 It was the late Mr. Emanuel Calleja, hard working Secretary of Valletta F.C., who was instrumental in persuading, against heavy odds, the M.F.A. Council, to affiliate the local Football Body with F.I.F.A and U.E.F.A. so that the Malta National Team, and Maltese Clubs be eligible to compete in the various competitions organized by F.I.F.A. and U.E.F.A.
The late-lamented Emanuel Calleja, forsighted then, that Maltese Clubs in particular, have a lot to gain, by participating in European competitive soccer. He argued that local soccer followers will have the opportunity of seeing the cream of European Clubs playing against Maltese Clubs. The visits of illustrious Clubs, such as Manchester United, Celtics, Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Athletico Madrid, Inter, Ferencvaros, Leeds United, Barcelona (to mention a few) was only made possible because we are competing in these competitions, otherwise the chances of seeing such formidable Clubs in action at the National Stadium, would have been indeed remote.
When Mr. Calleja originated his idea, he was highly criticized, and dubbed with excessive pretentions, but today, all participating Clubs agree that the venture is a success - moneywise. Besides by participating in Europe, apart from showing the Maltese Flag, the local players have an incentive and an ambition to fulfill that of playing in European competitive soccer.
In this respect they make that extra effort so that their Club will be there in the final reckoning, among the Elite Clubs of Europe.
 Valletta FC`s baptism in European football was in season 1963/64, against Czechoslovakia giants Dukla Praha in the Champions League.
To date (season 2009/2010), Valletta FC participated 30 times in European competitions; 12 editions of the Champions Cup and 7 editions each of the Cup Winners` and UEFA Cups.
Throught the years, Valletta FC were polled against several high-profile European clubs such as Italian giants Juventus FC and Internazionale, former English champions Leeds UTD, their Scottish counterpart Glasgow Rangers, Porto and Dinamo Moscow, to mention just a few.
The results obtained by Valletta in European competitions, were however not always so positive. Disastrous results such as 8-0 defeats against Grasshoppers of Switzerland and Honved of Hungary as well as a 10-0 trashing against Glasgow Rangers were amongst the worst defeats experienced. However amidst all this, Valletta also achieved positive results such as minimal 1-0 defeats to Porto and Internazionale as well as victories against HJK Helsinki and Barry Town.
Without any doubt Valletta's qualification to the first round proper of the Champions cup in season 1999/2000 was the most successful participation ever, eliminating Barry Town of Wales 3-2 on aggregate. In season 2000/2001, Valletta just missed qualification in extra-time losing 8-6 on aggregate to Rijeka in the qualifying round of the UEFA cup.
In season, 2003/2004, Valletta FC participated in European competitions for the 15th consecutive year. In fact no other local club has ever managed to participate for such a long period consecutively including also Birkirkara FC.
In season 2009-10 season, Valletta participated in the Europa League. They eliminated Keflavik 5-2 on aggregate and became the first Maltese team to make it through to the second qualifying round of the Europa League. In the second round they earned a credible 1-1 draw away to St Patrick's Athletic F.C. of Ireland. However in the return leg they were eliminated 10 minutes from time following a solitary goal by Declan O'Brien.
Season 2010-11, Valletta participated again in the Europa League, they entered the competition in the second round against K.S. Ruch Chorzow from Poland. In the home leg they earned a 1-1 result and in the away leg the match ended goal less, however the Citizens were eliminated by the away goal.
