Gżira United F.C.


Gżira United Football Club is a Maltese 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. Season 2016/17 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. Season 2018/19 was another successful one where again Gżira placed 3rd place and assured their selves 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 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.

Players

Current squad

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

PositionStaff
Coach Darren Abdilla
Team Manager Marlon Galea
Assistant Coach Andrew Cohen
Goalkeeper Trainer Domenic Ellul
Physical trainer Antonio Romagnolo
Doctor Dr.Michele Pellitteri
Physiotherapist Cedric Sciberras
Physiotherapist Karl Azzopardi
Kit manager Jason Micallef
Kit manager Anthony Busuttil

Major Honours

1 1972–73

European record