All you need to know about 2022-2023 Maltese Premier League!

Table of contents:

• HIBERNIANS
• BIRKIRKARA
• FLORIANA
• ĦARMUN SPARTANS
• GŻIRA UNITED
• VALLETTA
• GUDJA UNITED
• SANTA LUCIA
• BALZAN
• PIETÀ HOTSPURS
• ŻEBBUĠ RANGERS
• MARSAXLOKK
• MOSTA
• SIRENS FC
• TAKE A SHOT WITH LOTTOLAND
• WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE MALTESE PREMIER LEAGUE?

HIBERNIANS

After last year’s title-winning run, Hibernians will be determined to retain their title. The Paolites have a new head coach at the helm as Andrea Pisanu has replaced Stefano Sanderra, and the former Sliema Wanderers coach has enjoyed his first weeks in charge as he steered Hibernians to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League for a second successive season.

Hibernians has kept faith with many of the Maltese players that starred in last season’s championship triumph but has made some changes to their international contingent. The most notable additions are defenders Gonzalo Llerena and Lorenzo Fonseca, as well as attacking duo Yunusa Muritala and Terence Groothusen.

Hibs seem to have strengthened an already solid squad and are the prime favourites to retain their status as the Maltese Champions.

Ins: G. Llerena (def) free, Y. Muritala (str) free; T. Groothusen (str) free, K. Shaw (df) Sliema W.
Outs: M. Calleja Cremona (gk) Sta Lucia, E. Beu (fw) free; L. Almeida (df) free;

BIRKIRKARA

Birkirkara are heading into the new season after a complete overhaul of their first-team squad and technical set-up, which they hope can help the side achieve a place spot in Europe next season. Last season’s fifth placing was hard to fathom for the Stripes, who have since brought back Giovanni Tedesco at the helm of the team and have replaced many of the overseas players they had on their books last season.

The Stripes have turned to the South American market to rekindle their squad after signing Uruguayan Osvaldo Forestero as well as Brazilian forwards Denis Ribeiro and Enzo Cabrera as well as bringing back Alex Alves to the club.

After so many changes, the Stripes will need time to start firing on all cylinders, but they need to show more consistency if they are to return to being one of the top teams in the division.

Ins: O. Forestero (df) free; K. Tulimieri (mf) free; E. Cabrera (fw) free; A. Ales (fw) free.
Outs: L. Montebello (fw) Ħamrun Spartans; D. Venancio (mf) free; K. Bevis (fw) free; C. Bonanni (mf) free.

FLORIANA

Floriana FC will be determined to show that their performances in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign were no flash in the pan.

Last season, the Greens surprised the football pundits as, despite fielding several young talents in their first-team squad, they emerged as the main challengers to Hibernians in the Premier League title race before ending the season in style by lifting the FA Trophy.

This summer, the Greens have lost key personnel as defender Ryan Camenzuli joined Ħamrun Spartans and Brandon Paiber moved to Valletta. They again added more youth prospects when signing James Scicluna from Pietà Hotspurs and Carlo Zammit Lonardelli from Sirens.

Still, one feels that the Greens still need to add more depth to their squad if they are to mount a sustainable challenge for more silverware when contending with teams like Hibernians, Ħamrun Spartans and Gżira United.

Ins: J. Scicluna (mf) Pietà Hotpurs, C. Zammit Lonardelli (mf) Sirens; L. Trillo (df) free.
Outs: R. Camenzuli (df) Ħamrun Spartans; B. Paiber (mf) Valletta.

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

Ħamrun Spartans are looking to start afresh after a disappointing 2021-22 campaign which not only saw them lose the Premier League crown but also fail to challenge for the major domestic honours.

This summer, the Spartans have decided to complete a major overhaul to their squad, replacing the majority of their overseas players and centring their transfer strategy on adding players who are keen to prove their worth in the Maltese Premier League with a view of making a leap to a bigger championship in the future.

In addition, club President Joseph Portelli has managed to bring in two Maltese internationals, Ryan Camenzuli and Luke Montebello, to equip coach Branko Nisevic with a competitive squad that can truly challenge for the title.

The first signs look promising, as the Spartans created history this summer by becoming the first team to reach the Play-Off round of the UEFA Conference League, knocking out high-tier opponents such as Alashkert, Velez Mostar and Levski Sofia.

