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Sliema Wanderers F.C.

Association football club

Association football club

FieldValue
nicknameThe Blues
The Wanderers
groundTigne Sports Complex,
Sliema,
Malta
capacity1,000
clubnameSliema Wanderers
imageSliema_Wanderers_F.C._logo.png
image_size200px
fullnameSliema Wanderers Football Club
founded
chairmanKeith Perry
managerPablo Doffo
leagueMaltese Premier League
season2024–25
positionMaltese Premier League, 4th of 12
websitehttps://sliemawfc.com/
pattern_b1_sliema2425h
pattern_b2_adidastabela23o
pattern_sh1_sliema2425h
pattern_so1_3_stripes_white
pattern_so2_3_stripes_black
leftarm181DAF5
leftarm2FF6600
body10000FF
body2FF6600
rightarm181DAF5
rightarm2FF6600
shorts10000FF
shorts2FFFFFF
socks10000FF
socks2FFFFFF

The Wanderers Sliema, Malta

Sliema Wanderers Football Club, nicknamed "tax-Xelin" (of the shilling), is a professional Maltese football club. It is the most successful team in Malta and hails from the seaside town of Sliema. It currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.

History

The club was founded in 1909. The club competed in the first ever Maltese Premier League season in 1909–10 and finished in second position to Floriana after the five-game season came to an end.

Ten years down the line, Sliema Wanderers finally made their mark in Maltese football by winning the Maltese Premier League title in the 1919–20 season. Since then the team have gone on to win the title 26 times, a record for Malta; the last three being in 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05.

Sliema Wanderers also hold the record for the most FA Trophy wins, with their first coming in 1935, when they overpowered Floriana with a 4–0 victory. The club have gone on to win this particular honour 20 times, most recently in 2000, 2004 and in 2009; the last title was won against Valletta 7–6 on penalties after the match finished 3–3 following extra time.

With all these honours, Sliema Wanderers are currently the most successful team in the history of Maltese football with approximately 113 honours. Sliema Wanderers train at the Tigne Sports Complex, in Sliema.

2000s

The 2000s saw Sliema Wanderers becoming a dominant club in the Maltese scene again.

Summer 2003 had President Robert Arrigo signing Maltese internationals Jamie Pace, Djibril Sylla and Daniel Bogdanovic.

Season 2004-05 saw the Wanderers, under the presidency of Robert Arrigo, win their 26th Maltese Premier League title. Part of this success was Michael Mifsud's return to his boyhood club after being leaving 1.FC Kaiserslautern on a free.

Season 2005-06 started with a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Sheriff Tiraspol. Much to Arrigo's chagrin, lost Michael Mifsud to Lillestrøm SK, in a move made possible by Nikki Dimech who acted as his representative, albeit being a lengthy transfer saga that was complicated by International Transfer Clearance issues and compensation fees.

2010s

Sliema Wanderers clinched a Maltese FA Trophy in season 2015-16.

Keith Perry was confirmed as president in the beginning of season 2016-17 despite rumours. John Buttigieg was appointed as Head Coach.

2020s

The club endured a rough start to the 2020s. The club started off with a bang, signing former Arsenal F.C. midfielder Denílson. Further players were signed and Keith Perry was appointed chairman of the club, and Jeffrey Farrugia took over as president. A sponsorship deal was struck with Catco Group, an oil investment company based in China and Tunisia. Catco Group however, failed to pay its dues, citing technical reasons. This gave way to unrest within the club, with captain Mark Scerri and head coach Andrea Pisanu making public statements regarding the financial situation of the club, proceeding with resignations such as Perry and team manager Alex Muscat. Players went unpaid for months, with another sponsor, Sixt, finally paying the players directly just before Christmas. Eventually a new sponsor was brought on board. Farrugia was later ousted as Keith Perry returned in the President's seat in preparation for the upcoming season.

