Maltese Premier League

Maltese Premier League

Countries	Malta
Founded	1909
Number of teams	12
Levels on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Maltese First Division
Domestic cup(s)	U*Bet FA Trophy
Current champions	Valletta
Most championships	Sliema Wanderers (26)
2011–12

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.

The Maltese Premier League is currently ranked by the UEFA coefficient in 45th place out of 53 current members.

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.

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 respecitve and MFA bodies for approval.

UEFA Rankings

Based on league performance, there are three slots open for entry into wider UEFA organised competitions. Winners of the league are entered into the First Qualifying Round of the Champions League. Runners-up and third place clubs are entered into the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League. The last two teams in the relegation pool are relegated to the first division. Additionally, a Maltese club qualifies for the Europa League if they win the Maltese Cup. However in the 2012 – 2013 season an extra team will be admitted to the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League due to the fact the Malta gained four places in the UEFA League Coefficient in 2010–11, and a further 3 in 2011–2012, and are now lying in the 45th place.

Maltese Premier League 2011/12

• Balzan Youths (Newly promoted)
• Birkirkara
• Floriana
• Hamrun Spartans
• Hibernians
• Marsaxlokk
• Mosta (Newly promoted)
• Mqabba (Newly promoted)
• Qormi
• Sliema Wanderers
• Tarxien Rainbows
• Valletta

Champions

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

1909–10 Floriana 1910–11 No competition held 1911–12 Floriana 1912–13 Floriana 1913–14 Hamrun Spartans 1914–15 Valletta United 1915–16 No competition held 1916–17 St. George's 1917–18 Hamrun Spartans 1918–19 King's Own Malta Regiment 1919–20 Sliema Wanderers 1920–21 Floriana 1921–22 Floriana 1922–23 Sliema Wanderers 1923–24 Sliema Wanderers 1924–25 Floriana 1925–26 Sliema Wanderers 1926–27 Floriana 1927–28 Floriana 1928–29 Floriana 1929–30 Sliema Wanderers 1930–31 Floriana 1931–32 Valletta United 1932–33 Sliema Wanderers 1933–34 Sliema Wanderers 1934–35 Floriana

1935–36 Sliema Wanderers 1936–37 Floriana 1937–38 Sliema Wanderers 1938–39 Sliema Wanderers 1939–40 Sliema Wanderers 1940–41 not held due to WWII 1941–42 not held due to WWII 1942–43 not held due to WWII 1943–44 not held due to WWII 1944–45 Valletta 1945–46 Valletta 1946–47 Hamrun Spartans 1947–48 Valletta 1948–49 Sliema Wanderers 1949–50 Floriana 1950–51 Floriana 1951–52 Floriana 1952–53 Floriana 1953–54 Sliema Wanderers 1954–55 Floriana 1955–56 Sliema Wanderers 1956–57 Sliema Wanderers 1957–58 Floriana 1958–59 Valletta 1959–60 Valletta 1960–61 Hibernians 1961–62 Floriana 1962–63 Valletta 1963–64 Sliema Wanderers

1964–65 Sliema Wanderers 1965–66 Sliema Wanderers 1966–67 Hibernians 1967–68 Floriana 1968–69 Hibernians 1969–70 Floriana 1970–71 Sliema Wanderers 1971–72 Sliema Wanderers 1972–73 Floriana 1973–74 Valletta 1974–75 Floriana 1975–76 Sliema Wanderers 1976–77 Floriana 1977–78 Valletta 1978–79 Hibernians 1979–80 Valletta 1980–81 Hibernians 1981–82 Hibernians 1982–83 Hamrun Spartans 1983–84 Valletta 1984–85 Rabat Ajax 1985–86 Rabat Ajax 1986–87 Hamrun Spartans 1987–88 Hamrun Spartans 1988–89 Sliema Wanderers 1989–90 Valletta

1990–91 Hamrun Spartans 1991–92 Valletta 1992–93 Floriana 1993–94 Hibernians 1994–95 Hibernians 1995–96 Sliema Wanderers 1996–97 Valletta 1997–98 Valletta 1998–99 Valletta 1999–00 Birkirkara 2000–01 Valletta 2001–02 Hibernians 2002–03 Sliema Wanderers 2003–04 Sliema Wanderers 2004–05 Sliema Wanderers 2005–06 Birkirkara 2006–07 Marsaxlokk 2007–08 Valletta 2008–09 Hibernians 2009–10 Birkirkara 2010–11 Valletta

Clubs by number of championships

Titles	Team
26	Sliema Wanderers
25	Floriana
20	Valletta
10	Hibernians
7	Ħamrun Spartans
3	Birkirkara
2	Rabat Ajax
1	King's Own Malta Regiment F.C †
1	Marsaxlokk
1	St. George's

†Defunct club.

