Founded | 1995 |
---|---|
Country | Malta |
Confederation | UEFA |
Divisions | 1 |
Number of clubs | 8 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Domestic cup(s) | Maltese Women's Cup |
International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League |
Current champions | Birkirkara (14th title) (2023–24) |
Most championships | Birkirkara (14 titles) |
Website | website |
The Maltese Women's League or for sponsorship reasons Assikura Women's League is the top-level league of women's football in Malta. It is run by the Malta Football Association.
After several failed attempts in the 1970s and 1980s to create a lasting women's football competition, successful tournaments of San Gwann and Luxol St. Andrews gained so much interest, that the Malta Football Association decided to organize the first ever league in 1995–96.
The most titles were won by Hibernians.
Although the winning team of the league qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League, the spot is not always taken. Malta is currently tied for 43rd place out of 50 in the UEFA coefficients women's ranking [1] and the last club to take part was Birkirkara in 2007–08; Birkirkana lost all three games with 1–37 goals. In 09–10 they competed again and ended up with three losses and 1-26 goals.
The teams which will participate in the 2023-24 Assikura Women's League are the following: [2]
Team | City | Last season |
---|---|---|
Birkirkara | Birkirkara | 1st |
Hibernians | Paola | 4th |
Lija Athletic | Lija | 5th (as Raiders Lija) [2] |
Mgarr United | Mgarr | 3rd |
Mtarfa | Mtarfa | 6th |
San Ġwann | San Ġwann | 7th |
Swieqi United | Swieqi | 2nd |
Valletta | Valletta | 5th (as Raiders Lija) [2] |
The 2023-24 season will be played at the following venues: [2]
Venues | City | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Centenary Stadium | Ta' Qali | 3,000 |
Victor Tedesco Stadium | Hamrun | 1,962 |
Dingli Ground | Dingli | ~500 |
Mgarr Ground | Mgarr | ~200 |
Until the 2011–12 season there were eight teams in the league. The teams played each other twice for a total of 14 matches each. After that the champion qualifies to the UEFA Champion's League and the last two places are relegated to the Maltese Seceond Division. Since then the format has changed a lot.
In the 2012–13, after the regular season the top four played a championship group and the bottom placed four teams played the relegation round. Points of the regular season and the second stage were added. In 2013–14 there was just one stage, where seven teams played each other three times. Also there was a title decider match after the top two teams were tied on points. Hibernians won the title over Birkirkara in a penalty shootout.
In 2014–15 there were eleven teams, and again a championship group to which the top six after the regular season qualified.
For 2015–16 the league was reduced to six teams. They play each other four times for a total of 20 matches per team.
For the 2023–24 season, the league will be the only division in Malta and will comprise eight clubs. In terms of format, the league will be split into two phases. In the first part of the season, the eight teams of the league will face each other played in a double round-robin format. Thereafter, the division will be split into two divisions, with the top four at the end of the first part of the season qualifying for the Championship Round and the bottom four qualifying for the Relegation Round. In both cases, each team will play each other three teams. [2]
The season winners are: [3] [4]
Titles | Team |
---|---|
12 | Hibernians |
11 | Birkirkara |
2 | Rabat Ajax |
1 | Lija Athletic Mosta |
The Maltese Premier League, known as 360Sports Malta Premier for sponsorship reasons with 360Sports, is the highest level of professional football in Malta. Managed by the Malta Football Association, the Premier League is contested by 12 teams and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Challenge League. As of June 2022, the Premier League ranks 46th out of 55 members in the UEFA coefficient.
The 1988–89 Maltese Premier League was the 9th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 74th season of top-tier football in Malta. It was contested by 9 teams, and Sliema Wanderers F.C. won the championship.
The 1996–97 Maltese Premier League was the 17th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 82nd season of top-tier football in Malta. It was contested by 10 teams, and Valletta F.C. won the championship.
The 1999–2000 Maltese Premier League was the 20th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 85th season of top-tier football in Malta. It was contested by 10 teams, and Birkirkara F.C. won the championship.
