Gilbert Agius

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gilbert Agius

| image = Agius, Gilbert.jpg

| caption =

| fullname = Gilbert Agius

| height = 1.76 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|2|21}}

| birth_place = Valletta, Malta{{Cite web |title=Gilbert Agius |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/gilbert-agius/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1990–2014

| clubs1 = Valletta

| caps1 = 453

| goals1 = 182

| years2 = 2001

| clubs2 = → Pisa (loan)

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2013–2014

| clubs3 = → Xewkija Tigers (loan)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| totalcaps = 457

| totalgoals = 182

| nationalyears1 = 1989–1990

| nationalteam1 = Malta U16

| nationalyears2 = 1990–1992

| nationalteam2 = Malta U18

| nationalyears3 = 1990–1995

| nationalteam3 = Malta U21

| nationalyears4 = 1993–2009

| nationalteam4 = Malta

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalcaps2 = 5

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalcaps3 = 16

| nationalgoals3 = 3

| nationalcaps4 = 120

| nationalgoals4 = 8

| manageryears1 = 2014

| managerclubs1 = Valletta

| manageryears2 = 2019

| managerclubs2 = Valletta

| manageryears3 = 2020

| managerclubs3 = Valletta (caretaker)

| manageryears4 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs4 = Malta U21

| manageryears5 = 2022

| managerclubs5 = Malta (caretaker)

| manageryears6 = 2023–2025

| managerclubs6 = PSIS Semarang

}}

Gilbert Agius (born 21 February 1974) 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.{{Cite news|title=VALLETTA FC WEAR PUTTINU CARES LOGO ON SHIRTS|url=https://www.maltafootball.com/2013/07/10/valletta-fc-wear-puttinu-cares-logo-on-shirts/|last=Busuttil|first=Antoine|date=2013-10-07|access-date=2020-12-30|work=MaltaFootball}} He is the most capped player and the all time goal scorer at Valletta{{Cite web|url=http://www.vallettafc.net/gilbert-agius|title=Gilbert Agius|access-date=2020-12-30}} 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/maltpoy.html|title=Malta - Player of the Year|date=2020-12-16|access-date=2020-12-30|last1=Di Maggio|first1=Roberto|last2=José Luis|first2=Pierrend}}

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 (September 2007) 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{{Cite web|url=http://www.vallettafc.net/news/gilbert-agius-joins-xewkija-tigers|title=Gilbert Agius joins Xewkija Tigers|date=2013-10-31|access-date=2020-12-30}} 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.{{Cite news|title=VALLETTA CROWNED BOV PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AFTER PENALTY SHOOT-OUT|url=https://www.maltafootball.com/2019/05/04/valletta-crowned-bov-premier-league-champions-after-penalty-shoot-out/|last=Busuttil|first=Antoine|date=2019-05-04|access-date=2020-12-30|work=MaltaFootball}} In December 2020 Agius came back in help of his club, taking the role of caretaker coach again after the resignation of Jesmond Zerafa.{{Cite news|title=Agius appointed interim coach at Valletta FC|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/agius-appointed-interim-coach-at-valletta-fc.836057|last=Camilleri|first=Valhmor|date=2020-12-02|access-date=2021-01-01|work=Times of Malta}} At the end of the year he was replaced by Tozé Mendes, coming back to his role as assistant manager.{{Cite news|title=Portuguese coach Cardoso Mendes takes over at Valletta FC|url=https://sportsdesk.com.mt/2020/12/28/portuguese-coach-cardoso-mendes-on-pole-to-take-over-at-valletta-fc/|last=Camilleri|first=Valhmor|date=2020-12-28|access-date=2021-01-01|work=SportsDesk}}

In January 2021 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the Malta national under-21 football team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/4683/mark-gatt-confirmed-as-malta-womens-coach.htm|title=Mark Gatt confirmed as Malta women's coach|date=2021-01-26|access-date=2021-01-27|publisher=Malta Football Association}}

