Analysis on Maltese coaching landscape: A necessary choice of coaches or a lingering colonial legacy?

By Renzo Kerr-Cumbo

Malta’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the unprecedented medal haul at the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe, and the recent developments in Malta’s football community, including the departure of Michele Marcolini as head coach of the national football team just 24 months after his predecessor Devis Mangia resigned, mark the close of a significant cycle in Maltese sport.

Davide Mazzotta, the former assistant coach of Mangia, has been brought back to take charge of the national team on interim basis.

This prompts reflection on several aspects, particularly the role of foreign coaches in Maltese sports.

Despite evidence suggesting that Maltese coaches achieve comparable results to their foreign counterparts, there remains a strong bias towards hiring foreign coaches.

Is this decision based on practical expertise, or does it reflect deeper historical influences rooted in Malta’s colonial past?

The available data presents an interesting picture: Maltese coaches are delivering similar, if not better, results than foreign coaches, raising questions about the rationale behind this hiring trend.

The Malta Football Association (MFA) has hired an equal number of Maltese and foreign coaches over the years – 12 from each group.

Maltese coaches, responsible for 128 matches, recorded 18 wins and 23 draws, achieving a success rate of 32%.

Foreign coaches, overseeing 311 matches, recorded 43 wins and 49 draws, achieving a slightly lower success rate of 30%.

Looking at the last six coaches in each group, Maltese coaches achieved a success rate of 35.48%, outperforming their foreign counterparts, who achieved 29.58%.

Despite these statistics, foreign coaches remain the preferred choice for many local clubs and the MFA.

It may also be assumed that there is a higher level of patience with non-winning foreign coaches than with Maltese ones, as foreigners covered more than double the number of matches despite having similar win rates.

Historical Shifts 

According to data collected by football enthusiast Lennard Kelder, Maltese football has seen shifts in coaching trends over the decades.

Historically, the Maltese top tier was largely managed by local coaches.

However, between 1996-1997 and 1998-2001, foreign coaches managed more matches than their Maltese counterparts, overseeing 651 matches compared to 508 by local coaches.

A similar trend occurred in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, with foreign coaches covering 337 matches while Maltese coaches managed 310.

While in the last few years the numbers of head coaches are more or less equal, the number of foreign supporting staff, and foreign coaches in youth development structures have increased drastically.

This trend may reflect clubs’ aspirations for immediate success, as foreign coaches are often seen as more capable of leading teams to victory.

Nonetheless, over all seasons since 1946-47, foreign coaches won only 3.79% more games, drew 0.18% more, and lost 3.94% fewer matches than Maltese coaches.

These differences are minimal, and statistical analysis shows a significant but very weak relationship between nationality and match outcomes.

Ironically, during the 1996-97 and 1998-2001 periods when foreign coaches were given more opportunities, Maltese coaches outperformed them, winning 2.54% more games.

This challenges the assumption that foreign coaches consistently deliver better results.

Additionally, the initial advantage enjoyed by foreign coaches was likely influenced by their roles at top-tier teams aiming for competitive success, and hence in this period, a bigger number of coaches were employed with weaker teams and hence won less games.

Overall, the data shows that while foreign coaches may have had a slight edge in some periods, the long-term impact of nationality on match outcomes is minimal.

Periods of foreign dominance are balanced by times when Maltese coaches excelled, leaving no clear long-term advantage for either group.

Cultural Bias?

This preference for foreign coaches extends beyond football. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, four Maltese athletes in judo, swimming, and shooting were coached by foreigners, while only the athletics team had a Maltese coach.

The Malta waterpolo national team is also led by a foreign trainer, following the successful tenure of Maltese coach Karl Izzo.

Similarly, in the Small Nations Games, the majority of coaches were foreign, with only a few Maltese coaches involved.

Hiring foreign coaches can offer practical benefits.

Clubs seeking immediate success may perceive foreign coaches as bringing fresh tactics, a new mindset, and a global outlook. In certain cases, foreign coaches fill gaps in local expertise, especially in specialised disciplines.

However, reducing Malta’s reliance on foreign coaches solely to practical reasons overlooks deeper cultural factors, including the lasting psychological impact of Malta’s colonial past.

