Gilbert Agius


Gilbert Agius is a Maltese professional football manager 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. He is the most capped player and the all time goal scorer at Valletta 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.
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 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 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. In December 2020 Agius came back in help of his club, taking the role of caretaker coach again after the resignation of Jesmond Zerafa. At the end of the year he was replaced by Tozé Mendes, coming back to his role as assistant manager.
In January 2021 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the Malta national under-21 football team.
For the first time ever in his career, Aguis coached outside Europe. On 15 February 2023 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the Indonesian club PSIS Semarang.

Achievements

Player

Maltese Premier League: 8Maltese FA Trophy: 7Maltese Super Cup: 9Centenary Cup: 1National League 100 Anniversary Cup: 1BetFair Cup: 1Löwenbräu Cup: 6Super Five Cup: 4Mare Blu Cup: 1Euro Cup: 1

Manager

Assistant Manager

Maltese Premier League: 3Maltese FA Trophy: 2Maltese Super Cup: 3
  • '''Euro Challenge Cup: 2'''

International career

Malta

Gilbert has recorded a remarkable 120 caps for his country, making him the third most capped player in Malta's history. 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. 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
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 August 1996Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland1–01–2Friendly
2.8 June 1997Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands1–01–21998 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3.6 February 2000National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta2–03–0Rothmans Cup
4.6 February 2000National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta3–03–0Rothmans Cup
5.5 September 2001Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic2–22–32002 FIFA World Cup qualifying
6.11 February 2002National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta1–11–1Rothmans Cup
7.15 November 2006Tony Bezzina Stadium, Paola, Malta1–31–4Friendly
8.7 February 2007National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta1–01–1Friendly