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.{{Cite web |last=stafadmin |date=2023-02-15 |title=Gilbert Agius Ditunjuk Jadi Pelatih Kepala PSIS |url=https://psis.co.id/2023/02/gilbert-agius-ditunjuk-jadi-pelatih-kepala-psis/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=PSIS Semarang |language=id |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718112419/https://psis.co.id/2023/02/gilbert-agius-ditunjuk-jadi-pelatih-kepala-psis/ |url-status=dead }}

Achievements

= Player =

Maltese Premier League: 8

:: 1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12

Maltese FA Trophy: 7

:: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2009–10

Maltese Super Cup: 9

:: 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12

Centenary Cup: 1

:: 2000

National League 100 Anniversary Cup: 1

:: 2009–10

BetFair Cup: 1

:: 2008

Löwenbräu Cup: 6

:: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01

Super Five Cup: 4

:: 1992–93, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2007–08

Mare Blu Cup: 1

:: 2010, 2011

Euro Cup: 1

:: 2011–12

Maltese Player of the Year: 3

:: 1996–97, 2000–01, 2006–07

=Manager=

Maltese Premier League: 1

:: 2018–19

=Assistant Manager=

Maltese Premier League: 3

:: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18

Maltese FA Trophy: 2

:: 2013–14, 2017–18

Maltese Super Cup: 3

:: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19

Euro Challenge Cup: 2

:: 2013–14, 2014–15

International career

=Malta=

Gilbert has recorded a remarkable 120 caps for his country, making him the third most capped player in Malta's history.{{Cite web|url=https://mfa.com.mt/en/national-team-all-appearances.htm|title=National "A" players appearances|access-date=2020-12-30|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123174422/https://mfa.com.mt/en/national-team-all-appearances.htm|url-status=dead}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=139|title=National football team player Gilbert Agius|access-date=2020-12-30}} 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

class="wikitable" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	14 August 1996	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	{{fb\|ISL}}	1–0	1–2	Friendly
2.	8 June 1997	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	{{fb\|FRO}}	1–0	1–2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3.	6 February 2000	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	{{fb\|AZE}}	2–0	3–0	Rothmans Cup
4.	6 February 2000	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	{{fb\|AZE}}	3–0	3–0	Rothmans Cup
5.	5 September 2001	Na Stínadlech, Teplice, Czech Republic	{{fb\|CZE}}	2–2	2–3	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying
6.	11 February 2002	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	{{fb\|LTU}}	1–1	1–1	Rothmans Cup
7.	15 November 2006	Tony Bezzina Stadium, Paola, Malta	{{fb\|LTU}}	1–3	1–4	Friendly
8.	7 February 2007	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	{{fb\|AUT}}	1–0	1–1	Friendly

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" tyle="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure !rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="5"\|Record !rowspan="2"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
G	W	D	L	Win %
align="center"\|Valletta \|{{flagicon\|Malta}} \|align="center"\|1 July 2014 \|align="center"\|10 October 2014 {{WDL\|9\|2\|1\|6}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
align="center"\|Valletta \|{{flagicon\|Malta}} \|align="center"\|13 April 2019 \|align="center"\|30 June 2019 {{WDL\|7\|5\|1\|1}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
align="center"\|Valletta (caretaker) \|{{flagicon\|Malta}} \|align="center"\|1 December 2020 \|align="center"\|27 December 2020 {{WDL\|2\|1\|1\|0}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
align="center"\|Malta U21 \|{{flagicon\|Malta}} \|align="center"\|26 January 2021 \|align="center"\|7 November 2022 {{WDL\|13\|2\|1\|10}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
align="center"\|Malta (caretaker) \|{{flagicon\|Malta}} \|align="center"\|8 November 2022 \|align="center"\|14 December 2022 {{WDL\|2\|0\|1\|1}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
align="center"\|PSIS Semarang \|{{flagicon\|Indonesia}} \|align="center"\|15 February 2023 \|align="center"\|29 April 2025 {{WDL\|73\|23\|15\|35}} \|{{citation needed\|date=April 2025}}
colspan="4"\|Career Total {{WDLtot\|106\|33\|20\|53}} !

class="wikitable" tyle="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

!rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="5"|Record

!rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

Win %

align="center"|Valletta

|{{flagicon|Malta}}

|align="center"|1 July 2014

|align="center"|10 October 2014