Season 2021-22 was disastrous from a technical point of view. Despite signing two new players in Djibouti international Warsama Hassan and Japanese Yuki Uchida, up until 19 November 2021, the club had not yet won a match, and sat at the bottom of the Maltese Premier League. The first win came on 20 November, stunning Valletta with a 2–1 result. The dying minutes of the match however, proved fatal, as Warsama Hassan was introduced at 90 minutes. However, the player had just returned from Egypt, where he had featured for his Djibouti national football team in a match against Algeria. Warsama was supposed to be in quarantine, having returned from a Dark Red listed country. Valletta lodged a formal complaint, which was upheld by the Malta Football Association, awarding a 3–0 win to Valletta. Sliema Wanderers' next match was against Birkirkara F.C., resulting in a further loss. On 10 April 2022 Sliema Wanderers lost against Valletta with a 2–1 result, and were relegated to Maltese Challenge League after thirty-seven years in the top flight.

Futsal

Sliema Wanderers also had a futsal team, which participated in Malta's top futsal league until 2024. The 2023–24 season was the last edition of the Enemed Futsal League in which Sliema Wanderers Futsal participated, finishing at 9th place and thus qualified for the Enemed Challenger League.

Previously, Sliema had limited success in the domestic futsal competitions, finishing eighth in the 2010–11 season, fifth in 2011–12, and seventh in 2012–13 - out of ten teams. In the 2015–16 season, when the championship featured 14 teams, Sliema placed ninth.

Sliema Wanderers Bilbao Futsal reached the second round of the national cup in 2010–11 and 2012–13.

Youth Futsal League

On 13 February, Sliema Wanderers Youth Futsal won the Youth Futsal League after defeating Mosta 6–2 in the final played at the National Sport School in Pembroke, with Giorgio Comes scoring five goals for the winners.

Players

Current squad

As of 19 August, 2025.

Out on loan

European record

SeasonCompetitionRoundCountryClubHomeAwayAggregate
1963–64UEFA Cup Winners' CupPreliminary RoundWalesBorough United0–00–20–2
1964–65European CupPreliminary RoundRomaniaDinamo București0–20–50–7
1965–66European CupPreliminary RoundGreecePanathinaikos1–01–42–4
1966–67European CupPreliminary RoundBulgariaCSKA Sofia1–20–41–6
1968–69UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundLuxembourgUS Rumelange1–01–22–2(a)
2. RoundDenmarkRanders Freja0–20–60–8
1969–70UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundSwedenIFK Norrköping1–01–52–5
1970–71Inter-Cities Fairs Cup1. RoundDenmarkAkademisk BK2–30–72–10
1971–72European Cup1. RoundIcelandÍA Akranes0–04–04–0
2. RoundScotlandCeltic1–20–51–7
1972–73European Cup1. RoundPolandGórnik Zabrze0–50–50–10
1973–74UEFA Cup1. RoundBulgariaLokomotiv Plovdiv0–20–10–3
1974–75UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundFinlandLahti2–01–43–4
1975–76UEFA Cup1. RoundPortugalSporting CP1–21–32–5
1976–77European Cup1. RoundFinlandTPS Turku2–10–12–2(a)
1977–78UEFA Cup1. RoundWest GermanyEintracht Frankfurt0–00–50–5
1979–80UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundPortugalBoavista2–10–82–9
1980–81UEFA Cup1. RoundSpainBarcelona0–20–10–3
1981–82UEFA Cup1. RoundGreeceAris Thessaloniki2–40–42–8
1982–83UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundWalesSwansea City0–50–120–17
1987–88UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundAlbaniaVllaznia0–40–20–6
1988–89UEFA Cup1. RoundRomaniaVictoria București0–21–61–8
1989–90European Cup1. RoundAlbaniaKF Tirana1–00–51–5
1990–91UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1. RoundCzechoslovakiaDukla Prague1–20–21–4
1993–94UEFA Cup Winners' CupQualifying RoundSwedenDegerfors1–30–31–6
1995–96UEFA CupPreliminary RoundCyprusAC Omonia1–20–31–5
1996–97UEFA CupPreliminary RoundGeorgiaMargveti Zestaponi1–33–04–3
Qualifying RoundDenmarkOdense BK0–21–71–9
1998UEFA Intertoto Cup1. RoundHungaryDiósgyőr2–30–22–5
1999–00UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundSwitzerlandFC Zürich0–30–10–4
2000–01UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundSerbia and MontenegroFK Partizan2–11–43–5
2001–02UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundSlovakiaMatador Púchov2–10–32–4
2002–03UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundPolandPolonia Warsaw1–30–21–5
2003–04UEFA Champions League1. Qualifying RoundLatviaSkonto Riga2–01–33–3(a)
2. Qualifying RoundDenmarkCopenhagen0–61–41–10
2004–05UEFA Champions League1. Qualifying RoundLithuaniaFBK Kaunas0–21–41–6
2005–06UEFA Champions League1. Qualifying RoundMoldovaSheriff Tiraspol1–40–21–6
2006–07UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundRomaniaRapid București0–10–50–6
2007–08UEFA Cup1. Qualifying RoundBulgariaLitex Lovech0–30–40–7
2009–10UEFA Europa League2. Qualifying RoundISRMaccabi Netanya0–00–30–3
2010–11UEFA Europa League1. Qualifying RoundCROŠibenik0–30–00–3
2013–14UEFA Europa League1. Qualifying RoundAzerbaijanKhazar Lankaran1–10–11–2
2014–15UEFA Europa League1. Qualifying RoundHungaryFerencváros1–11–22–3
2024–25UEFA Conference League2. Qualifying RoundArmeniaNoah0−00−70−7

