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.

Tony Formosa
Personal information
Date of birth (1937-06-02)2 June 1937
Place of birth Rabat, Gozo, Malta
Date of death 13 January 2024(2024-01-13) (aged 86)
Youth career
Valletta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1961 St. Patrick FC 4 (0)
Managerial career
1961 Żejtun Corinthians
Ħamrun Spartans
1966 Malta
1967–1973 Malta U18
1968–1970 Valletta
1971–1972 Malta
1973–1975 Valletta
1975–1981 Floriana
1982–1986 Sliema Wanderers
1986–1988 Valletta (joint)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

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.[1] Formosa was manager of the national team that played its first ever World Cup qualifier against Hungary in 1971[2] and achieved a record of 40 matches without defeat with Floriana.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

Death

edit

Formosa died on 13 January 2024, at the age of 86.[1]

Honours

edit

Valletta

Floriana

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Camilleri, Valhmor (13 January 2024). "FOOTBALL Former Malta national team coach Tony Formosa dies, aged 86". Times of Malta. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Former Valletta FC coach Tony Formosa passes away". Valletta FC. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Former Malta National Team coach Tony Formosa passes away aged 86". Independent. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  4. ^ "DEMISE OF TONY FORMOSA, EX-MALTA NATIONAL TEAM COACH". Malta Football Association. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ Baldacchino, Carmel (5 July 2007). "Ex-national coach who also excelled at club level". Times of Malta. Retrieved 14 January 2024.