2020–21 Maltese Premier League Explained

Season:2020–21
Dates:11 September 2020 – 9 April 2021
Competition:Maltese Premier League
Winners:Ħamrun Spartans (8th title)
Relegated:Żejtun
Tarxien
Lija
Senglea Athletic
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Hibernians
Continentalcup2:Europa Conference League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Gżira
Birkirkara
Mosta
League Topscorer:Kevin Rosero (17)[1]
Biggest Home Win:
(25 October 2020)

(13 February 2021)
Biggest Away Win:
(24 October 2020)
Highest Scoring:
(25 October 2020)
Matches:184
Total Goals:552
Longest Wins:6 matches
Gżira United
Longest Unbeaten:13 matches
Ħamrun Spartans
Longest Winless:18 matches
Senglea Athletics
Longest Losses:9 matches
Senglea Athletics
Highest Attendance:N/A
Lowest Attendance:N/A
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22

The 2020–21 Maltese Premier League was the 106th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-flight league football in Malta. Floriana were the defending champions, having won their 26th title the previous season.

On 10 March 2021, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta, a decision was made by the Government of Malta to suspend all football activities in Malta for one month.[2]

On 9 April, the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta.[3] Hamrun Spartans, who were top of the table at the time of the season's suspension, were declared the champions. Their first league title in exactly 30 years.[4]

Teams

Sixteen teams will compete in the league which will include the two teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams are Żejtun Corinthians, who will be playing their first season in the top division, and Lija Athetlic.

TeamIn league sinceCity Training Stadium Capacity
Balzan2011St. Aloysius Sports and Recreational Complex100
Birkirkara1990Mgarr Ground
Floriana1986Independence Arena
Gudja United2019Louis Azzopardi Stadium
Gżira United2016Gzira Football Ground
Ħamrun Spartans20166,000
Hibernians19452,968
Lija Athletic2020LijaLija Stadium500
Mosta2011600
St. Lucia2019Grawnd Santa Luċija
2017Senglea100
Sirens2019Sirens Stadium600
1984Tigne Sports Complex 1,000
Tarxien Rainbows2008Tony Cassar Sports Ground 1,000
Valletta1944Sirens Stadium600
Żejtun Corinthians2020Żejtun

Venues

Ta' QaliTa' QaliPaola
Ta' Qali National StadiumCentenary StadiumTony Bezzina Stadium
Capacity: 16,997Capacity: 3,000Capacity: 2,968

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Balzan Mark MillerJomaInvestors Mutual Limited
Birkirkara André PausAdidasMcDonald's
Floriana John ButtigiegJomaScotts Supermarket, Boggi
Gudja United Cyril ButtigiegGivovaAll Nuts, Emilio Bilocca Handy Man
Gżira United Darren AbdillaPuma
Ħamrun Spartans Mark ButtigiegPumaJ. Portelli Projects
Hibernians Stefano SanderraJomaBezzina
Lija Athletic Joseph GaleaMacronThe Falzon Group Of Companies
Mosta Davor FilipovićMacronDimbros, Nilmar
Senglea Athletic Clive MizziGivovaPalumbo
Sirens Giovanni TedescoMacronTeamsport, Gillieru Harbour Hotel, Valyou Supermarket
Sliema Wanderers Andrea PisanuJartaziCatco Capital Investment, Catco Group Holding, Sixt, Sharjah
St. Lucia Oliver SpiteriMacronMultivend
Tarxien Rainbows Winston MuscatErreàCassar Ship Repairs
Valletta Cardoso MendesPumaIniala
Żejtun Corinthians Orosco AnonamAdidas

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of
departure
Date of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Tarxien Rainbows Demis Paul ScerriResign21 May 2020[5] Pre-season Winston Muscat12 June 2020[6]
Gudja United Josef Mansueto21 May 2020 Jesmond Zammit16 June 2020[7]
Gżira United Paul Zammit29 May 2020[8] Darren Abdilla24 June 2020[9]
Valletta Giovanni Tedesco13 June 2020[10] Jesmond Zerafa18 June 2020[11]
Mosta Mark MillerMutual consent16 June 2020[12] Davor Filipović21 June 2020[13]
Balzan Ludvig BartoloEnd of caretaker22 June 2020[14] Mark Miller22 June 2020
Valletta Jesmond ZerafaResign30 November 20209th Cardoso Mendes28 December 2020
Sirens Steve D'AmatoSacked14 December 202011th Giovanni Tedesco14 December 2020
Floriana Vincenzo PotenzaResign24 December 202010th John Buttigieg25 December 2020

League table

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[15]
1 Kevin RoseroSt. Lucia17
2 Bojan KaljevićMosta14
3 DodôĦamrun Spartans13
Luke MontebelloBirkirkara
Franklin SasereĦamrun Spartans
6 Jean Paul FarrugiaSliema Wanderers12
Jake GrechHibernians
8 Jurgen DegabrieleHibernians11
MaxuellGżira United
10 YuriGudja United10
Vito PlutTarxien Rainbows

Red Cards

RankClubMost Red Cards
1Gżira United7
2Senglea Athletic6
Sirens
Valletta
5Sliema Wanderers5
Żejtun Corinthians
7Balzan4
St. Lucia
9Gudja United3
Mosta
11Birkirkara2
Floriana
Ħamrun Spartans
Hibernians
Lija Athletic

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BOV Premier League . Malta Football Association . 28 July 2021 . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813055335/https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/leagues/leagues/88/bov-premier-league.htm?feature=topscores . dead .
  2. News: Football competitions suspended until 11th April, 2021 . . 10 March 2021 . 12 March 2021 .
  3. Web site: Sports ban forces termination of domestic competitions . MFA . 9 April 2021.
  4. Web site: Ħamrun Spartans declared champions as MFA halts Premier League . 2023-04-29 . Times of Malta . 9 April 2021 . en-gb.
  5. News: Josef Mansueto u Demis Paul Scerri jħallu lil Gudja United u Tarxien Rainbows rispettivament . Net News . 21 May 2020 . 28 June 2020 . mt . Jordi . Farrugia .
  6. News: Muscat takes over at Tarxien Rainbows . Times of Malta . 12 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 .
  7. News: Zammit to take over at Gudja United . Times of Malta . 16 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 . Valhmor . Camilleri .
  8. News: Zammit leaves Gżira United . Times of Malta . 29 May 2020 . 28 June 2020 . Valhmor . Camilleri .
  9. News: Darren Abdilla re-appointed Gzira United coach . MaltaFootball.com . 24 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 .
  10. News: Tedesco parts way with Valletta . Times of Malta . 13 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 . Valhmor . Camilleri .
  11. News: Valletta FC appoint Jesmond Zerafa as their new coach . Valletta F.C. . 18 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 .
  12. News: Mark Miller no longer Mosta FC coach . MaltaFootball.com . 16 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 .
  13. News: Filipovic named new Mosta coach . Times of Malta . 21 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 . Valhmor . Camilleri .
  14. News: Miller named as new Balzan coach . Times of Malta . 22 June 2020 . 28 June 2020 . Valhmor . Camilleri .
  15. Web site: Topscorers.