Valletta FC are set to appoint Thane Micallef as their new first-team coach, the Times of Malta can reveal.
Micallef is coming from an impressive season in the Premier League when he led Gudja United to an historic place in the Championship Pool where they managed to beat the challenge of the same Valletta and Mosta for a top-six berth.
His performances inevitably impressed Valletta’s top hierarchy who approached Micallef and a verbal agreement between the two parties has now been agreed.
The Citizens have been on the look out for a new coach since the end of the 2021-22 campaign when they decided not to renew the contract of Serbian Danilo Doncic.
Doncic had taken over the reins of the team in February following the sacking of Toze Mendes and managed to lead the team to Premier League safety as well as a place into the FA Trophy final where they were beaten by neighbours Floriana 2-1 in extra-time.
At the end of the season, Valletta decided to seek a new first-team coach and initially they were in talks with Paul Zammit who was expected to take charge as the club’s new technical director.
It was planned that Zammit would bring with him a number of coaches that would enable him to embark on an ambitious technical project at the club.
However, the sudden departure of president Alexander Fenech inevitably put these negotiations on hold.
In recent weeks, Valletta tried to revive talks with Zammit, but an agreement was not reached between the two parties and the deal fell through.
Now Valletta are set to start the new season with Micallef who in the next few weeks is set to sign a one-year contract with an option of a further year extension.
