View source for Gilbert Agius

{{Short description|Maltese football manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{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<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gilbert Agius |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/gilbert-agius/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref>
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1990–2014
| clubs1 = [[Valletta F.C.|Valletta]]
| caps1 = 453
| goals1 = 182
| years2 = 2001
| clubs2 = → [[Pisa S.C.|Pisa]] (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013–2014
| clubs3 = → [[Xewkija Tigers F.C.|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 national under-21 football team|Malta U21]]
| nationalyears4 = 1993–2009
| nationalteam4 = [[Malta national football team|Malta]]
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalcaps3 = 16
| nationalgoals3 = 3
| nationalcaps4 = 120
| nationalgoals4 = 8
| manageryears1 = 2014
| managerclubs1 = [[Valletta F.C.|Valletta]]
| manageryears2 = 2019
| managerclubs2 = [[Valletta F.C.|Valletta]]
| manageryears3 = 2020
| managerclubs3 = [[Valletta F.C.|Valletta]] (caretaker)
| manageryears4 = 2021–2022
| managerclubs4 = [[Malta national under-21 football team|Malta U21]]
| manageryears5 = 2022
| managerclubs5 = [[Malta national football team|Malta]] (caretaker)
| manageryears6 = 2023–2025
| managerclubs6 = [[PSIS Semarang]]
}}

'''Gilbert Agius''' (born 21 February 1974) is a Maltese professional [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Football player|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. He has a [[UEFA coaching licences#UEFA Pro Licence|UEFA Pro]] coaching license.

==Playing career==
Agius was the captain of his hometown club side [[Valletta F.C.|Valletta]] and is one of the most well known and highly respected figures in [[Malta|Maltese]] [[football (soccer)|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 S.C.|Pisa]]. His number 7 shirt is retired in respect of his loyalty and great service to the club.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He is the most capped player and the all time goal scorer at Valletta<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vallettafc.net/gilbert-agius|title=Gilbert Agius|access-date=2020-12-30}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 F.C.|Valletta]], with new Manager [[Mark Miller (footballer)|Mark Miller]]. He later left this role and came out of retirement to play for [[Gozo]] side [[Xewkija Tigers F.C.|Xewkija Tigers]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> helping them to win the [[Gozo Football League]].

== Coaching career ==
After his short spell with [[Xewkija Tigers F.C.|Xewkija Tigers]], Agius came back to [[Valletta F.C.|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 F.C.|Hibernians]] in the decider match.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In December 2020 Agius came back in help of his club, taking the role of caretaker coach again after the resignation of [[Jesmond Zerafa]].<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> At the end of the year he was replaced by [[Tozé Mendes]], coming back to his role as assistant manager.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In January 2021 Agius was appointed as new head coach of the [[Malta national under-21 football team]].<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==Achievements==
=== Player ===
*'''[[Maltese Premier League]]: 8'''
:: [[1991–92 Maltese Premier League|1991–92]], [[1996–97 Maltese Premier League|1996–97]], [[1997–98 Maltese Premier League|1997–98]], [[1998–99 Maltese Premier League|1998–99]], [[2000–01 Maltese Premier League|2000–01]], [[2007–08 Maltese Premier League|2007–08]], [[2010&ndash;11 Maltese Premier League|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Maltese Premier League|2011–12]]

*'''[[Maltese FA Trophy]]: 7'''
:: [[1994-95 Maltese FA Trophy|1994–95]], [[1995-96 Maltese FA Trophy|1995–96]], [[1996-97 Maltese FA Trophy|1996–97]], [[1998-99 Maltese FA Trophy|1998–99]], [[2000–01 Maltese FA Trophy|2000–01]], [[2009–10 Maltese FA Trophy|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

*'''[[UEFA European Championship|Euro Cup]]: 1'''
:: 2011–12

* '''[[Maltese Player of the Year]]: 3'''
:: 1996–97, 2000–01, 2006–07

===Manager===
*'''[[Maltese Premier League]]: 1'''
:: [[2018–19 Maltese Premier League|2018–19]]

===Assistant Manager===
*'''[[Maltese Premier League]]: 3'''
:: [[2013–14 Maltese Premier League|2013–14]], [[2015–16 Maltese Premier League|2015–16]], [[2017–18 Maltese Premier League|2017–18]]

*'''[[Maltese FA Trophy]]: 2'''
:: [[2013–14 Maltese FA Trophy|2013–14]], [[2017–18 Maltese FA Trophy|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 national football team|Malta]]'s history.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=139|title=National football team player Gilbert Agius|access-date=2020-12-30}}</ref> 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 match|Friendly]]
|-
| 2. || 8 June 1997 || [[Tórsvøllur]], [[Tórshavn]], Faroe Islands || {{fb|FRO}} || '''1'''–0 || 1–2 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying]]
|-
| 3. || 6 February 2000 || [[National Stadium, Ta' Qali|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 qualification (UEFA)|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|Paola]], Malta || {{fb|LTU}} || '''1'''–3 || 1–4 || [[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|-
| 8. || 7 February 2007 || National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta || {{fb|AUT}} || '''1'''–0 || 1–1 || [[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|25 April 2025}}
{| 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 F.C.|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 F.C.|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 F.C.|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 national under-21 football team|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 national football team|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}}
!
|}

==See also==
*[[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
*{{FIFA|156670|Gilbert Agius}}
* [http://www.maltafootball.com/players/gilbertagius.html Gilbert Agius at MaltaFootball.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108044054/http://www.maltafootball.com/players/gilbertagius.html |date=8 January 2009 }}
* {{Soccerbase}}
*{{NFT|4259|Gilbert Agius}}

{{Maltese Player of the Year}}
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{{Valletta F.C. managers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Agius, Gilbert}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Maltese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Malta men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Maltese Premier League players]]
[[Category:Serie C players]]
[[Category:Valletta F.C. players]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Maltese expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Valletta]]
[[Category:Xewkija Tigers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Liga 1 (Indonesia) managers]]