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Valletta F.C.

Association football club in Malta

Association football club in Malta

FieldValue
clubnameValletta
imageValletta F.C. logo.png
upright1.0
fullnameValletta Football Club
nicknameLilywhites
Tal-Palestina
Citizens
founded
chairmanClaudio Grech
managerThane Micallef
leagueMaltese Premier League
season2024–25
positionMaltese Challenge League, 1st of 16 (promoted)
website
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body1FFFFFF
rightarm1FFFFFF
shorts1FFFFFF
socks1FFFFFF
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pattern_b2_nikechallenge5urw
pattern_ra2_nikechallenge5urw
leftarm2FF0000
body2FF0000
rightarm2FF0000
shorts2FF0000
socks2FF0000

Tal-Palestina Citizens

Valletta F.C. is a professional football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. The club currently competes in the Maltese Premier League. 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, 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.

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.

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. 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;

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

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 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

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.

Consecutive titles

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

Valletta were relegated for the first time in the club's history in the 2023–24 Maltese Premier League. 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.

In the 2024–25 Maltese Challenge League, the club secured promotion back to the top division, finishing at the top of the table with only one defeat during the season.

Players

Current squad

Youth Players in use

Out on loan

Retired numbers

  • 7 – Malta Gilbert Agius, FW, 1990–2012
  • 12 – Representing the supporters of Valletta as the 12th player of the team

Personnel

Coaching staff

PositionStaff
ManagerMLT Thane Micallef
Assistant ManagerMLT Jesmond Zerafa
Goalkeeping coachMLT Romeo Schembri
Team managerMLT Gerard Ellul
Training assistantMLT Jason Galea Lucas
Physical trainerMLT Karl Sciortino
PhysioESP Oscar Alonso
Kit managerMLT Clint Mizzi

Managerial history

DatesName
1949–1950ENG Harry Tedder
1958–1959SCO Bob Gilmour
1959–1960ENG William Dingwall
1962–1964MLT Carm Borg
1968–1970MLT Tony Formosa
1970–1972MLT Josie Urpani
1973–1975MLT Tony Formosa
1976–1977ITA Terenzio Polverini
1977–1978MLT Lolly Debattista
1978–1981MLT John Calleja
1982–1984MLT Joe Cilia
1986–1988MLT Tony Formosa
MLT Joe Micallef
1989–1990MLT George Busuttil
1989–1990MLT Eddie Vella
1991–1993MLT Tony Euchar Grech
1993–1994MLT Lawrence Borg
1994–1995MLT Joe Cilia
MLT Edward Aquilina
1995–1998MLT Edward Aquilina
1998–2001BUL Krasimir Manolov
2001–2002BUL Georgi Deanov
2003–2004BUL Atanas Marinov
2004–2005MLT Joseph John Aquilina
2004–2009MLT Paul Zammit
2009–2010NED Ton Caanen
2010–2012MLT Jesmond Zerafa
2012–2013ENG Mark Miller
2014NED André Paus
2014–2015MLT Gilbert Agius
MLT Ivan Zammit
2015–2017MLT Paul Zammit
2015–2017SRB Zoran Popović
2017– 2019SRB Danilo Dončić
2019MLT Gilbert Agius (Caretaker)
2019–2020MLT Darren Abdilla
2020ITA Giovanni Tedesco
2020MLT Jesmond Zerafa
2020MLT Gilbert Agius (Caretaker)
2020-2022POR Tozé Mendes
2022SRB Danilo Dončić
2022-2023MLT Thane Micallef
2023-2024ITA Enzo Potenza
2024ARG Juan Cruz Gill (Caretaker)
2024-MLT Thane Micallef

