Birkirkara name Gianluca Festa as their new head coach

Birkirkara FC have appointed Italian coach Gianluca Festa as their new first team coach, the Premier League club announced.

Festa fills the void left by fellow Italian Stefano De Angelis who was sacked from his job last month.

The Stripes are determined to revive their season after an uninspiring start to their campaign. Birkirkara are still in search of their first win in the YoHealth Malta Premier League and on Saturday suffered their first defeat when they were beaten by Hibernians 2-1 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

The Italian coach brings with him a wealth of experience, as during his career he was at the helm of Cagliari, Como, and Lumezzane, while recently he had a spell in Greece as he was in charge of AEL, Apollon Smyrnis, and Lamia.

“Birkirkara FC is pleased to announce that, following an in-depth process, Mr. Gianluca Festa has been appointed as the new coach until the end of the 2025/2026 season,” the club said in a statement.

“The Italian manager brings a wealth of experience across Serie A, Serie B, Serie C and the Greek Super League. Festa has led clubs such as Cagliari, Como, and Lumezzane in his homeland, while in Greece, he took charge of AEL, Apollon Smyrnis, and Lamia, earning a reputation for his tactical discipline and ability to guide teams through highly competitive environments.

“As a former defender, Festa enjoyed an impressive playing career with Inter Milan, AS Roma, and Cagliari, while in England, he became a fan favourite at Middlesbrough in the Premier League.

“We would like to welcome Mr. Festa while wishing him all the best of luck with our Club.”

Festa is expected to make his debut as Birkirkara coach on Tuesday when they face Sliema Wanderers at the National Stadium.