2018–19 Maltese Premier League
The 2018–19 Maltese Premier League was the 104th season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 17 August 2018 and ended in April 2019. Defending champions Valletta won their 25th title, following a penalty shootout win against Hibernians in a championship decider match.
Teams
and Naxxar Lions were relegated after they finished thirteenth and fourteenth the previous season. They are replaced by Qormi and Pietà Hotspurs, the 2017–18 Maltese First Division champions and runners-up respectively. Tarxien Rainbows retained Premiership status by defeating Żejtun Corinthians in a play-off decider.Team | In league since | City | Training Stadium | Capacity |
Balzan | 2011–12 | Balzan | St. Aloysius Sports and Recreational Complex | 100 |
Birkirkara | 1990–91 | Birkirkara | Mġarr Ground | 0 |
Floriana | 1986–87 | Floriana | Independence Arena | 0 |
Gżira United | 2016–17 | Gżira | Gżira Football Ground | 0 |
Ħamrun Spartans | 2016–17 | Ħamrun | Victor Tedesco Stadium | 6,000 |
Hibernians | 1945–46 | Paola | Hibernians Ground | 2,968 |
Mosta | 2011–12 | Mosta | Charles Abela Memorial Stadium | 600 |
Pietà Hotspurs | 2018–19 | Pietà | Trinity Stadium | |
Qormi | 2018–19 | Qormi | Thomaso Ground | 500 |
Senglea Athletic | 2017–18 | Senglea | Ta' Qali National Stadium | 17,797 |
Tarxien Rainbows | 2008–09 | Tarxien | Tony Cassar Sports Ground | 1,000 |
Sliema Wanderers | 1984–85 | Sliema | Tigne Sports Complex | 1,000 |
St. Andrews | 2015–16 | St. Andrew's | Luxol Stadium | 800 |
Valletta | 1944–45 | Valletta | Sirens Stadium | 600 |
Personnel and kits
Team | Manager | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
Balzan | Jacques Scerri | Joma | Investors Mutual Limited |
Birkirkara | John Buttigieg | Adidas | McDonald's |
Floriana | Guido Ugolotti | Joma | Scotts Supermarket, Guess? |
Gżira United | Jesmond Zerafa | Joma | Jeep |
Ħamrun Spartans | Giovanni Tedesco | Sportika SA | |
Hibernians | Stefano Sanderra | Joma | Bezzina |
Mosta | Mark Miller | Macron | Dimbros, Nilmar |
Pietà Hotspurs | Ramon Zammit | Nike | Famalco.net |
Qormi | Matthew Psaila | Macron | |
Senglea Athletic | Enzo Potenza | Macron | Palumbo |
Sliema Wanderers | Stefano Maccoppi | Adidas | DIZZ, DSM Sports |
St. Andrews | Michael Woods | Macron | |
Tarxien Rainbows | Jose Borg | Erreà | Cassar Ship Repairs |
Valletta | Gilbert Agius | Joma | Iniala |
- Additionally, referee kits are made by Adidas, sponsored by TeamSports and FXDD, and Nike has a new match ball.
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
Ħamrun Spartans | Jacques Scerri | Mutual consent | 31 May 2018 | Pre-season | Giovanni Tedesco | 31 May 2018 |
Hibernians | Mario Muscat Neil Zarb Cousin | End of caretaker | 4 July 2018 | Pre-season | Stefano Sanderra | 4 July 2018 |
Senglea Athletic | Steve D'Amato | End of contract | 30 June 2018 | Pre-season | Bruno Russo | 17 July 2018 |
Floriana | Nicolas Hernan Chiesa | Sacked | 27 August 2018 | 12th | Luís Oliveira | 29 August 2018 |
Senglea Athletic | Bruno Russo | Sacked | 15 September 2018 | 13th | Enzo Potenza | 20 September 2018 |
Qormi | Brian Spiteri | Resigned | 6 November 2018 | 13th | Matthew Psaila | |
Floriana | Luís Oliveira | Sacked | 14 November 2018 | 9th | Guido Ugolotti | 14 November 2018 |
Mosta | Enrico Piccioni | Sacked | 16 November 2018 | 12th | Mark Miller | 22 November 2018 |
Sliema Wanderers | John Buttigieg | Sacked | 26 January 2019 | 6th | Stefano Maccoppi | 11 February 2019 |
Balzan | Marko Micovic | Resigned | 3 February 2019 | 6th | Jacques Scerri | 5 February 2019 |
Gżira United | Darren Abdilla | Resigned | 12 February 2019 | 3rd | Jesmond Zerafa | 12 February 2019 |
Birkirkara | Paul Zammit | Resigned | 26 March 2019 | 7th | John Buttigieg | 18 April 2019 |
Valletta | Danilo Dončić | Resigned | 8 April 2019 | 1st | Gilbert Agius | 8 April 2019 |
League table
Results
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards.Championship play-off
At the end of the season, Valletta and Hibernians finished off equal on 58 points; in the last matchday, Valletta were few minutes away from winning the title as they were leading 1–0 against Ħamrun Spartans, but a goal in stoppage time levelled the match. Hibernians had a convincing 5–1 win over Balzan to force a championship decider to be played between the two on 18 May.- Valletta qualified for the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round.
- Hibernians qualified for the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round.
Relegation play-offs
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
1 | Taylon Nicolas Correa | Hibernians | 18 |
2 | Mario Fontanella | Valletta | 17 |
3 | Haruna Garba | Gżira United | 12 |
4 | Bojan Kaljević | Valletta | 11 |
4 | Tiago Adan | Hibernians | 11 |
4 | Jake Grech | Hibernians | 11 |
7 | Andrija Majdevac | Balzan | 10 |
7 | Miguel Alba | Valletta | 10 |
9 | Alfred Effiong | Balzan | 9 |
10 | Younes Bnou Marzouk | Sliema Wanderers | 8 |
10 | Kevin Tulimieri | Ħamrun Spartans | 8 |
10 | Augusto Cáseres | Senglea Athletic | 8 |
Hat-tricks
Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
Kevaun Atkinson | St. Andrews | Mosta | 3–1 | 18 8 2018 |
Bojan Kaljević | Valletta | Senglea Athletic | 5–1 | 28 9 2018 |
Haruna Garba | Gżira United | Balzan | 3–0 | 27 10 2018 |
Mario Fontanella | Valletta | Tarxien Rainbows | 7–0 | 8 12 2018 |
Diego Venancio | Senglea Athletic | St. Andrews | 5–0 | 14 3 2019 |
Justin Mengolo | Gżira United | Pietà Hotspurs | 5–2 | 30 3 2019 |
Taylon Nicolas Correa | Hibernians | Balzan | 5–1 | 27 4 2019 |
Awards
Monthly awards
Annual awards
Award | Winner | Club |
MFA Footballer of the Year | Andrei Agius | Hibernians |
Coach of the Year | Stefano Sanderra | Hibernians |
Young Player of the Year | Matthew Guillaumier | Birkirkara |
Foreign Player of the Year | Miguel Alba | Valletta |
Best Goal Award | Jurgen Degabriele | Hibernians |
Best Fans Award | Valletta |