Gżira United
The Official logo for Gżira United
Full nameGżira United Football Club
Nickname(s)Maroons
Founded1947 (1947)
ChairmanSharlon Pace
ManagerDarren Abdilla
LeagueMaltese Premier League
2021–22Maltese Premier League, 4th

Gżira United Football Club is a Maltese professional football club from the small harbor town of Gżira in central Malta, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.

History

The club was founded in 1947, won the FA Trophy in 1973 and First Division league Champions. Often plays in Maroon with light blue sleeves on the shirt, with white shorts and white socks. Following the club's promotion to the Maltese Premier League, they signed a sponsorship agreement with JEEP, the global SUV brand, with the agreement of organizing events for the local community. For the 2016–17 season the Club played in BOV Premier League for the first time ever and finished 7th place. In the following year 2017–18 the maroons placed 3rd place and participated for the first time in the UEFA Europa League. The 2018–19 season was another successful one where again Gżira placed 3rd place and assured themselves to play again in the Europa League for another time.

The Hajduk miracle

On 18 July 2019, Gżira were facing the big Croatian club Hajduk Split at Split for the second leg of the first qualifying round of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League. Gżira had lost the first leg match at home 0–2, a result which was considered normal, due to the big budget differences between the two clubs. The match in Split had the Croatians as strong favorites, offering odds of 1/15 (1.07 in decimal odds) for Hajduk to win the match. Hajduk went at half time winning 1–0. However, Brazilian forward Jefferson equalized for Gżira at the 57th minute, and Hamed Koné scored at the 69th minute making the score 1–2 for Gżira. This result was still not enough for the Maltese side, but found a final goal in the sixth and last minute of injury time, again with Hamed Koné, making the score 1–3 for Gżira, with the Maltese side advancing on away goals rule. This result was considered a major shock for the Croatians, with their manager Siniša Oreščanin being sacked shortly after.

Qualifying for the UEFA Conference League 3rd Round

In season 2021/22 UEFA started a new competition, the UEFA Conference League. Gzira qualified after placing 3rd in the Maltese Premier League and in the first round they eliminated again Santa Julia of Andorra. In the second round they faced Rijeka of Croatia and were eliminated with an aggregate of 3-0. In season 2022/23 Gzira played again in the same competition and in the first round they eliminated Atletic Club Escaldes of Andorra. In the second round Gzira FC were drawn against Radnicki Nis of Serbia and Gzira shocked again the European football when eliminating this strong side from Serbia. For the first time Gzira United FC played in the 3rd round of a European Competition and played against Austrian giants of Wolfsberger. Gzira obtained a goalless draw in Austria but then they were eliminated in the home match.

Players

Current squad

As of 1 November 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Malta MLT David Cassar
2 DF Brazil BRA Carlos Chabá
3 DF Brazil BRA Gabriel Mentz
4 MF Malta MLT Andrew Borg
6 MF Albania ALB Bilaro Azizi
7 FW Angola ANG Thaylor Lubanzadio
8 MF Malta MLT Zachary Scerri
9 DF Brazil BRA Marcelo Dias
11 FW Brazil BRA Lucas Macula
14 MF Ghana GHA Hasan Gomda
15 MF Malta MLT Hytem Kabar
16 MF Colombia COL Luis Riascos
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Malta MLT Nashton Taliana
19 FW Senegal SEN Adama Sane
20 DF Colombia COL Farid Romero
21 FW France FRA Ryan Essaka
23 MF Brazil BRA Ewertton
26 FW Malta MLT Mohamed Alouzi
29 MF Malta MLT Deyan Pace
30 GK Malta MLT Darijan Žarkov
47 DF Malta MLT Brooklyn Borg
77 GK Malta MLT Aidan Pisani
80 GK Malta MLT Craig Abdilla
93 MF Brazil BRA Thiaguinho
98 MF Colombia COL Jackson Mendoza
99 MF Malta MLT Izaak Ellul

Other players under contract

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Jamaica JAM Martin Davis

Notable players

Executive Board

Chairman Sharlon Pace

Vice Chairman Roberto Cristiano

Chief Executive Officer Edward Zammit Tabona

General Secretary Dr Ian Micallef

Chief Financial Officer Alexander Cassar

Personnel

Technical staff

Position Staff
Coach Malta Darren Abdilla
Team Manager Malta Marlon Galea
Assistant coach Malta Andrew Cohen
Goalkeeper Trainer Malta Domenic Ellul
Physical trainer Malta Ian Tonna
Doctor Malta Dr. Pierre Sammut
Physiotherapist Malta Jermoe Delia
Physiotherapist Malta Kurt Farrugia Gouder
Kit manager Malta Jason Micallef
Kit manager Malta Anthony Busuttil

Honours

European record

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Norway Brann 0–2 0–7 0–9[1]
2018–19 UEFA Europa League PR Andorra Sant Julià 2–1 2–0 4–1
1Q Serbia Radnički Niš 0–1 0–4 0–5
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1Q Croatia Hajduk Split 0–2 3–1 3–3 (a)
2Q Latvia Ventspils 2–2 0–4 2–6
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Andorra Sant Julià 1–1 (a.e.t.) 0–0 1–1 (5–3 p)
2Q Croatia Rijeka 0–2 0–1 0–3
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Andorra Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 1–1 1–0 (a.e.t.) 2–1
2Q Serbia Radnički Niš 2–2 3–3 (a.e.t.) 5–5 (3–1 p)
3Q Austria Wolfsberger AC 0–4 0–0 0–4
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Northern Ireland Glentoran 2–2 1–1 (a.e.t.) 3–3 (14–13 p)
2Q Luxembourg F91 Dudelange 2–0 1–2 3–2
3Q Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň 0–2 0–4 0–6

References

  1. "Season 1973 – 1974". Archived from the original on 2013-01-05.
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