Valletta F.C.

Valletta F.C.
Full name Valletta Football Club
Nickname(s) Lily Whites
Founded 1943 as Valletta F.C
Ground Hibernians Stadium,
Ta' Qali, Malta
Ground Capacity 8,000
Chairman Victor Sciriha
Coach Paul Zammit
League Maltese Premier League
2015–16 Maltese Premier League, 1st
Website Club home page

Valletta Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta.

Valletta Football Club was founded in 1943, as a merger of Valletta Prestons, Valletta St. Paul's and the extinct Valletta United which had won two league championships before World War II. Valletta also have a futsal team which participates in Malta's top futsal league.

History

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.

A very important 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.[1] 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;[1]

 
  • 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 ever 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 monopoly 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 the 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

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

In the season 2000–01, Valletta F.C. succeeded in breaking their own record from 1996–97. 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

Hope for their first trophy in 7 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 the 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

Valletta won The 2010–11 BOV Premier League unbeaten which brings the 20th title to the Valletta FC history.

21st Title (3/4 cups)

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

Valletta skipper Frankie Zammit (second from right) prior to a 1963–64 European Cup match against Dukla Prague at the Juliska Stadium.

Valletta FC Card

Valletta FC are the only club in Malta to have their own branded credit card, launched in association with their sponsors – Insignia Cards Ltd.

Television commercials advertising the card, and featuring fans, ultras, and past and current players, can be watched on YouTube:

Achievements

1914–15*, 1931–32*, 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

20 as Valletta FC 2 as Valletta United (1914–15*, 1931–32*)

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
1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

Players

Current squad

As of 3 September 2016 [2]

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

No. Position Player
1 Malta GK Henry Bonello
2 Malta DF Jonathan Caruana
3 Malta DF Ian Azzopardi
4 Malta DF Steve Borg
5 Malta DF Ryan Camilleri
6 Argentina DF Juan Cruz Gill
8 Argentina MF Santiago Malano
9 Malta FW Michael Mifsud
10 Malta MF Roderick Briffa
11 Malta FW Luke Montebello
13 Malta GK Nicky Vella
14 Malta DF Daniel Camilleri
15 Malta MF Russell Fenech
No. Position Player
16 Malta MF Jean Borg
18 Malta FW Jurgen Suda
19 Namibia DF Ennio Hamutenya
20 Argentina FW Federico Falcone
21 Malta MF Llywelyn Cremona
22 Malta FW Nicholas Pulis
23 Italy FW Claudio Pani
24 Nigeria MF Uchenna Umeh
25 Argentina DF Leandro Aguirre
26 Malta GK Emmanuel Bartolo
27 Brazil MF Jhonnattann
90 Brazil DF Romeu
Lithuania GK Džiugas Bartkus


Club Officials and Coaching Staff

European record

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[3]
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 Vienna 0–2 0–3 0–5
2000–01 UEFA Cup 1QR Croatia Rijeka 4–5 2–3 6–8 (aet)
2001–02 UEFA Champions League 1QR Finland Haka 0–0 0–5 0–5
2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Albania Teuta Durrës 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
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
2QR Serbia Red Star Belgrade 1–2 1–2 2–4

Managers

  • England Harry Tedder (1949–50)
  • England Jock Gilmour (1958–59)
  • England William Dingwall (1959–60)
  • Malta Carm Borg (July 1, 1962–63)
  • Malta Tony Formosa (1968–70)
  • Malta Josie Urpani (1970–72)
  • Malta Tony Formosa (1973–75)
  • Italy Terenzio Polverini (July 1, 1976 – June 30, 1977)
  • Malta Lolly Debattista (1977 – June 30, 1979)
  • Malta John Calleja (July 1, 1979 – June 30, 1980)
  • Malta Joe Cilia (1982–84)
  • Malta Tony Formosa & Joe Micallef (1986–88)
  • Malta George Busuttil (1989–90)
  • Malta Eddie Vella (1990–91)
  • Malta Tony Euchar Grech (1991–93)
  • Malta Lawrence Borg (July 1, 1993 – June 30, 1994)
  • Malta Joe Cilia & Malta Edward Aquilina (1994–95)
  • Malta Edward Aquilina (1995–98)
  • Bulgaria Krasimir Manolov (1998–01)
  • Bulgaria Georgi Deyanov (2001–02)
  • Malta Dennis Fenech (2002–03)
  • Bulgaria Atanas Marinov (2003–04)
  • Malta J.J. Aquilina (2004–05)
  • Malta Paul Zammit & Malta Anton Cremona (2005 – June 30, 2009)
  • Netherlands Ton Caanen (July 1, 2009 – May 30, 2010)
  • Malta Jesmond Zerafa (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011)[4]
  • England Mark Miller & Netherlands André Paus (July 1, 2012/Jan 24, 2014 – May 31, 2014)
  • Malta Gilbert Agius (2014)
  • Malta Ivan Zammit (2014–15)
  • Malta Paul Zammit (2015–Present)

References

  1. 1 2 "The Birth of Valletta United". VallettaFCOfficial.net. 12 July 2007.
  2. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2017/clubs/player=250098126/index.html
  3. ↑ http://www.vallettafc.net/club-info/uefa-competitions
  4. ↑ http://www.vallettafc.net/history/valletta-history/the-coaches.html
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