The 2000–01 Maltese Premier League was the 21st season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 86th season of top-tier football in Malta. The league started on 19 August 2000 with Birkirkara as the defending champions after their first title in the previous season.
The 2001–02 Maltese Premier League was the 22nd season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 87th season of top-tier football in Malta. The league started on 18 August 2001 and finished on 5 May 2002. Valletta were the defending champions.
The 2005–06 Maltese Premier League was the 26th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 91st season of top-level league football in Malta. Birkirkara won the title while Mosta and Ħamrun Spartans were relegated to the Maltese First Division.
The Maltese Second Division 2007–08 started on 21 September 2007 and ended on 18 May 2008. San Gwann and Naxxar Lions were relegated from 2006–07 Maltese First Division.The promoted teams from 2006–07 Maltese Third Division were Mgarr United, Sirens and Zurrieq.The league was won by San Gwann.They finished on 47 points, level with Balzan Youths and Rabat Ajax.They were declared champions for their superior goal difference. Balzan Youths and Rabat Ajax had to play a promotion play-off for the team to get promoted. The play-off was won 3-0 by Rabat Ajax. At the other end Sirens and Zurrieq were relegated while Mgarr United had to play the relegation playoffs with four teams from the Third Division. Zurrieq were relegated because they had a 5-point deduction by the Malta Football Association. They had three points deducted after failing to present the signed balance sheet. Zurrieq had another two points deducted after being found guilty of casing the incidents which led the BOV Second Division match against Luxol on April 27 to be abandoned. Referee Chris Francalanza abandoned the match on 69 minutes after he was hit by a Zurrieq player. If they were deducted no points it would have been Mgarr United relegated. Mgarr managed to win the relegation playoffs and secure their second division status for the first time.
The Maltese Premier League 2009–10 was the 95th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. Hibernians were the defending champions. The season began on 21 August 2009 and ended on 5 May 2010. It was won by Birkirkara, who became the league winners for the third time in their history.
The 2010–11 Maltese Premier League is the 96th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began in August 2010 and ended in May 2011. Birkirkara are the defending champions, having won their third title last season.
The 2012–13 Maltese Premier League was the 98th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began in August 2012 and ended in May 2013. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 21st title last season.
The 2013–14 Maltese Premier League was the 99th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began on 16 August 2013 and ended on 26 April 2014. Birkirkara are the defending champions, having won their 4th title the previous season.
The 2014–15 Maltese Premier League is the 100th season of the Maltese Premier League, Valletta are the defending champions, having won their 22nd title the previous season.
The 2016–17 Maltese Premier League was the 102nd season of the Maltese Premier League. The season began on 19 August 2016 and concluded on 6 May 2017; the relegation play-off took place on 12 May 2017. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 23rd title the previous season.
The 2017–18 Maltese Premier League was the 103rd season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 18 August 2017 and ended on 22 April 2018. Hibernians were the defending champions, having won their 12th title the previous season.
The 2017–18 Maltese FA Trophy was the 80th version of the football tournament. It was sponsored by Boost Diesel, which was revealed during the draws of the first, second and third round of the Maltese FA Trophy at the Trophies Lounge in Malta Football Association headquarters in Ta' Qali. A total of sixty–four clubs participated in this season's cup competition.
The 2018–19 Maltese FA Trophy was the 81st edition of the football cup competition. A record number of 67 clubs competed in the FA Trophy, with the first round starting on the weekend of 1–2 September 2018 and concluding with the final played on 18 May 2019.
The 2019–20 Maltese FA Trophy was the 82nd edition of the football cup competition.
The 2021–22 Maltese FA Trophy, officially named IZIBET FA Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, is the 84th edition of the football cup competition, the FA Trophy. The winners of the Maltese FA Trophy will earn a place in the first qualifying round of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. The first round of games started on 7 December 2021.
The 2022–23 Maltese FA Trophy, officially named IZIBET FA Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, is the 85th edition of the football cup competition, the FA Trophy. The winners of the Maltese FA Trophy will earn a place in the first qualifying round of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League. The first round of games started on 15 November 2022.