Consistency will be the name of the game for the Spartans if they are to return to the top of Maltese football.

Ins: L. Montebello, (str) Birkirkara; R. Camenzuli, (df), Floriana, Jonny (str) free, O. Bjelicic (mdf) free.

Out: F. Sasere (str) free, D. Gojkovic (df) free, L. Gambin (mf) free, F. El Bakthaoui (fwd) free.

GŻIRA UNITED

Gżira United offered encouraging evidence that they are finally developing into a force to be reckoned with when they managed to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, which included the scalp of Serbian giants Radnicki Nis, as well as an impressive performance in a goalless draw at Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger.

The Maroons are banking on the bulk of the squad of last season, with their only notable additions being Marcelo Dias and youngsters Nick Borg and Brooklyn Borg. With a settled squad, Gżira United seem to have the best chance to make a strong start to the season and should be among the protagonists of the new campaign.

Ins: B. Borg, (mf) Pietà Hotspurs, A. Borg (mf) St Andrews, M. Dias (df) free.
Out: Y. Messias (str) free, A. Pavic (df) free, Judivan (str) free.

VALLETTA

This has been a summer of transition at Valletta FC as the Citizens are looking to put a disappointing 2021-22 campaign behind them, which saw them miss out on a place in European football and any major domestic honour.

The Citizens are now under the charge of new coach Thane Micallef who arrived at the capital club after an excellent season with Gudja United.

Valletta has made a lot of changes to its squad, confirming just three of the overseas players they had in their squad last season. They have signed Malta international Brandon Paiber and Argentine defender Enzo Ruiz who are likely to provide more flair and experience to their squad.

While a title challenge may still be beyond them, Valletta may well be among the contenders to secure a return to European football next summer. 

Ins: B. Paiber (mf) Floriana, E. Ruiz (df) free, O. Akpoveta (str) free, K. Bevis (mf) free.

Out: I. Curjuric (mf) free, M. Fontanella, (str) free, K. Tulimieri (mf) free.

GUDJA UNITED

Gudja were the revelation of the 2021-22 campaign when the Southerners made it to the top Six for the first time in their history. They will be looking to recapture this form, though it’s likely to be far tougher given the sterner competition this season.

The Southerners will have a new man in charge in Italian Andrea Agostinelli, who replaced Thane Micallef and has brought in some experienced personnel in John Mintoff, formerly of Valletta, and forward Vito Plut, among others.

A strong start to the season will be crucial to help the team move clear of the bottom places in the early weeks of the campaign and ensure they can focus on staying in touch with the top teams in the division.

Ins: J. Mintoff (df) Sliema W., V. Plut (str) free, A. Prates (df) free.
Out: A. Friggieri (fwd) Balzan, G. Mensah, fw (Hibernians), G. Nikabadze (df) free.

SANTA LUCIA

Santa Lucia FC will be looking to make the most of the opportunity they were handed to retain their top-flight status following Pembroke Athleta’s decision to forfeit their top-flight spot.

The Saints have a new man in charge in Spaniard Pablo Cortes Sanchez, and while they lost some key personnel such as goalkeeper Justin Haber and defensive duo Andre Prates and Lorenzo Fonseca, they still managed to bring in some quality additions such as defender Michael Johnson and goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.

Sta Lucia’s downfall last season was their failure to get results in the first part of the season, so a strong start start to the campaign will be crucial to ensure they can navigate away from the bottom places. 

Ins: M. Calleja Cremona (gk) free, M. Johnson, def, Balzan.

Out: J. Haber (gk) free, A. Prates, (df) free, V. Plut (str).

BALZAN

After only managing to prolong their Premier League status on the final day of last season, Balzan will be keen to put on a much better showing this season. The Reds have brought back to the club Oliver Spiteri as first-team coach and have also managed to lure some quality additions such as goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, as well as South American trio Duvan Torres, Angel Torres and Matheus Souza as well as young talents such as Luca Mallia and Benjamin Hili.

Balzan is aware that with 14 teams in the top flight, the fight for survival can become a dangerous scrap. Thus, it will be important that they gel into a solid unit as quickly as they can, as they face another challenging campaign in the top-flight.

