Valletta F.C.

Valletta Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Valletta F.C. has the strongest support on the island. Valletta achieved a lot of success in the 1990s, and were the dominant force around the turn of the 21st century, before financial difficulties forced the club into a decline.

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.

Early Valletta FC history

Football in Malta reportedly started in 1886. 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.

Valletta United won the Championship twice, in 1914–15 and 1931–32. They were also runners up for two seasons 1925–26 and 1926–27. United also won the Cousis Shield, which is also known as the Knock Out Competition (although the word "Trophy" is even more familiar) – they won this twice in 1914–15, and they did the double in that season and in 1920–21.

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 M.F.A. (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. The Centenary Cup win was possibly the most prestigious as in the final they defeated their rivals Floriana.

2007–08: Champions again

The hope of the first trophy in the 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 Ħamrun 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, Ħamrun, 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 F.C. in the semi final. But except for the early stages and the post-championship games, Valletta had been the most consistent side.

Achievements

• Maltese Premier League: 20

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

* as Valletta United

• Maltese Cup: 12

1959–60 1963–64 1974–75 1976–77 1977–78 1990–91 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1998–99 2000–01 2009–10

• MFA Super Cup: 8

1989–90 1994–95 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 2000–01 2007–08 2010–11

• Löwenbräu Cup: 6

1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 2000–01

• Super 5 Lottery Tournament: 4

1992–93 1996–97 1999–2000 2000–01 2007–08

• National League 100 Anniversary Cup: 1

2010

• Centenary Cup: 1

2000

• MFA Malta Cup: 1

1943/44

• Cassar Cup: 4

1943–44 1958–59 1965–66 1967–68

• Cousis Shield: 2

1914–15* 1920–21*

* as Valletta United

• Coronation Cup: 1

1953–54

• Scicluna Cup: 2

1960–61 1963–64

• Sons of Malta Cup: 2

1974–75 1978–79

• Independence Cup: 3

1974–75 1979–80 1980–81

• Testaferata Cup: 1

1979–80

• Euro Cup: 4

1983–83 1987–88 1989–90 2011–12

• Olympic Cup: 1

1962–63

• Melita Cup: 1

1911

• Rangers Cup: 1

1914

• Father's Day Fund Cup: 1

1960–61

• BetFair Cup (vs. Juventus) : 1

2008

• Mare Blue Cup 1

2010

• Betfair Cup: 1

2008

Current squad

As of 28 June 2011.

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

Current Starting Line Up