Wikipedia
2017–18 Maltese Premier League
The 2017–18 Maltese Premier League (known as the BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 103rd season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 18 August 2017 and ended on 22 April 2018. Hibernians were the defending champions, having won their 12th title the previous season.
| Season | 2017–18 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18 August 2017 – 22 April 2018 |
| Champions | Valletta (24th title) |
| Relegated | Naxxar Lions Lija Athletic |
| Champions League | Valletta |
| Europa League | Balzan Gżira United Birkirkara |
| Matches played | 182 |
| Goals scored | 505 (2.77 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Amadou Samb (21 goals) |
← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 21 April 2018. | |
Balzan and Valletta contended the league title for the whole season and were head-to-head in the final phases.[1] On the last day of the season, on 21 April 2018, Valletta defeated Gżira United 2–1, while Balzan slipped in a 0–1 defeat against Hibernians, and as a result Valletta were crowned champions for the 24th time in their history.[2]
Teams Edit
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Locations of the 2017–18 Maltese Premier League teamsPembroke Athleta are relegated after they finished twelfth the previous season. They are replaced by Lija Athletic the 2016–17 Maltese First Division champions, Senglea Athletic the 2016–17 Maltese First Division runners-up, and Naxxar Lions the 2016–17 Maltese First Division Third Place.
| Team | In league since | City | Training Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan | 2011 | Balzan | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 6,000 |
| Birkirkara | 1990 | Birkirkara | Ta' Qali National Stadium | 17,797 |
| Floriana | 1986 | Floriana | Independence Arena | 3,000 |
| Gżira United | 2016 | Gżira | Ta' Qali National Stadium | 17,797 |
| Ħamrun Spartans | 2016 | Ħamrun | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 6,000 |
| Hibernians | 1945 | Paola | Hibernians Ground | 2,968 |
| Lija Athletic | 2017 | Lija | Lija Stadium | 500 |
| Mosta | 2011 | Mosta | Charles Abela Memorial Stadium | 600 |
| Naxxar | 2017 | Naxxar | Centenary Stadium | 2,000 |
| Senglea Athletic | 2017 | Senglea | Ta' Qali National Stadium | 17,000 |
| Sliema Wanderers | 1984 | Sliema | Tigne Sports Complex | 1,000 |
| Saint Andrews | 2015 | St. Andrew's | Luxol Stadium | 800 |
| Tarxien Rainbows | 2008 | Tarxien | Tony Cassar Sports Ground | 1,000 |
| Valletta | 1944 | Valletta | Centenary Stadium | 2,000 |
Kits Edit
| Team | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Balzan | Joma | Investors Mutual Limited |
| Birkirkara | Adidas | McDonald's |
| Floriana | Joma | Scotts Supermarket |
| Gżira United | Joma | Tipbet |
| Ħamrun Spartans | Sportika SA | Talocan |
| Hibernians | Joma | Bezzina |
| Lija Athletic | Adidas | The Falzon Group Of Companies |
| Mosta | Macron | Computer Domain |
| Naxxar | Macron | VINC |
| Senglea Athletic | Acerbis | |
| Sliema Wanderers | Adidas | DIZZ |
| Saint Andrews | Macron | Tipico |
| Tarxien Rainbows | Erreà | Cassar Ship Repairs |
| Valletta | Joma | Iniala |
Venues Edit
| Ta' Qali | Ta' Qali | Paola | Hamrun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ta' Qali National Stadium | Centenary Stadium | Tony Bezzina Stadium | Victor Tedesco Stadium | |
| Capacity: 16,997 | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 2,968 | Capacity: 1,962 | |
Managerial changes Edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balzan | Oliver Spiteri | Mutual consent | 5 May 2017[3] | Pre-season | Marko Mićović | 24 May 2017[4] |
| Valletta | Paul Zammit | Resigned | 30 May 2017[5] | Zoran Popović | 18 June 2017[6] | |
| Birkirkara | Nikola Jaroš | End of contract | 1 June 2017[7] | Peter Pullicino | 1 June 2017[7] | |
| Peter Pullicino | Sacked | 1 September 2017[8] | 11th | Paul Zammit | 1 September 2017[8] | |
| St. Andrews | Danilo Dončić | Resigned | 7 September 2017[9] | 9th | Marko Glumac | 12 September 2017 |
| Naxxar | Dennis Fenech | 13th | Stuart Watkiss | 8 September 2017[10] | ||
| Valletta | Zoran Popović | Mutual consent | 20 December 2017 | 3rd | Danilo Dončić | 20 December 2017[11] |
| Hibernians | Mark Miller | Resigned | 5 March 2018[12] | 6th | Mario Muscat Neil Zarb Cousin | 6 March 2018[13] |
League table Edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta (C) | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 11 | +29 | 58 | Qualification for the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League |
| 2 | Balzan | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 19 | +23 | 55 | Qualification for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League[a] |
| 3 | Gżira United | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 51 | |
| 4 | Birkirkara | 26 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 47 | |
| 5 | Hibernians | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 16 | +27 | 46 | |
| 6 | Floriana | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 18 | +30 | 46 | |
| 7 | Sliema Wanderers | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 40 | |
| 8 | Hamrun Spartans | 26 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 35 | |
| 9 | Senglea Athletic | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 29 | 47 | −18 | 26 | |
| 10 | Mosta | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 28 | 52 | −24 | 26 | |
| 11 | St. Andrews | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 41 | −20 | 24 | |
| 12 | Tarxien Rainbows (O) | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 34 | 56 | −22 | 23 | Qualification for the Relegation Play-Offs |
| 13 | Naxxar Lions (R) | 26 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −14 | 22 | Relegation to the 2018–19 Maltese First Division |
| 14 | Lija Athletic (R) | 26 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 23 | 84 | −61 | 6 |
Source: Malta Football Association, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[14]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[14]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Since the winners of 2017–18 Maltese FA Trophy, Valletta, qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the Cup winner (2018–19 UEFA Europa League) was passed to the next best-placed team (in this case, to the fourth-placed team).
