Jonathan Caruana

Jonathan Caruana
Personal information

Full name	Jonathan Caruana
Date of birth	(1986-07-24) 24 July 1986
Place of birth	Malta
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current team	Valletta
Number	2
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2003–2010	Hibernians	72	(3)
2005–2006	→ Mosta (loan)	17	(0)
2010–	Valletta	94	(6)
National team^‡
	Malta U17
	Malta U19
	Malta U21
2008–	Malta	31	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2009. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2012

Jonathan Caruana (born 24 July 1986 in Malta) is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.

Playing career

Hibernians

Caruana started his career with Hibernians, and made his debut during the 2003–04 season. Making the transition from youth team to first team, he was only used as a bit part player, and went on to make just one appearance during the season, with Hibernians going on to finish in third position in the Maltese Premier League.

The 2004–05 season, saw Caruana gain a few more first team opportunities. He helped Hibernians to another third-place finish in the[Maltese Premier League, with Caruana going on to make four appearances, without scoring and goals.

Caruana still struggled to make his mark in the Hibernians first team, and went into the 2005–06 season hoping to establish himself. Caruana still failed to mark a first team place his own and up to the January transfer window of 2006, he only made one appearance. He was sent out of loan for the reminder of the season to fellow Maltese Premier League team Mosta, who were struggling against relegation. He made 17 appearances, without scoring, but unfortunately Mosta failed to avoid relegation after finishing in ninth position in the Maltese Premier League. Caruana’s parent club, Hibernians went on to secure a fourth-place finish.

Caruana returned to Hibernians for the 2006–07 season. The loan move had paid off, as Caruana cemented a first team place, making 19 appearances, but failing to score as Hibernians finished in fifth position in the Maltese Premier League. He did gain his first taste of success as Hibernians secured the Maltese Cup for the second consecutive season.

The 2007–08 season turned out to be a very disappointing one for Hibernians, as the club finished the first phase of the season in the relegation pool, before finishing the season in seventh position. Caruana went on to make 21 appearances, but failed to score any goals. However, the club won the Maltese Super Cup. Caruana’s form did however not go unnoticed, as he received his first cap for the Maltese national team during the season.

Hibernians went from one extreme to the other during the 2008–09 season. Under the guidance of new manager Mark Miller, the club shocked the critics and beat Valletta by two points to win the Maltese Premier League title. Caruana made 26 appearances and chipped in with three goals.

Caruana hoped to help Hibernians retain the Maltese Premier League title for the 2009–10, however the quest took some severe setbacks, as Hibernians sold the Maltese Player of the Year, Clayton Failla to Sliema Wanderers, and striker, Terence Scerri joined Valletta.

Honours

Hibernians

Valletta

Maltese Super Cup: 2011, 2012
Maltese Premier League: 2010–11, 2011–12

Individual

Malta Football Awards
- Best Defence
  - Winner: 2010–2011 with Valletta F.C.
  - Winner: 2011–2012 with Valletta F.C.

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 9 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
2003–04	Hibernians	Maltese Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2004–05			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2005–06			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2005–06	Mosta (loan)		17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
2006–07	Hibernians		19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
2007–08			21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
2008–09			26	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	26	3
2009–10			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Malta		89	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	89	3
Career total			89	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	89	3

International goals

Scores and results list Malta's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	14 November 2012	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz	Liechtenstein	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2.	19 November 2013	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali	Faroe Islands	3–0	3–2	Friendly

External links

Jonathan Caruana at National-Football-Teams.com

Valletta F.C. – current squad

1 Cini 2 Caruana 3 Azzopardi 4 Borg 6 Fenech (c) 8 E. Agius 9 Ian Zammit 10 Briffa 14 Mifsud Triganza 16 Barry 18 Bajada 19 Denni 22 Corr Nyang 23 Vandelannoite 24 Marino 25 Cremona 30 Nafti 36 Dimech Zahra Manager: Miller

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