Historical list of coaches

See Sliema Wanderers F.C. Managers Lately coach Paul Zammit was saked after a disappointing loss to Swiqi United 2-1 in the Malta FA Cup round of 32 and was reflaced by Argentian coach Pablo Doffo

  • MLT Joe A. Griffiths
  • MLT Salvinu Schembri (1963–1964)
  • HUN János Bédl (1 July 1964 – 30 June 1966)
  • MLT Victor Scerri (1968–1978)
  • MLT Alfred "Freddie" Cardona (1978–1980)
  • MLT Edward Aquilina (1979–1983)
  • MLT Robbie Buttigieg (1981–1982)
  • MLT Tony Formosa (1982–1986)
  • MLT Lawrence Borg (1987–1991)
  • BUL Guentcho Dobrev (1992–1993)
  • MLT Marcel Scucluna (1993)
  • MLT Martin Gregory (1994)
  • MLT Andrew Weavill (1994–1995)
  • MLT John Calleja and ENG Mark Miller (1995–1996)
  • NGA Augustine Eguavoen (July 1999 – October 1999)
  • MLT Martin Gregory (1999–2000)
  • ENG Jeff Wood (2001–2002)
  • MLT Lawrence Borg (2001–2002)
  • MLT Edward Aquilina (2002–2006)
  • MLT Ray Farrugia (2006–2007)
  • MLT Stephen Azzopardi (1 November 2007 – 30 May 2010)
  • MLT Mark Marlow (1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011)
  • SRB Danilo Dončić (3 February 2011 – 27 May 2012)
  • MLT Clive Mizzi (27 May 2012 – 7 August 2012)
  • ITA Alfonso Greco (1 July 2012 – October 2014)
  • MLT Stephen Azzopardi (October 2014 – December 2015)
  • ITA Alfonso Greco (1 January 2016 – May 2016)
  • MLT John Buttigieg (June 2016 – 2019)
  • ITA Stefano Maccoppi (2019)
  • ITA Alfonso Greco (July 2019 – February 2020)
  • ITA Andrea Pisanu (2020-2021)
  • MLT Noel Turner (2022)
  • MLT Paul Zammit (2022-2026)
  • ARG Pablo Doffo (2026-)

