Gilbert Agius to fly to Indonesia next week to finalise move to PSIS Semarang

Gilbert Agius is set to take over as first-team coach of Indonesian side PSIS Semarang, the Times of Malta can confirm.

Agius has left his post as Malta Under 21 national team coach to embark on this new challenge away from our shores after he received the offer from Indonesian side PSIS Semarang.

Sources have told the Times of Malta that negotiations between Agius and PSiS Semarang are at a very advanced stage and the former Valletta FC coach is planning to travel to Indonesia early next week to wrap up a deal with his new club.

For Agius, this will be his first experience as a first-team coach with a club away from the Maltese shores.

The legendary Valletta FC forward has so far been at the helm of his hometown, helping them to the Premier League title in season 2018-19.

In 2021, Agius decided to leave his hometown club and accepted an offer from the Malta Football Association to become the new Under 21 coach.

During time in charge, Agius has led the Maltese youngsters to two victories in the European Championship qualifiers against Northern Ireland, 4-1 at the Centenary Stadium, and then grabbed a 2-0 win in Mourneview Park.

Last November, Agius was promoted to interim national team coach following the resignation of national teams’ head coach Devis Mangia and led the team to a 2-2 raw against Greece before going down to Ireland 1-0 at the National Stadium.

At PSIS Semarang, Agius will be working with a familiar acquaintance as the Indonesian club have Japanese winger Taisei Marukawa on their books.

Marukawa spent two years in Maltese football as after joining Senglea Athletic in 2019 he moved to Valletta in 2020, where he worked with Agius.

Agius will be looking to turn the fortunes of PSIS Semarang as the Indonesian club are currently eighth in the La Liga with 29 points, 16 adrift of leaders Persib.