0 1–3 1–3
2018–19 UEFA Champions League 1QR Albania Kukësi 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
UEFA Europa League 2QR Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski Mostar 1–2 1–1 2–3
2019–20 UEFA Champions League 1QR Luxembourg F91 Dudelange 1–1 2–2 3–3 (a)
2QR Hungary Ferencváros 1–1 1–3 2–4
UEFA Europa League 3QR Kazakhstan Astana 1–5 0–4 1–9
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1QR Wales Bala Town 0–1 — —

Honours

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Competition Titles Seasons
Maltese Premier League 25 1914–15,[a] 1931–32,[a] 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
Maltese FA Trophy 14 1959–60, 1963–64, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2017–18
Maltese Super Cup 13 1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019
Cassar Cup 4 1943–44, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1967–68
Super 5 Lottery Tournament 4 1992–93, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2000–01
Cousis Shield 2 1914–15, 1920–21
Scicluna Cup 2 1960–61, 1963–64
Independence Cup 3 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81
Malta Cup 1 1943–44
Testaferrata Cup 1 1979–80
Centenary Cup 1 2000–01
Maltese National League 100 Anniversary Cup 1 2009–10
Euro Challenge Cup 6 1983–84, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15
Löwenbräu Cup 6 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01
Coronation Cup 1 1953–54
Sons of Malta Cup 2 1974–75, 1978–79
Olympic Cup 1 1962–63
Melita Cup 1 1911
Ranger's Cup 1 1914
Poppy Day Fund Cup 1 1960–61
BetFair Cup 1 2008
Mare Blue Cup 2 2010–11, 2011–12
Doubles: League & Trophy in the same season 8 1914–15, 1959–60, 1977–78, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2013–14, 2017–18
All Cups in the same season 3 1996–97 (5/5 Cups), 2000–01 (6/6 Cups), 2017–2018 (3/3 Cups)

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Valletta United, the predecessors of Valletta F.C., won the league title in 1914–15 and 1931–32 seasons.

References

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  1. ^ "Valletta edge Balzan to capture BOV Super Cup". 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ^ Cachia, Paul; Busuttil, Antoine (28 April 2024). "Watch: Valleta Relegated to Challenge League After Naxxar Defeat". Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ "UEFA-MFA study confirms football as no.1 sport in Malta". Malta Football Association. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. ^ "With a goal to promote Maltese sport, Meridianbet sponsored two football clubs during the 2021/22 season!". TVM News. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b "The Birth of Valletta United". VallettaFCOfficial.net. 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Squad 2018–19". Valletta F.C. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Valletta". UEFA. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. ^ "The Coaches". Valletta F.C. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. ^ V. Camilleri (19 February 2020). "Abdilla sacked as Valletta coach". Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  10. ^ V. Camilleri (19 February 2020). "Updated: Proud Tedesco keen to lead Valletta to more trophies". Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  11. ^ V. Camilleri (17 June 2020). "Zerafa agrees terms to become Valletta coach". Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  12. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (2 December 2020). "Agius appointed interim coach at Valletta FC". Times of Malta . Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  13. ^ V. Camilleri (28 December 2020). "Portuguese coach Cardoso Mendes takes over at Valletta FC". Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  14. ^ Busuttil, Antoine (3 February 2022). "DANILO DONCIC APPOINTED VALLETTA FC COACH". Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  15. ^ "UEFA Competitions". Valletta F.C. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
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