Results Edit
Each team plays every other team in the league home-and-away for a total of 26 matches played each.
Relegation play-offs Edit
A play-off match took place between the twelfth-placed team from the Premier League, Tarxien Rainbows, and the third-placed team from the First Division, Zejtun Corinthians, for a place in the 2018–19 Maltese Premier League.
| 27 April 2018 | Tarxien Rainbows (1) | 1–0 | Zejtun Corinthians (2) | Paola |
| 19:00 CEST | J. Brincat 8' | Stadium: Hibernians Stadium Referee: Stefan Pace |
Top scorers Edit
- As of 21 April 2018[15]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amadou Samb | Gżira United | 21 |
| 2 | Mario Fontanella | Floriana | 17 |
| 3 | Bojan Kaljevic | Balzan | 14 |
| 4 | Jake Grech | Birkirkara | 11 |
| Erjon Beu | Lija Athletic | ||
| Jurgen Degabriele | Hibernians | ||
| 7 | Clayton Failla | Hibernians | 10 |
| Emmanuel Okoye | Gżira United | ||
| Samba Tounkara | Tarxien Rainbows | ||
| Ricardo da Silva Faria | Tarxien Rainbows |
Awards Edit
Monthly awards Edit
| Month | Player of the Month | |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | |
| August[16] | Michael Mifsud | Valletta |
| September[17] | Amadou Samb | Gżira United |
| October[18] | Cadú | Balzan |
| November[19] | Cadú | Balzan |
| December[20] | Maurizio Vella | Floriana |
| January[21] | Kemar David Reid | St. Andrews |
| February[22] | Jackson Lima | Hibernians |
| March[23] | Matteo Piciollo | Valletta |
| April[24] | Kevaughn Atkinson | St. Andrews |
References Edit
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (21 April 2018). "Balzan and Valletta ready for title-winning effort". Times of Malta.
- ^ "It's Valletta's 24th Premier League title as Hibernians shatter Balzan's dreams". The Malta Independent. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Replay (Net Television)". Facebook (in Maltese). Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Balzan name Micovic as new head coach". Times of Malta. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ Carbonaro, Matthew (31 May 2017). "Valletta Football Club Press Release". Valletta F.C. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Zoran Popovic appointed Valletta FC coach". Valletta F.C. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ a b Mizzi, Ivan (1 June 2017). "Mr. Peter Pullicino appointed as Club's Head Coach". Birkirkara F.C. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ a b Galea, Ayrton (1 September 2017). "Mr. Paul Zammit appointed as the new Club's Head Coach". Birkirkara F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "Danilo Doncic m'għadux coach ta' St Andrews Luxol". TVM (in Maltese). 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ . Naxxar Lions F.C. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Danilo Doncic is new head coach of Valletta FC". Valletta F.C. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Hibernians FC part ways with coach Mark Miller". The Malta Independent. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Hibernians FC: Mansueto jirriżenja; Mario Muscat jieħu f'idejh it-taħriġ; Tedesco pole-position". TVM (in Maltese). 6 March 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ . Scoresway. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Top Scorers". MFA. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ "Michael Mifsud wins BOV Player of the Month Award for August". MFA. 10 October 2017.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: Amadou Samb wins September Award". MaltaFootball.com. 10 October 2017.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: Cadu wins October award". MaltaFootball.com. 11 November 2017.
- ^ . Bank of Valletta. 11 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ "Maurizio Vella claims BOV award for December". Malta Football Association. 4 January 2018.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: Kemar David Reid (St Andrew's FC) wins January Award". Malta Independent. 7 February 2018.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: Jackson Lima (Hibernians) wins February award". Malta Independent. 2 March 2018.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: Valletta's Piciollo wins March award". Malta Independent. 10 April 2018.
- ^ "BOV Player of the Month: St Andrew's Kevaun Atkinson wins April award". Malta Independent. 26 April 2018.