European record

CompetitionPlayedWonDrewLostGFGAGDWin%

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

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1963–64European CupPRCSK Dukla Prague0–8}}
1964–65European Cup Winners' Cup1RESP Real Zaragoza1–8}}
1972–73UEFA Cup1RITA Inter Milan1–7}}
1974–75European Cup1RFIN HJK Helsinki2–4}}
1975–76European Cup Winners' Cup1RHUN Haladás VSE1–8}}
1977–78European Cup Winners' Cup1RUSSR Dynamo Moscow0–7}}
1978–79European Cup1RSUI Grasshopper3–13}}
1979–80UEFA Cup1RENG Leeds United0–7}}
1980–81European CupPRHUN Budapest Honvéd0–11}}
1983–84European Cup Winners' Cup1RSCO Rangers0–18}}
1984–85European Cup1RAUT Austria Wien0–8}}
1987–88UEFA Cup1RITA Juventus0–7}}
1989–90UEFA Cup1RAUT First Vienna1–7}}
1990–91European Cup1RSCO Rangers0–10}}
1991–92UEFA Cup Winners' Cup1RPOR Porto0–4}}
1992–93UEFA Champions LeaguePRISR Maccabi Tel Aviv1–3}}
1993–94UEFA Cup1RTUR Trabzonspor2–6}}
1994–95UEFA CupPRROU Rapid București3–7}}
1995–96UEFA Cup Winners' CupQRSVK Inter Bratislava2–5}}
1996–97UEFA Cup Winners' CupQRROU Gloria Bistrița2–4}}
1997–98UEFA Champions League1QRLVA Skonto Riga1–2}}
1998–99UEFA Champions League1QRCYP Anorthosis Famagusta0–8}}
1999–00UEFA Champions League1QRWAL Barry Town3–2}}
2QRAUT Rapid Wien0–5}}
2000–01UEFA Cup1QRCRO Rijeka6–8}} (a.e.t.)
2001–02UEFA Champions League1QRFIN Haka0–5}}
2002UEFA Intertoto Cup1RALB Teuta1–2}}
2003–04UEFA Cup1QRSUI Neuchâtel Xamax0–4}}
2005UEFA Intertoto Cup1RSCG Budućnost Podgorica2–7}}
2008–09UEFA Champions League1QRSVK Artmedia0–3}}
2009–10UEFA Europa League1QRISL Keflavík5–2}}
2QRIRE St Patrick's Athletic1–2}}
2010–11UEFA Europa League2QRPOL Ruch Chorzów1–1}} (a)
2011–12UEFA Champions League1QRSMR Tre Fiori5–1}}
2QRLIT Ekranas2–4}}
2012–13UEFA Champions League1QRAND Lusitanos9–0}}
2QRSRB Partizan2–7}}
2013–14UEFA Europa League1QRSMR Fiorita4–0}}
2QRBLR Minsk1–3}}
2014–15UEFA Champions League2QRAZE Qarabağ0–5}}
2015–16UEFA Europa League1QRWAL Newtown2–4}}
2016–17UEFA Champions League1QRFRO B36 Tórshavn2–2}} (a)
2QRSRB Red Star Belgrade2–4}}
2017–18UEFA Europa League1QRSMR Folgore3–0}}
2QRNED FC Utrecht1–3}}
2018–19UEFA Champions League1QRALB Kukësi1–1}} (a)
UEFA Europa League2QRBIH Zrinjski Mostar2–3}}
2019–20UEFA Champions League1QRLUX F91 Dudelange3–3}} (a)
2QRHUN Ferencváros2–4}}
UEFA Europa League3QRKAZ Astana1–9}}
2020–21UEFA Europa League1QRWAL Bala Town

Honours

CompetitionTitlesSeasonsMaltese Premier League [[File:Star full.svg20px]][[File:Star full.svg20px]]Maltese FA TrophyMaltese Super CupCassar CupSuper 5 Lottery TournamentCousis ShieldScicluna CupIndependence CupMalta CupTestaferrata CupCentenary CupMaltese National League 100 Anniversary CupJubilee CupEuro Challenge CupLöwenbräu CupCoronation CupSons of Malta CupOlympic CupMelita CupRanger's CupPoppy Day Fund CupBetFair CupMare Blue CupDoubles: League & Trophy in the same seasonAll Cups in the same season
251914–15, 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, 2017–18, 2018–19
141959–60, 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
131990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019
41943–44, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1967–68
41992–93, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2000–01
21914–15, 1920–21
21960–61, 1963–64
31974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81
11943–44
11979–80
12000–01
12009–10
12025–26
61983–84, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15
61993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01
11953–54
21974–75, 1978–79
11962–63
11911
11914
11960–61
12008
22010–11, 2011–12
81914–15, 1959–60, 1977–78, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2013–14, 2017–18
31996–97 (5/5 Cups), 2000–01 (6/6 Cups), 2017–2018 (3/3 Cups)

Notes

References

References

  1. "Valletta edge Balzan to capture BOV Super Cup".
  2. (26 September 2018). "UEFA-MFA study confirms football as no.1 sport in Malta". Malta Football Association.
  3. (10 July 2022). "With a goal to promote Maltese sport, Meridianbet sponsored two football clubs during the 2021/22 season!".
  4. (12 July 2007). "The Birth of Valletta United". VallettaFCOfficial.net.
  5. (28 April 2024). "Valletta FC condemned to first ever relegation after heavy loss". Malta Independent.
  6. (1 March 2025). "BOV Challenge League: Valletta secure promotion". maltafootball.com.
  7. "Squad 2018–19". Valletta F.C..
  8. "Valletta". UEFA.
  9. "The Coaches". Valletta F.C..
  10. V. Camilleri. (19 February 2020). "Abdilla sacked as Valletta coach".
  11. V. Camilleri. (19 February 2020). "Updated: Proud Tedesco keen to lead Valletta to more trophies".
  12. V. Camilleri. (17 June 2020). "Zerafa agrees terms to become Valletta coach".
  13. Camilleri, Valhmor. (2020-12-02). "Agius appointed interim coach at Valletta FC". [[Times of Malta ]].
  14. V. Camilleri. (28 December 2020). "Portuguese coach Cardoso Mendes takes over at Valletta FC".
  15. Busuttil, Antoine. (2022-02-03). "DANILO DONCIC APPOINTED VALLETTA FC COACH".
  16. "UEFA Competitions". Valletta F.C..
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