Gilbert Agius appointed Valletta coach Published on: 23-05-2014
Gilbert Agius is the new Valletta coach, earlier this morning general secretary Joe Attard confirmed that Agius is going to put pen to paper in the coming days. The former captain is expected to sign a three-year contract.
During this week, Agius, 40, emerged as favourite to succeed Andre Paus who last week was appointed coach of Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.
Regarded as one of the best and most successful players in the history of Valletta, Agius formed part of the City’s backroom staff in the last two seasons, first as an assistant coach under Mark Miller and, for the last three months of the past season, under Andre Paus.
Agius made his Citizens debut at the age of 16 on 2 September 1990, against Sliema Wanderers. On 7th November 1993 at the age of 19 he made his debut for the senior national side in a 2-1 victory for Malta over Gabon in an international tournament in Tunisia.
On the domestic front Gilbert Agius has won major honours several times, being a permanent member of Valletta's Championship winning side. Aside from a brief spell on loan with AC Pisa in Italy in 2001-02, Gilbert has been a mainstay for Valletta and is the only player ever to have been voted Maltese Footballer of the Year on three occasions.
Agius won this prestigious award in season 1996/97 when his club had again been on the rampage, winning the five major domestic honours in that season, in 2000/01 when Valletta swept away six titles on the field of play and also in season 2006/07.
Gilbert Agius played a total of 453 in the Premier League and scored 182 goals. In a career spanning over 23 seasons, he played a total 769 matches and scored 254 goals, in all competitions wearing the City’s white shirt.
Agius made some appearances for Xewkija Tigers during the least season, helping them to win the GFA title but his appointment as Valletta coach effectively brings the curtains down on his decorated playing career.
Valletta, who ended the season by winning the double, are expected to start their pre-season in the first week of June ahead of their commitments in the UEFA Champions League.
