Maltese Premier League: A Football Fan’s Guide

The Premier League is the most popular football league in Malta. It is also regarded as the highest level of the professional football league in the Mediterranean Sea’s island country. The Maltese Premier League was founded 114 years ago by Malta Football Association (MFA). Participated by 14 clubs, the league was held annually, hosting 108th runs as of the 2022-2023 season. 

If you are new to this league, let’s help you learn the basics by introducing the general facts about the MPL so that you can easily navigate through the latest seasons of the league with confidence. 

Brief History

Also known as the BOV Premier League, the MPL is the highest level of the football league in Malta. The first run of MPL, then known as Civilian Football League, happened in 1909. The league is confederated with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), meaning that MPL can contend with various European leagues. Currently, MPL ranks 45th out of the 55 leagues in the continent. Spectators can observe the league consistently ascending in the European football ranking. To know more about how the league is doing in the Premier League, click this link. Since the league gains enough traction yearly, its standing on the leaderboard could improve in the following seasons.

In its inaugural run in 1909, only five football clubs were vying for the title. Today, it has expanded to 14 clubs, with many professional players outdoing their records every year. This is a remarkable 3x growth since its humble beginnings in 1909.

Since World War II, Hibernians FC and Valletta FC had the most games played in the league, tying at 78. The newest addition to the league was the Zejtun Corinthians, which debuted in the 2020-2021 season of the MPL. More professional football clubs want to play in the league every year, so we can expect more additions in the years to come. 

The Champions

In the 2022-2023 season, the Ħamrun Spartans claimed the MPL title following a narrow win over Gzira United last month. It was their 9th win in the league’s history. The team also won six Maltese FA Trophies, five Maltese FA Trophies, two Cassar Cups, and one Super 5 Tournament. 

Meanwhile, the winningest football clubs in the MPL are the Sliema Wanderers and Floriana, which both have 26 titles. Sliema Wanderers Football Club was founded in 1909.

Unfortunately, the club ranked 14 out of 14 in the MPL last season but have just been crowned champions in the Challenge League. Nonetheless, aside from winning the MPL 26 times, the club also won the 21 Maltese FA Trophy and three Maltese Super Cups. 

On the other hand, Floriana Football Club was founded in 1894 in the town of Floriana. They finished seventh 7th in the 2022-2023 MPL. Floriana Football Club also won the 21 Maltese FA Trophy, two Maltese Super Cups, and one Maltese First Division. 

Best Footballers in the League

Let’s get to know some of the best-performing footballers in the latest season and what we can expect from them in the coming seasons. 

  • Jefferson de Assis (Centre-Forward)

The 28-year-old Brazilian forward, currently playing for Gżira United, was crowned top scorer in the Premier League as he scored twenty goals. In the past six years, he established himself as a regular scorer and was definitely a key player for the Maroons.

  • Matthew Guillaumier (Defensive Midfield)

Born in Malta, Guillaumier currently fills the midfielder position in the Ħamrun Spartans. He was hailed the Maltese Player of the Year in 2021 after winning the Maltese Premier League in the same season.

  • Joseph Mbong (Right Winger)

The wingback for Ħamrun Spartans, Mbong has earned the respect of the football community at the age of 25. The young footballer was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and is the older brother of Paul Mbong, Birkirkara’s forward, and Emmanuel Mbong, Tarxien’s forward. 

  • Elvis Mashike

Mashike is a 28-year-old forward of Ħamrun Spartans. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese footballer played for almost a decade in Slovakia and the Czech Republic before joining the Spartans last summer. 

  • Jurgen Degabriele (Left Winger)

This Maltese footballer is currently playing for Hibernians as a striker. He is currently 26 years old and has played for his current team since 2013. Degabriele was hailed the Best Youth League Player in 2016, Best Young Player in 2017, and Best Young Forward in the same year. 

  • Jake Grech

The 25-year-old midfielder has played for Hibernians since 2019. His father was Marco Grech, a former Ħamrun Spartans player.

Conclusion

In Malta, football is the most favourite sport among men, with 74% of males engaging in it at some point. The English Premier League is a highly competitive title race. The Maltese premier league is currently in the 45th rank out of 55. Well, more and more young footballers are on the field. From here, Malta shows promise regarding the industry’s growth in the coming years.