Tony Formosa

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tony Formosa

| image =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|06|02|df=y}}

| birth_place = Rabat, Gozo, Malta

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|01|13|1937|06|02|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height =

| position =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Valletta

| years1 = 1960–1961 | clubs1 = St. Patrick FC | caps1 = 4 | goals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1961 | managerclubs1 = Żejtun Corinthians

| manageryears2 = | managerclubs2 = Ħamrun Spartans

| manageryears3 = 1966 | managerclubs3 = Malta

| manageryears4 = 1967–1973 | managerclubs4 = Malta U18

| manageryears5 = 1968–1970 | managerclubs5 = Valletta

| manageryears6 = 1971–1972 | managerclubs6 = Malta

| manageryears7 = 1973–1975 | managerclubs7 = Valletta

| manageryears8 = 1975–1981 | managerclubs8 = Floriana

| manageryears9 = 1982–1986 | managerclubs9 = Sliema Wanderers

| manageryears10= 1986–1988 | managerclubs10= Valletta (joint)

}}

Tony Formosa (2 June 1937 – 13 January 2024) was a Maltese football manager who managed the national team and a host of Maltese top-level teams.

Career

Formosa's playing career started in the 1960/61 season but it was cut short by injury in February 1961, after fracturing his arm in a game against Marsa. He totalled only four top tier games for St. Patrick F.C.

Formosa had several managerial positions with Maltese giants Ħamrun Spartans, Valletta, and Sliema Wanderers as well as with the national team and the Malta U18 team.{{cite web|url=https://sport.timesofmalta.com/2024/01/13/former-malta-national-team-coach-tony-formosa-dies-aged-86/|title=FOOTBALL Former Malta national team coach Tony Formosa dies, aged 86|newspaper=Times of Malta|last=Camilleri|first=Valhmor|date=13 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024}} Formosa was manager of the national team that played its first ever World Cup qualifier against Hungary in 1971{{cite web|url=https://vallettafc.net/2024/former-valletta-fc-coach-tony-formosa-passes-away/|title=Former Valletta FC coach Tony Formosa passes away|website=Valletta FC|date=13 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024}} and achieved a record of 40 matches without defeat with Floriana.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2024-01-14/football/Former-Malta-National-Team-coach-Tony-Formosa-passes-away-aged-86-6736257766|title=Former Malta National Team coach Tony Formosa passes away aged 86|newspaper=Independent|date=14 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024}}

After coaching in 197 Maltese top flight matches, Formosa retired from managing and was appointed Head of Sports within the Ministry of Education and Culture.{{cite web|url=https://mfa.com.mt/news/national-teams/first-coach-of-malta-in-world-cup-qualifiers/|title=DEMISE OF TONY FORMOSA, EX-MALTA NATIONAL TEAM COACH|website=Malta Football Association|date=13 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024}} In this position, he convinced the government to build new sports facilities and managed to lure the Formula One Offshore Powerboats World Championships to Malta for three successive years.{{cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ex-national-coach-who-also-excelled-at-club-level.12285|title=Ex-national coach who also excelled at club level|newspaper=Times of Malta|last=Baldacchino|first=Carmel|date=5 July 2007|access-date=14 January 2024}}