For over a century, Malta was under British rule, and during this time, the Maltese internalised a sense of inferiority to foreign expertise.

Post-colonial theory suggests that this reliance on foreign expertise can persist long after independence, influencing decision-making, even in sports.

Could Malta’s preference for foreign coaches be a reflection of this ingrained mentality, even when local coaches deliver similar results?

It is worth considering whether decision-making in Maltese sport is influenced by a subtle but pervasive belief that “foreign is better,” even when the evidence does not always support this assumption.

Broader effects

While foreign coaches may be necessary in some cases, particularly in specialised sports, the growing reliance on them, especially across disciplines where they have not outperformed Maltese coaches, raises concerns.

This trend could undermine the long-term sustainability of Maltese sport and limit the development of local coaching talent.

Although foreign coaches can bring short-term benefits, over-reliance on external expertise risks stunting the growth of Maltese coaches.

If local coaches are not given opportunities to gain experience at the highest levels, the coaching profession may no longer be seen as a viable career for young Maltese individuals.

This could lead to a shortage of qualified local coaches, making Malta increasingly dependent on importing foreign coaching talent.

There is also the issue of continuity.

Foreign coaches may view their time in Malta as a stepping stone, moving on to more lucrative opportunities once they have built up their résumés, or else see it as a personal opportunity without a lasting commitment to the local sport.

This transient relationship limits the long-term benefits of foreign coaching, particularly if these coaches do not invest in local sporting infrastructure or contribute to the development of future Maltese coaches.

At a time when coaching education in Malta is expanding and the pool of qualified Maltese coaches is growing, many clubs and associations still opt for foreign candidates, sometimes with less experience or qualifications.

This raises questions about the fairness and transparency of recruitment processes in Maltese sport.

Are Maltese coaches being given the opportunities they deserve, or are clubs and associations defaulting to foreign hires due to outdated assumptions of superiority?

A Path Forward

Besides a call for decision-makers to deeply reflect on their reasons for preferring foreign coaches, it is imperative that foreign coaches, when hired, are not only focused on immediate sporting results, but also on investing in the growth of local coaching talent.

One potential solution is to focus on exporting Maltese coaches to gain international experience. By sending Maltese coaches abroad, Malta can cultivate homegrown talent that is highly skilled and confident on the global stage.

Badminton Malta, for instance, has begun to explore this option seriously, along with other sports associations. This approach could help counteract the perception that foreign coaches are inherently superior and foster greater trust in local coaching.

This idea could be incorporated into a national strategy for sports coaching development in Malta.

Furthermore, a clearer legacy must be established for foreign coaches contracted in Malta.

Beyond performance results, foreign coaches – if they are truly high-level experts – should also be responsible for mentoring upcoming Maltese coaches and working closely with them.

This would ensure a lasting impact on Maltese sport, rather than temporary success focused solely on results.

Balanced Approach

This is not a call to reject foreign coaches entirely. In sports, where Malta lacks homegrown expertise, foreign coaches may indeed be the best option.

However, it is crucial to critically assess Malta’s reliance on foreign appointments and question whether it is always justified, and whether it is strategically well-implemented. More importantly, this reliance may reflect unresolved issues from Malta’s colonial past.

As we reflect on the future of Maltese sport, we must ask whether there is greater pride in seeing a Maltese coach leading a team to victory or a foreign coach achieving success on our behalf.

Are we willing to invest in our own people, trust in their potential, and allow them the opportunity to lead and inspire? Or are we still, subconsciously, tied to a post-colonial appreciation for foreign expertise?

Confidence Call

A century ago, Maltese reformer Manwel Dimech urged the Maltese people to shed their inferiority complex and take control of their own destiny.

His words ring true today, not only in politics and society but also in sport. If Maltese sport is to thrive in the long term, we must cultivate and trust its own coaching talent, allowing local coaches to guide athletes with an understanding of the nation’s unique culture.

Foreign coaches may have a role in Maltese sport, but their presence should complement – not overshadow – the development of local talent.

By investing in Maltese coaches and fostering confidence in their abilities, Malta can ensure that its sporting successes truly reflect the heart of the nation.

Note: Dr Renzo Kerr Cumbo (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer and a Sport Coaching Europe – Board Member and President of Malta Sport Coaches Association.