Topscorers

Year	Best scorers	Team	Goals
1994/95	Carl Saunders	Sliema Wanderers	18
2002/03	Danilo Dončić Michael Galea Adrian Mifsud	Sliema Wanderers Birkirkara Hibernians	18
2003/04	Danilo Dončić	Sliema Wanderers	19
2004/05	Andrew Cohen	Hibernians	21
2006/07	Daniel Bogdanovic	Marsaxlokk	31
2007/08	Omar Sebastian Monesterolo	Valletta	19
2008/09	Terence Scerri	Hibernians	26
2009/10	Camilo	Qormi	24
2010/11	Alfred Effiong	Marsaxlokk	17

League Appearances

Player	Matches
Brian Said	425
Stefan Sultana	424

Bold denotes still active players.

Notable foreign players

Goalkeepers
Nationality	Player Name	Premier League Club (s) in Malta and Seasons
Nigeria	Murphy Akanji	Sliema Wanderers (2001–2008)
Hungary	Viktor Szentpéteri	Sliema Wanderers (2010–2011)
Poland	Andrzej Bledzewski	Birkirkara (2006–2007)
Republic of the Congo	Daniel Dengaky	Ħamrun Spartans (2000–2004)
Serbia	Dejan Maksić	Floriana (2008)
Defenders
Nationality	Player Name	Premier League Club (s) in Malta and Seasons
Denmark	Ronni Hartvig	Birkirkara (2008–2009)
Italy	Cristiano Bergodi	Sliema Wanderers (1999–2000)
Scotland	Derek Collins	Sliema Wanderers (2001)
Italy	Mauro Di Lello	Pietà Hotspurs (2000–2004), Sliema Wanderers (2005–2007), Birkirkara (2008–2009)
Argentina	Pablo Doffo	Hibernians (2006–2008), Floriana (2008–)
Nigeria	Sunday Eboh	Marsa (2001), Birkirkara (2001–2004), Floriana (2007–2010), Marsaxlokk (2010–)
Nigeria	Augustine Eguavoen	Sliema Wanderers (1999–2000)
Republic of the Congo	Riad Gango-Rtsa	Floriana (2000–2007)
Portugal	Nuno Gomes	Marsaxlokk (2005–2006)
Romania	Lucian Dronca	Birkirkara (2001–2005), Sliema Wanderers (2008–2010)
Nigeria	Essien Mbong	Hibernians (1998–2006), Marsa (2006–2007)
Nigeria	Precious Monye	Birkirkara (2003–2007), Ħamrun Spartans (2007–2008)
Argentina	Cesar Paiber	Ħamrun Spartans (1992–1995), Ħamrun Spartans (2001–2002), Hibernians (2002–2004), Marsaxlokk (2004–2006)
Brazil	Ramon	Qormi (2008–2010), Valletta (2010–)
Bulgaria	Nikola Slavtchev	Zurrieq (1999–2000), Marsa (2001–2003), Marsaxlokk (2003–2004)
Italy	Christian Terlizzi	Pietà Hotspurs (2000)
Bulgaria	Emil Yanchev	Birkirkara (2005–2006), Marsa (2006–2007), Birkirkara (2007–2008), Marsaxlokk (2010–)
Midfielders
Nationality	Player Name	Premier League Club (s) in Malta and Seasons
Germany	Heiner Backhaus	Valletta (2007–2008)
Italy	Massimo Beghetto	Sliema Wanderers (2001–2002)
England	Yala Bolasie	Floriana (2007–2008)
Nigeria	Ndubisi Chukunyere	Hibernians (1997–2005), Valletta (2005–2006), Hibernians (2006–2008), Hibernians (2010)
Netherlands	Jordi Cruyff	Valletta (2009–2010)
Tunisia	Ridha Dardouri	Lija Athletic (1996–1997), Birkirkara (1997–1998), Sliema Wanderers (1998–1999), Naxxar Lions (1999–2000), Marsa (2001–2003), Floriana (2003–2004)
England	Craig Dean	Valletta (2005–2006)
Nigeria	Haruna Doda	Birkirkara (2003–2005), Hibernians (2005–2006), Marsaxlokk (2006–2007), Dingli Swallows (2009–2010)
Nigeria	Chima Dozie	Sliema Wanderers (2000–2001), Naxxar Lions (2001–2002), St. Patrick (2004–2005)