Honours

CompetitionTitlesSeasonsMaltese Premier League [[File:Star full.svg20px]][[File:Star full.svg20px]]Maltese FA TrophyMaltese Challenge LeagueMaltese Super CupCassar CupScicluna CupEuro Cup MaltaIndependence CupCousis ShieldMFA League CupChristmas CupSuper 5 CupLöwenbräu CupChristmas Tourney CupSchembri ShieldTestaferrata CupSons of Malta CupSummer CupEvolution Gaming Summer CupAtkins CupEmpire Sports Ground CupMFA CupMPFA ShieldSummer Cup
261919–20, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1988–89, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
221934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1939–40, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1989–90, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2023–24
21983–84, 2022–23
31996, 2000, 2009
111923–24, 1924–25, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1966–67
101949–50, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66
61982, 1987, 1990, 2004, 2005, 2010
51964–65, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1981–82
41917–18, 1919–20, 1923–24, 1925–26
41965–66, 1969–70, 1978–79, 1984–85
31966–67, 1967–68, 1970–71
31990–91, 2001–02, 2003–04
31999, 2001, 2002
21936–37, 1948–49
21955–56, 1957–58
21964–65, 1974–75
21972–73, 1979–80
12024
12016
11922–23
11923–24
11931–32
11954–55
12004

Statistics

Domestic

Post-WWII season-by-season performance of the club:

SeasonLeagueDiv.TierPos.Pl.WDLGSGAP
1944–45Maltese Premier LeagueI2nd31111053
1945–46Maltese Premier League2nd12813391517
1946–47Maltese Premier League4th14626302514
1947–48Maltese Premier League3rd14752352319
1948–49Maltese Premier League1st141103331522
1949–50Maltese Premier League3rd14833311519
1950–51Maltese Premier League4th14824251118
1951–52Maltese Premier League3rd14752271519
1952–53Maltese Premier League4th14455201613
1953–54Maltese Premier League1st14923311620
1954–55Maltese Premier League2nd141013331621
1955–56Maltese Premier League1st141202481224
1956–57Maltese Premier League1st14122043626
1957–58Maltese Premier League2nd141013321121
1958–59Maltese Premier League2nd14905312118
1959–60Maltese Premier League5th14554192015
1960–61Maltese Premier League3rd14923311620
1961–62Maltese Premier League3rd14734252017
1962–63Maltese Premier League3rd14932261321
1963–64Maltese Premier League1st14130139926
1964–65Maltese Premier League1st1492136920
1965–66Maltese Premier League1st1073024717
1966–67Maltese Premier League2nd1072125716
1967–68Maltese Premier League2nd14923361120
1968–69Maltese Premier League4th1465314817
1969–70Maltese Premier League2nd1475224919
1970–71Maltese Premier League1st1476117520
1971–72Maltese Premier League1st18106228726
1972–73Maltese Premier League2nd181053341425
1973–74Maltese Premier League4th18855251421
1974–75Maltese Premier League2nd181125302024
1975–76Maltese Premier League1st181143351326
1976–77Maltese Premier League2nd181071341427
1977–78Maltese Premier League3rd18882281424
1978-79Maltese Premier LeagueIA1st870116514
ICP3rd6204794
1979–80Maltese Premier LeagueI2nd181323471128
1980–81Maltese Premier League2nd14103127823
1981–82Maltese Premier League2nd14824242018
1982–83Maltese Premier League7th ↓14446141112
1983-84Maltese First DivisionIIP12nd74129
IIP21st ↑651011
1984–85Maltese Premier LeagueI3rd13553131015
1985–86Maltese Premier League6th14437192211
1986–87Maltese Premier League4th14545121614
1987–88Maltese Premier League2nd1483319719
1988–89Maltese Premier League1st161141321626
1989–90Maltese Premier League2nd161123361124
1990–91Maltese Premier League5th16475242015
1991–92Maltese Premier League3rd181044372024
1992–93Maltese Premier League7th18639263115
1993–94Maltese Premier League5th18756231419
1994–95Maltese Premier League2nd181233552239
1995–96Maltese Premier League1st181512551646
1996–97Maltese Premier League4th271449583046
1997–98Maltese Premier League3rd271827642656
1998–99Maltese Premier League3rd271458543247
1999-00Maltese Premier LeagueIP14th181035412333
ICP2nd10712211339
2000-01Maltese Premier LeagueIP12nd181233702439
ICP2nd10622261340
2001-02Maltese Premier LeagueIP13rd181224481638
ICP2nd10523191436
2002-03Maltese Premier LeagueIP11st181422511644
ICP1st10622191242
2003-04Maltese Premier LeagueIP11st181323371541
ICP1st10712241243
2004-05Maltese Premier LeagueIP11st181332331542
ICP1st1054114840
2005-06Maltese Premier LeagueIP12nd181233371239
ICP2nd10523211537
2006-07Maltese Premier LeagueIP12nd181044332134
ICP2nd10532171335
2007-08Maltese Premier LeagueIP13rd18954311832
ICP4th10604161534
2008-09Maltese Premier LeagueIP14th18756242426
ICP4th1033491725
2009-10Maltese Premier LeagueIP14th18927292129
ICP3rd10505121630
2010-11Maltese Premier LeagueIP17th18576222622
IRP7th1050115526
2011-12Maltese Premier LeagueIP14th188113342435
ICP5th10136132323
2012-13Maltese Premier LeagueIP15th221147342237
ICP4th10523141336
2013-14Maltese Premier LeagueIP14th221273432443
ICP5th10235111831
2014–15Maltese Premier LeagueI6th3310914505626
2015–16Maltese Premier League7th3312615495130
2016–17Maltese Premier League6th3315711473752
2017–18Maltese Premier League7th261178352640
2018–19Maltese Premier League5th261367372645
2019–20Maltese Premier League10th207310242224
2020–21Maltese Premier League5th231247393140
2021-22Maltese Premier LeagueIP112th222614123312
IRP12th ↓520341018
2022-23Maltese Challenge LeagueIIP11st171520401047
IICP1st ↑1091026475
2023–24Maltese Premier LeagueI3rd261484341250
2024–25Maltese Premier LeagueIM13rd1164115522
ICP13rd5221858
IM25th11605181318
ICP21st53119410
2025–26Maltese Premier LeagueIM14th11542161419
ICP14th5212557

