Gilbert Agius Explained

Gilbert Agius
Fullname:Gilbert Agius
Height:1.76 m
Birth Date:1974 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Valletta, Malta[1]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:PSIS Semarang (head coach)
Years1:1990–2014
Clubs1:Valletta
Caps1:453
Goals1:182
Years2:2001
Clubs2:Pisa (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2013–2014
Clubs3:Xewkija Tigers (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:457
Totalgoals:182
Nationalyears1:1989–1990
Nationalteam1:Malta U16
Nationalyears2:1990–1992
Nationalteam2:Malta U18
Nationalyears3:1990–1995
Nationalteam3:Malta U21
Nationalyears4:1993–2009
Nationalteam4:Malta
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalcaps3:16
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalcaps4:120
Nationalgoals4:8
Manageryears1:2012–2014
Managerclubs1:Valletta (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears2:2014
Managerclubs2:Valletta
Manageryears3:2014–2019
Managerclubs3:Valletta (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears4:2019
Managerclubs4:Valletta
Manageryears5:2019–2020
Managerclubs5:Valletta (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears6:2020
Managerclubs6:Valletta (Caretaker Manager)
Manageryears7:2020–2021
Managerclubs7:Valletta (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears8:2021–2022
Managerclubs8:Malta U21
Manageryears9:2022
Managerclubs9:Malta (Caretaker Manager)
Manageryears10:2023–
Managerclubs10:PSIS Semarang

Gilbert Agius (born 21 February 1974) is a Maltese professional football manager for Liga 1 club PSIS Semarang[2] and former footballer who played as a forward. He has a UEFA Pro coaching license.

Playing career

Agius was the captain of his hometown club side Valletta and is one of the most well known and highly respected figures in Maltese football history. He is hailed as a hero by the Valletta fans, due to his loyalty to his hometown club, where he played since 1990, bar a short spell during the first half of the 2001–02 season which he spent on loan to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Pisa. His number 7 shirt is retired in respect of his loyalty and great service to the club.[3] He is the most capped player and the all time goal scorer at Valletta[4] Agius is also the player who won the most honours in Valletta history. He also holds the record of top Maltese scorer in European games with 10 goals.

Gilbert Agius has received three Malta Football Association Player of the Year awards. The first was won in 1996–97, the second in Valletta's successful 2000–01 season, the third in 2006–07.[5]

At the start of the 2007–08 season Agius was on trial with Enköpings SK FK, but later he opted to stay with Valletta. At the end of 2007 Agius was out with a thigh injury for several months. He returned just as the team started fulfilling its potential, and led Valletta to the first title since 2000–01. He won a single Player of the Month award during the season (September 2007) and was chosen as Best Local Player in the Maltese Football Awards at the end of the 2007–08 season.

At the beginning of the 2012–13 season Agius was named to be Assistant Manager of Valletta, with new Manager Mark Miller. He later left this role and came out of retirement to play for Gozo side Xewkija Tigers[6] helping them to win the Gozo Football League.

Coaching career

After his short spell with Xewkija Tigers, Agius came back to Valletta, where he took again the place of assistant manager. In such role he had the chance to replace the head coach several times. In 2019 he replaced Danilo Doncic as a caretaker manager of the citizens, and led the club to win the title after beating Hibernians in the decider match.[7] In December 2020 Agius came back in help of his club, taking the role of caretaker coach again after the resignation of Jesmond Zerafa.[8] At the end of the year he was replaced by Tozé Mendes, coming back to his role as assistant manager.[9]

In January 2021 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the Malta national under-21 football team.[10]

For the first time ever in his career, Aguis coached outside Europe. In 15 February 2023 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the Indonesian club PSIS Semarang.[11]

Achievements

Player

8

1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12

7

1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2009–10

9

1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12

2000

2009–10

2008

1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01

1992–93, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2007–08

2010, 2011

1

2011–12

1996–97, 2000–01, 2006–07

Manager

1

2018–19

Assistant Manager

3

2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18

2

2013–14, 2017–18

3

2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19

2013–14, 2014–15

International career

Malta

Gilbert has recorded a remarkable 120 caps for his country, making him the third most capped player in Malta's history.[12] For the national team, he has often been used a defensive midfielder in recent years. Not due to exceptional defensive skills, but due to his ability to distribute the ball. He has scored 8 goals for the national team.[13] At club level he has played primarily as a supporting forward. Gilbert was captain of Malta for many years until he stopped being called up for international duty, but is loved by fans and remembered to be a very passionate player who loved to play for his country.

Agius' goal in a 1–1 friendly game against Austria was voted Goal of the Season in the 2006–07 Malta Football Awards.

International goals

Malta Goals

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 14 August 1996 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland 1–0 1–2 Friendly
2. 8 June 1997 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands 1–0 1–2 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3. 6 February 2000 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 2–0 3–0 Rothmans Cup
4. 6 February 2000 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 3–0 3–0 Rothmans Cup
5. 5 September 2001 Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic 2–2 2–3 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying
6. 11 February 2002 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 1–1 1–1 Rothmans Cup
7. 15 November 2006 Hibernians Stadium, Paola, Malta 1–3 1–4 Friendly
8. 7 February 2007 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 1–0 1–1 Friendly

Managerial statistics

Team!rowspan="2"
FromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Valletta1 July 201410 October 2014
13 April 201930 June 2019
1 December 202027 December 2020
Malta U2126 January 20217 November 2022
Malta8 November 202214 December 2022
PSIS Semarang15 February 2023Present
Total

See also

References

  1. Web site: Gilbert Agius . 2023-03-03 . worldfootball.net . en.
  2. Web site: stafadmin . 2023-02-15 . Gilbert Agius Ditunjuk Jadi Pelatih Kepala PSIS . 2023-02-15 . PSIS Semarang . id . 18 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718112419/https://psis.co.id/2023/02/gilbert-agius-ditunjuk-jadi-pelatih-kepala-psis/ . dead .
  3. News: VALLETTA FC WEAR PUTTINU CARES LOGO ON SHIRTS. Busuttil. Antoine. 2013-10-07. 2020-12-30. MaltaFootball.
  4. Web site: Gilbert Agius. 2020-12-30.
  5. Web site: Malta - Player of the Year. 2020-12-16. 2020-12-30. Di Maggio. Roberto. José Luis. Pierrend.
  6. Web site: Gilbert Agius joins Xewkija Tigers. 2013-10-31. 2020-12-30.
  7. News: VALLETTA CROWNED BOV PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AFTER PENALTY SHOOT-OUT. Busuttil. Antoine. 2019-05-04. 2020-12-30. MaltaFootball.
  8. News: Agius appointed interim coach at Valletta FC. Camilleri. Valhmor. 2020-12-02. 2021-01-01. Times of Malta.
  9. News: Portuguese coach Cardoso Mendes takes over at Valletta FC. Camilleri. Valhmor. 2020-12-28. 2021-01-01. SportsDesk.
  10. Web site: Mark Gatt confirmed as Malta women’s coach. 2021-01-26. 2021-01-27. Malta Football Association.
  11. Web site: stafadmin . 2023-02-15 . Gilbert Agius Ditunjuk Jadi Pelatih Kepala PSIS . 2023-03-03 . PSIS Semarang . id . 18 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718112419/https://psis.co.id/2023/02/gilbert-agius-ditunjuk-jadi-pelatih-kepala-psis/ . dead .
  12. Web site: National "A" players apparences. 2020-12-30. 23 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123174422/https://mfa.com.mt/en/national-team-all-appearances.htm. dead.
  13. Web site: National football team player Gilbert Agius. 2020-12-30.

External links