Balzan Football Club is a Maltesefootball club from the village of Balzan, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The Club was founded in 1937 and has played top-level football since 2010.
The club has been one of the top teams in Malta for the last 5 seasons and because of this qualified for the Europa League for the last 5 seasons in a row. Balzan finished runners up in the Malta Premier League in seasons 16/17 and 17/18 and were finalists in the 15/16 FA Trophy Final, which they lost on penalties 5-4 to Sliema, after the game finished 0-0 after extra time. In May 2019 the Club finally won its first major honour, conquering the Maltese FA Trophy[1] after a classic final versus Valletta which finished 4-4 after extra time, but which Balzan won 5-4 on penalties.
Honorary Presidents: George Borg, Dr. John Zammit Montebello MD
President : Anton Tagliaferro
Vice President: David Melillo
Secretary: Joseph Agius
Sporting director: Vladimir Simović
Treasurer: Peter Cipriott
Club Doctor: Dr. John Zammit Montebello MD
Executive Committee Members:
Alex Bezzina
Clifford Cipriott
Louis Ebejer
Paul Meilak
Diane Cassar
Mario Nappa
Robert Tagliaferro
Frank Vella Bardon
Anton Vidal
Alex Attard
Eric Galea
Coaching staff[edit]
Head Coach: Mark Miller[3]
Assistant Coach: Joe Grech[3]
Nursery Head Coach: Ludvic Bartolo
Goalkeeping Coach: Edward Bartolo
Kit Manager: Anthony Lanzon
Team Manager: Peter Cipriott
Assistant Kit Manager: John Borg
Club facilities[edit]
The Club's Administration Building ‘Solerville’ is located at Main Street, Balzan. A bar and garden restaurant on the ground floor are open to the public. The Club’s modern training facilities, located at Robert Mifsud Bonnici Street, Lija, include a clubhouse and a full size pitch with synthetic turf. The clubhouse includes a conference room, a bar and a gymnasium and was officially opened on 13 March 2011. From September 2015, Balzan F.C. teams also commenced training at St Aloysius' College Ground, after this ground underwent a major upgrade.
In 2019 Balzan FC started the construction of an additional 2 storey clubhouse at its Lija ground which will feature additional changing room facilities, as well as accommodation for visiting teams. The building is expected to be completed in late 2020.
St Aloysius' College ground
"Solerville"
Training Centre
Honours[edit]
Balzan F.C. wins its first major honour by winning the Maltese FA Trophy against 2017–18 champions Valletta 5-4 on penalties, after the thrilling final had ended in a 4-4 draw after extra-time on 18 May 2019.
Maltese FA Trophy
Winners: 2018–19 (1)
Maltese Second Division
Winners: 2008–09
Placements[edit]
Maltese FA Trophy
Runners-up: 2015–16
Maltese Super Cup
Runners-up: 2018
European record[edit]
Balzan F.C. players and supporters celebrate their Club's historic qualification to the UEFA Europa League following a 3 -1 victory over until then unbeaten 14/15 champions Hibernians F.C. on 26 April 2015.
Balzan F.C. players and officials celebrate their Club's historic qualification to the second round of the UEFA Europa League, after winning against Keşla FK 5-3 on aggregate at Dalga Arena, Baku Azerbaijan on 19 July 2018.
Matches[edit]
Season
Competition
Round
Club
Home
Away
Aggregate
2015–16
UEFA Europa League
1Q
Željezničar
0–2
0–1
0–3
2016–17
UEFA Europa League
1Q
Neftçi PFC Baki
0–2
2–1
2–3
2017–18
UEFA Europa League
1Q
Videoton
3−3
0−2
3−5
2018–19
UEFA Europa League
1Q
Keşla FK
4−1
1−2
5−3
2Q
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
2–1
1−3
3−4
2019–20
UEFA Europa League
1Q
NK Domžale
3–4
0–1
3–5
Notes
1Q: First qualifying round
2Q: Second qualifying round
Managerial history[edit]
Manager
Period
Paul Barbara
1989–90
Jimmy Briffa
1990–93
Alberto Cristiano
1993–94
Ronnie Cocks
1994–95
France Scicluna
1995–97
Joe Attard
1997–98
Stephen Azzopardi
1998–02
Fatos Daja
2002–03
Jimmy Briffa
2003–05
Mario Monreal
2005–06
Charles Borg Sant
2006–07
Alfred Attard
2007–08
Ivan Zammit
2008–13
David Carabott
2009–10
Riccardo Tumiatti
2013
Jesmond Zerafa
2013–14
Oliver Spiteri
2014–17
Marko Mićović
2017-19
Jacques Scerri
2019-20
Mark Miller
2020-
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
References[edit]
^Camilleri, Valhmor (May 18, 2019). "Effiong scores four as Balzan win first-ever FA Trophy". Times of Malta. Retrieved May 19, 2019.