Clayton Failla

Clayton Failla
Personal information
Full name Clayton Failla
Date of birth 8 January 1986 (1986-01-08) (age 26)
Place of birth Żabbar, Malta
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Midfielder, Defender
Club information
Current club Hibernians
Youth career
St. Patrick
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 St. Patrick 33 (2)
2005–2009 Hibernians 105 (11)
2009–2011 Sliema Wanderers 25 (2)
2011- Hibernians 1 (1)
National team
Malta U21 16 (0)
2008– Malta 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 August 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 January 2010

Clayton Failla (born 8 January 1986 in Żabbar, Malta) is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Sliema Wanderers, where he plays as a midfielder and occasionally as a defender.

Contents

Playing career

St. Patrick

Failla began his career with his boyhood team St. Patrick as a trainee. In 2001-02 he was promoted to the senior team squad, getting three games as a substitute. He was a first team regular when the team won promotion in 2003-04. He made his Premier Division debut during the 2004–05 season.

Failla showed potential, despite St. Patrick's disappointing season,. In January 2005, Failla moved to Hibernians. During his time with St. Patrick, he made 33 appearances and scored two goals.

Hibernians

Failla continued the second half of the 2004–05 season with Hibernians, and played in their first team squad. Failla helped his new side to a third place finish in the Maltese Premier League, making 11 appearances and scoring one goal in the process.

Failla began the 2005–06 season as an established member of the first team squad. Hibernians managed their second third place finish in as many seasons. Failla did however get his hands on his first piece of silverware with Hibernians as the club won the Maltese Cup, after beating Floriana 1-0 in the final. During the season Failla made 23 appearances and scored one goal.

For the 2006–07 season Failla made 22 appearances, but failing to find the net, as the team recorded a fifth place finish in the Maltese Premier Leagu]. Failla did however add to his previous success as Hibernians beat Sliema Wanderers on penalties to retain the Maltese Cup. Failla made 22 appearance and scored twice in season 2007–08.

In the 2008–09 season, Hibernians won the Maltese Premier League for the first time in seven years, after beating Valletta to the top table finish by one point. During the season Failla made 27 appearances, scored seven goals and provided 11 assists. He was chosen as Man of the Match nine times during the season, most for any Premier Division player. Failla also added to his honours the Maltese Player of the Year award.

Sliema Wanderers

On 17 June 2009, Failla made the move from Hibernians to Sliema Wanderers and was allocated the number 77 shirt. He made his Premier League debut for Sliema Wanderers on 30 August 2009 in a 1-0 defeat to Qormi, he played 77 minutes of the match, before been substituted for Matthew Bartolo.

Failla scored his first Premier League goal for Sliema Wanderers on 17 October 2009, when he scored the third goal in a 5-0 victory over Ħamrun Spartans.

Hibernians

On 9 August 2011, Failla returned to his former club Hibernians, for the 2011-2012 season of the Maltese Premier League.

International career

Failla is also an international player for the Malta national football team. He made his international debut in 2008. He is usually played in defence but is sometimes played in the midfield.

Honours

flagicon|Malta}} Hibernians

Winner

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 1 August 2009.

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Malta League Maltese Cup League Cup Europe Total
2004-05 St. Patrick Maltese Premier League 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
2004-05 Hibernians 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
2005-06 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
2006-07 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
2007-08 22 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 2
2008-09 27 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 7
2009-10 Sliema Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Malta 118 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 118 12
Career total 118 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 118 12

External links