Luke Dimech

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Luke Dimech
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Personal information
Full name Luke Dimech
Date of birth January 11, 1977 (1977-01-11) (age 31)
Place of birth    Valletta, Malta
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Unattached
Youth clubs
Lincoln City
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1995–2001
2002
2003
2003–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008		 Sliema Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers
Birkirkara
Mansfield Town
Chester City
Marsaxlokk
Macclesfield Town		 133 (3)
016 (0)
010 (0)
045 (1)
030 (0)
026 (0)
026 (0)   
National team2

1999–		 Malta U21
Malta		 014 (0)
056 (1)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of May 19, 2008).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of May 19, 2008).
* Appearances (Goals)

Luke Dimech (born January 11, 1977 in Valletta, Malta) is a professional footballer, who most recently played for League Two side Macclesfield Town, where he played as a defender.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Sliema Wanderers

Dimech began his career playing for Sliema Wanderers. Luke's first season was the 1995/96 season and instantly gained silverware when the club won the Maltese Premier League.

Luke spent seven seasons with the club and even managed establishing himself in the national team in 1999, in total Dimech made 133 appearances and scored on three occasions during his time with the club.

[edit] Shamrock Rovers

After many impressive displays Luke moved to Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers for one season, making his debut on the 2nd of September 2002 [1]. He got sent off on his 4th appearance [2]. Went on to make a total of 16 appearances, but after falling out of favour with the club, Luke left Dublin. Played in the 2002 FAI Cup Final.

[edit] Birkirkara

Dimech returned to Malta joining up with Birkirkara in 2003, and made 10 appearances with the club.

[edit] Mansfield Town

Another good season in the Maltese League saw Luke on the move again, this time he joined English side Mansfield Town in August, 2003[1].

Luke initially signed a one-year deal with the club but at the end of the 2003/04 season, Luke enjoyed some very dominant displays, but the season finished with disappointment when Mansfield Town were beaten in the League Two play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town. Despite the disappointment Luke was rewarded for some very impressive displays with another one-year contract[2].

Luke's second season with Mansfield Town was quite indifferent in the early part of the season; Keith Curle was sacked and replaced by Carlton Palmer. Dimech carried the good form he enjoyed the following season and cemented a place in the heart of the defence, Luke didn't enjoy the best of second halfs of the season and after falling out of favour with Carlton Palmer, Dimech was released at the end of the 2004/05 season. In two seasons with Mansfield Town Luke made 45 appearances and scored one goal.

[edit] Chester City

His next move was onto another English club, Chester City on a free in July, 2005 on a one-year contract. His manager was once again Keith Curle and his central defensive partner was David Artell, who moved with him from Mansfield.

Luke was a regular in the heart of the Chester City defence and made 30 appearances during the 2005/06. Having only a one-year contract at the club and an indifferent second half to the season meant that Luke was released when his contract expired[3].

[edit] Marsaxlokk

Dimech then returned back in his homeland joining Marsaxlokk in 2006 in time for the new season. Luke has also captained the side during the season, in the absence of Carlo Mamo. He was also still very much a major part of the Malta national team setup, forming a strong partnership alongside veteran Brian Said.

Following Marsaxlokk triumph in the league, and the end of the players contract, Dimech decided not to renew and instead decided to search for a club elsewhere in Europe, thought to be England.

[edit] Macclesfield Town

On July 19, 2007, Luke signed a one-year deal with manager Ian Brightwell to join League Two side Macclesfield Town[4] and was re-united with Carl Regan who he played alongside in Chester City's defence.

Dimech made his Macclesfield Town debut on the opening day of the League Two season away to Bradford City on August 11, 2007, in which the game finished 1-1. Three days later Luke made his home debut in the first round tie of Football League Cup against League One outfit Leeds United, the game finished 1-0 to Leeds United, thanks to 78th minute goal from Ian Westlake.

On January 31, 2008 the Dimech and Carl Regan partnership came to an end as Regan joined former Macclesfield Town manager Paul Ince at Milton Keynes Dons. As one of Lukes former Chester City team mates left the club, another one arrived in the shape of Sean Hessey who joined the club on a season long loan from Chester City, and is likely to fill the void left by the departing Regan.

It was announced on May 18, 2008 that Dimech along with four other Macclesfield Town players where to be released by manager Keith Alexander.

During his time with Macclesfield Town, Luke made 26 appearances, but didn't find the net during his time with the club.

[edit] International career

[edit] Flag of Malta Malta

Luke is a regular in the Maltese national team and to date has 55 caps with one goal. He began playing for Malta on April 28, 1999 when he made his debut against Iceland.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Sliema Wanderers

Winner

[edit] Marsaxlokk

Winner

[edit] Personal Life

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mansfield sign duo
  2. ^ Stags trio agree new deals
  3. ^ Chester allow six players to exit
  4. ^ Macclesfield bag defender Dimech

[edit] External links

Languages