Maltese Premier League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maltese Premier League
Country  Malta
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1909
Number of teams 12
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to Maltese First Division
Domestic cup(s) U*Bet FA Trophy
Current champions Birkirkara (4th title)
(2012–13)
Most championships Sliema Wanderers (26)
Website MFA.com.mt
2013–14 Maltese Premier League

The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons (colloquially known as Il-Kampjonat, Il-Lig, or Il-Premjer), is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909. In the Maltese football system, there are three divisions under the Premier League, they are; the First, Second and Third divisions.

Prior to 1980, the top level of the Maltese Football League was known as the First Division; however, it was renamed the Premier League and has stayed so since, with the First Division (formerly known as the Second Division) one level lower.

At the end of the 2012-2013 season, UEFA ranked the Maltese Premier League 44th out of 53 members in their coefficient calculation for UEFA club competitions.

Format

The league competition is based on two rounds. During every season, which is held between August and May, in the first round all the 10 teams played against each other two times. When each club had played 18 matches the division was split in two and points were halved. The first six teams participated in the Championship Pool and the last four teams played in The Relegation Pool.

On January 13, 2011, however, a proposal from the Premier League Standing Committee was approved by the Malta Football Association Council to have the league expanded to 12 teams as from season 2011–12.[1]

Premier League Standing Committee

The Premier League Standing Committee is a body composed of the Premier League club presidents who represent their club on a board. These do not have executive powers but are a formal body that has official influence with regards to rules, regulations and issues that relate to the league. From time to time the committee makes proposals to the respective and MFA bodies for approval.

UEFA rankings

Malta rose four places in the UEFA League Coefficient in 2010–11 and a further 3 in 2011–2012, as a result they gained a slot in UEFA club competitions, effective from the 2012-2013 season. The champions enter the second qualifying round of the Champions League, while the Maltese Cup winners and two further teams, based on league performance, enter the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League. Prior to the 2012-2013, the Maltese champions entered the first qualifying round of the Champions league.

2013–14 Maltese Premier League teams

Champions

Here is a complete list of the past champions of the top level in Maltese football.[2]

Clubs by number of championships

Titles Team
26 Sliema Wanderers
25 Floriana
21 Valletta
10 Hibernians
7 Ħamrun Spartans
4 Birkirkara
2 Rabat Ajax
1 Marsaxlokk
1 St. George's

King's Own Malta Regiment (1)

Top scorers

Year Best scorers Team Goals
1994–95 England Carl Saunders Sliema Wanderers 18
2002–03 Serbia Danilo Dončić
Malta Michael Galea
Malta Adrian Mifsud
Sliema Wanderers
Birkirkara
Hibernians
18
2003–04 Serbia Danilo Dončić Sliema Wanderers 19
2004–05 Malta Andrew Cohen Hibernians 21
2006–07 Malta Daniel Bogdanović Marsaxlokk 31
2007–08 Argentina Omar Sebastián Monesterolo Valletta 19
2008–09 Malta Terence Scerri Hibernians 26
2009–10 Brazil Camilo Qormi 24
2010–11 Nigeria Alfred Effiong Marsaxlokk 17
2011–12 Nigeria Obinna Obiefule Marsaxlokk
Mosta
34
2012–13 Spain José Luis Armario Negrin Rabat Ajax
Melita
22

League appearances

Player Matches
Brian Said 425
Stefan Sultana 424

Bold denotes still active players.

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.