References

References

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  2. Micallef, Sandro. (29 January 2016). "LaLiga: the best show in Malta".
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  4. (4 May 2005). "Making Sliema the most successful team was my primary aim – Robert Arrigo". [[The Malta Independent]].
  5. (21 November 2003). "Mifsud heads back to Malta".
  6. (24 June 2005). "Sheriff challenge for Sliema Wanderers". Times of Malta.
  7. Dalli, Jesmond. (2 July 2004). "Mifsud returning home as Sliema stand firm over clearance issue". Times of Malta.
  8. (19 June 2004). "Mifsud set to leave Sliema for Norway's Lillestrom". Times of Malta.
  9. (8 June 2016). "Keith Perry stays at the helm of Sliema Wanderers". Times of Malta.
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  19. Lia, Gianluca. (4 February 2021). "Watch: Sliema players battled poverty due to unpaid wages, says coach Pisanu -". SportsDesk.
  20. Borg, Jacob. (3 January 2021). "Adrian Delia aims to set up charity foundation after sensational donation pledge". Times of Malta.
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  30. Busuttil, Antoine. (27 November 2021). "Watch: Montebello double lifts Birkirkara past struggling Sliema Wanderers". SportsDesk.
  31. Futsal Malta Association. (25 March 2024). "Futsal: Malta U19 selection ends second phase on a high".
  32. "MLT First Division 10-11". Futsal Planet.
  33. "MLT First Division 11-12". Futsal Planet.
  34. "Malta Futsal League".
  35. "Maltese Futsal Cup 2010–11".
  36. "Maltese Futsal Cup 2012–13".
  37. Futsal Malta Association. (31 May 2022). "Sliema Wanderers win Youth Futsal League".
  38. Camilleri, Valhmor. (2026-01-07). "Updated: Pablo Doffo takes over at Sliema Wanderers until the end of the season". [[SportsDesk]].
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  41. "Sliema Wanderers win Evolution Gaming Summer Cup".
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