 |
Champions Cup |
Season
|
Country |
Team
|
Home |
Away |
Agg. |
| 1963-64 |
Czechoslovakia
|
vs Dukla Praha |
0-2 |
0-6 |
0-8 |
| 1974-75 |
Finland
|
vs HJK Helsinki |
1-0 |
1-4 |
2-4 |
| 1978-79 |
Switzerland
|
vs Grasshoppers |
3-5 |
0-8 |
3-13 |
| 1980-81 |
Hungary
|
vs Honved |
0-3 |
0-8 |
0-11 |
| 1984-85 |
Austria
|
vs FK Austria Memphis |
0-4 |
0-4 |
0-8 |
| 1990-91 |
Scotland
|
vs Glasgow Rangers |
0-4 |
0-6 |
0-10 |
| 1992-93 |
Israel
|
vs Maccabi Tel Aviv |
1-2 |
0-1 |
1-3 |
| 1997-98 |
Latvia
|
vs Skonto Riga |
1-0 |
0-2 |
1-2 |
| 1998-99 |
Cyprus
|
vs Anorthosis Famagusta |
0-2 |
0-6 |
0-8 |
| 1999-2000 |
Wales
|
vs Barry Town |
3-2 |
0-0 |
3-2 |
| |
Austria
|
vs Rapid Vienna |
0-3 |
0-2 |
0-5 |
| 2001-2002 |
Finland
|
vs FC Haka |
0-0 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
| 2008-2009 |
Slovakia
|
vs FC Artmedia Petrzalka |
0-2 |
0-1 |
0-3 |
| 2011-2012 |
San Marino |
vs Tre Fiori |
2-1 |
3-0 |
5-1 |
| |
Lithuania |
vs FK Ekranas |
2-3 |
0-1 |
2-4 |
 |
Cup Winners Cup |
Season
|
Country |
Team
|
Home |
Away |
Agg. |
| 1964-65 |
Spain
|
vs Real Zaragoza |
0-3 |
1-5 |
1-8 |
| 1975-76 |
Hungary
|
vs Haladas Szombathely |
1-1 |
0-7 |
1-8 |
| 1977-78 |
USSR
|
vs Dynamo Moscow |
0-2 |
0-5 |
0-7 |
| 1983-84 |
Scotland
|
vs Glasgow Rangers |
0-8 |
0-10 |
0-18 |
| 1991-92 |
Portugal
|
vs Porto |
0-3 |
0-1 |
0-4 |
| 1995-96 |
Slovakia
|
vs Inter Bratislavia |
2-5 |
0-0 |
2-5 |
| 1996-97 |
Romania
|
vs Gloria Bistrita |
1-2 |
1-2 |
2-4 |
 |
U.E.F.A. Cup |
Season
|
Country |
Team
|
Home |
Away |
Agg. |
| 1972-73 |
Italy
|
vs Internazionale |
0-1 |
1-6 |
1-7 |
| 1979-80 |
England
|
vs Leeds |
0-4 |
0-3 |
0-7 |
| 1987-88 |
Italy
|
vs Juventus |
0-4 |
0-3 |
0-7 |
| 1989-90 |
Austria
|
vs F.N. First Vienna |
1-4 |
0-3 |
1-7 |
| 1993-94 |
Turkey
|
vs Trabzonspor |
1-3 |
1-3 |
2-6 |
| 1994-95 |
Romania
|
vs Rapid Bucharest |
2-6 |
1-1 |
3-7 |
| 2000-2001 |
Croatia
|
vs HNK Rijeka |
4-5 |
2-3 |
6-8 |
| 2003-2004 |
Switzerland
|
vs Neuchatel Xamax |
0-2 |
0-2 |
0-4 |
 |
Intertoto Cup |
Season
|
Country |
Team
|
Home |
Away |
Agg. |
| 2002-03 |
Albania
|
vs K.S. Teuta |
1-2 |
0-0 |
1-2 |
| 2005-2006 |
Montenegro
|
vs F.K Buducnost |
0-5 |
2-2 |
2-7 |
 |
Europa League |
Season
|
Country |
Team
|
Home |
Away |
Agg. |
| 2009-2010 |
Iceland
|
vs Keflavik |
3-0 |
2-2 |
5-2 |
| |
Ireland
|
vs St Patrick's Athletic |
0-1 |
1-1 |
1-2 |
| 2010-2011 |
Poland |
vs K.S. Ruch Chorzow |
1-1 |
0-0 |
1-1 |
|