Ins: D. Torres, (fw) free, A. Torres (fw) free, J. Debono (gk) free, B. Hili, (mf) free.
Out: M. Johnson (df) free, M. Mijic (fw) free, J. Galea (gk) free, A. Loof (df) free.

PIETÀ HOTSPURS

Pietà Hotspurs are back among the big boys of Maltese football after an absence of three years, and they are certainly determined to try and establish themselves in the top flight beyond this season.

As has been their mantra over the years, the Hotspurs are again banking on youth.

However, they have brought in some experienced players like Terence Agius and Alan Schembri Wismayer, while also signing in some new international talents such as Clinton Bangura and Sekou Camara.

There’s no doubt that the Hotspurs face a tough test to retain their top-flight status given the strong competition, but if their pre-season results are anything to go by, Pieta is capable of holding their own in the Premier League this season.

Ins: T. Agius (mf) free, A. Schembri Wismayer (mf) free, C. Bangura (df) free, S. Camara (fw) free.
Out: J. Scicluna (fw) Floriana, N. Pisani (df) free, T. Iida (mf) free, M. Chetcuti (gk) free.

ŻEBBUĠ RANGERS

Żebbuġ Rangers return to the top flight after several years out, and they are planning to put up a strong fight to retain their status come the end of the season.

Looking at their busy transfer dealings in the summer, it looks like the Rangers are doing everything they can to ensure they have a competitive squad at the start of the campaign.

In fact, they brought in experienced defender Leandro Almeida, who was on the books of champions Hibernians last season, as well as Charles Lokolingoy of Congo and Lithuanian Ricards Zaldovskis, just to name a few.

As is the case of the other newly-promoted sides, the Rangers need to start the campaign quickly if they are not to lose significant ground in what is likely to be a very tight relegation dogfight.

Ins: L. Almeida (df) free, C. Lokolingoy (fw) free, R. Zaldovskis (mf) free, E. Sanchez (df) free.
Out: I. Misan (mf) free, Jonatan (fwd) free, A. Benjelloun (gk) free.

MARSAXLOKK

Marsaxlokk are relishing the prospect of challenging themselves in the Maltese Premier League after an absence of ten years.

This summer, the Southerners have again kept faith with coach Pablo Doffo and lured to their fold experienced signings such as Tiago Fonseca, Leandro Aguirre, Oscar Caniello, Conor Borg, Alfred Effiong and Uzeh Edafe.

Such acquisitions may turn out to be key for Marsaxlokk’s charge towards Premier League safety, particularly given their pedigree in their top flight which could be vital in key duels this season.

Ins: T. Fonseca (str) free, L. Aguirre (df) free, O. Carniello (df) free, C. Borg, (mf) free.
Outs: J. Gill (df) free, M. Del Negro (mf) free, D. Galea (gk) free.

MOSTA

Mosta have set their sights towards a more consistent performance in the top flight this season as they look to claw themselves back among the top sides in the division.

Last season, the Blues were hampered by their inability to go on a run of positive results, which in the end condemned them to the bottom group in the top flight and successfully managed to stave off the drop.

So far, the Blues have been rather quiet in the transfer market as they opted to bank on the majority of the squad they had last season.

Their only major signing so far has been midfielder Patrick Mensah, though it is likely they will add a couple of new faces before the transfer window shuts this month.

Ins: P. Mensah (mf) free.
Out: C. Maffoumbi (gk) free, W. Donkin (mf) free, Y. Loen (mf) free.

SIRENS FC

After a very positive 2021-22 campaign, which saw Sirens just missout on a place in the Top Six group, the St Paul’s Bay side will be determined to keep up the momentum and try and take another step up in the top division.

Winston Muscat, who was confirmed as coach for another term, has worked diligently in the transfer market, bringing in goalkeeper Andrea Cassar, defender Diego Albanese and striker David Promise, who all have Premier League pedigree.

The St Paul’s Bay side look a solid outfit who are likely to prove to be a tough nut to crack, and there is strong optimism that they can battle for a place in the top half of the standings.

Ins: A. Cassar, (gk) free, I. Kolev (str) free, D. Promise (str) free, D. Albanese(df) free

Out: C. Zammit Lonardelli (mf) Floriana, B. Gavrila (fw) free, C. Borg, (mdf) Marsaxlokk, Vitor (fwd) free.

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Last Updated: August 2022