Czech Republic	Kamil Dvorak	Valletta (2000–2002)
Brazil	Ivan	Qormi (2008–2009)
England	Stanley Matthews	Hibernians (1970–1971)
England	Tony Morley	Ħamrun Spartans (1990)
Italy	Adelmo Paris	Zurrieq F.C. (1984–1986)
Italy	Gianluca De Ponti	Zurrieq F.C. (1985)
Republic of the Congo	Rufin Oba	Floriana (1997–2002), Birkirkara (2002–2003), Floriana (2005–2006)
Brazil	Pedrinho	Msida Saint-Joseph (2008–2009), Sliema Wanderers (2010)
Bulgaria	Milen Penchev	Valletta (2002–2006)
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Sinisa Radak	Naxxar Lions (1995–1999), Valletta (1999–2000), Ħamrun Spartans (2000–2002)
Brazil	André da Silva	Floriana (2003–2006), Marsaxlokk (2006–2008), Hibernians (2006–2007), Sliema Wanderers (2007–2008), Msida St. Joseph (2008–2010), Dingli Swallows (2010–2011)
Czech Republic	Zdeněk Svoboda	Sliema Wanderers (2006–2007)
Lithuania	Donatas Vencevičius	Marsaxlokk (2003–2004)
Strikers
Nationality	Player Name	Premier League Club (s) in Malta and Seasons
Nigeria	Olumuyiwa Aganun	Msida St. Joseph (2003–2004)
Argentina	Julio Alcorsé	Hibernians (2007–), Marsaxlokk (2007–2009), Sliema Wanderers (2010), Marsaxlokk (2010–)
Nigeria	Peter Anizoba	St. Patrick (2004–2005), Ħamrun Spartans (2010–)
Nigeria	Ibrahim Babatunde	Msida St. Joseph (2005–2007), Birkirkara (2011–)
Brazil	Camilo	Qormi (2009–2010)
Netherlands	Sylvano Comvalius	Hamrun Spartans (2009), Birkirkara (2009–2010)
Nigeria	Ikechukwu Chibueze	Mosta (2005–2006)
Brazil	Daniel Mariano Bueno	Tarxien Rainbows (2008–2009), Tarxien Rainbows (2010–)
Bulgaria	Martin Deanov	Pietà Hotspurs (1999–2000), Pietà Hotspurs (2005–2008), Marsaxlokk (2010–)
Brazil	Bizu	Floriana (2000–2002), Sliema Wanderers (2002–2003), Floriana (2003–2005), St. George's (2006–2007)
Serbia	Danilo Doncic	Valletta (1994–1997), Sliema Wanderers (2001–2006)
Nigeria	Alfred Effiong	St. George's (2006–2007), Ħamrun Spartans (2007–2008), Qormi (2008–2010), Marsaxlokk (2010–)
Brazil	Wendell Gomes	Marsaxlokk (2005–2006), Floriana (2006–2007), Marsaxlokk (2007–2008)
Serbia	Nebjosa Jankovic	Birkirkara (1994–1995), Tarxien Rainbows (1997–1998), Naxxar Lions (2000–2001)
England	Paul Mariner	Naxxar Lions (1990–1991)
Argentina	Omar Sebastián Monesterolo	Valletta (2005–2006), Valletta (2006–2007), Valletta (2007–2009)
Czech Republic	Pavel Mraz	Sliema Wanderers (1997–1998), Valletta (1998–2002)
Nigeria	Daniel Nwoke	Naxxar Lions (2001–2002), Msida Saint-Joseph (2003–2007), Floriana (2011–)
Nigeria	Uwa Ogbodo	Xghajra Tornadoes (1997–1998), Sliema Wanderers (1998–2000), Marsaxlokk (2002–2003)
Nigeria	Chris Oretan	Naxxar Lions (1998–2000), Valletta (2000–2003), Valletta (2004–2005)
England	Donovan Simmonds	Floriana (2009)
Republic of Ireland	Declan O'Brien	Valletta (2009–2010)
Serbia	Igor Stefanovic	Floriana (1994–1996), Floriana (1997–1998), Birkirkara (1998–1999), Naxxar Lions (1998–1999), Gozo (1999–2000), Marsa (2001–2002)
Nigeria	Frank Temile	Valletta (2007–2008)

External links

• maltafootball.com website