Gozo representative football team

Gozo

Nickname(s)	Tat-Tlett Għoljiet
Association	Gozo Football Association (Assoċjazzjoni tal-Futbol Għawdxija)
Confederation	None
Home stadium	Gozo Stadium
FIFA code	GOZ
First colours Second colours Third colours

The Gozo representative football team (Maltese: It-tim rappreżentattiv Għawdxi tal-futbol) represents the island of Gozo, Malta, in football. It is organised by the Gozo Football Association and its home stadium is the Gozo Stadium.

It is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA and therefore is not eligible to enter either the World Cup or the European Championship. The Gozo representative football team has however played a number of Non-FIFA international football matches featuring players who are considered as 'Gozitans' for matches of the Gozo Football League, including appearances at Island Games and the now-defunct Viva World Cup.

Moreover, as of 2024, Gozo^[1] has also participated in 6 editions of UEFA Regions' Cup as Malta's representative, with their debut appearance coming in the inaugural edition in 1999.

Over the years, a Gozo XI has also played friendlies against football clubs; particularly those from the mainland, fielding players playing in the Gozo Football League and, occasionally, Gozitans playing in Malta.

Historical records suggest that a team representing the island of Gozo had already played two matches long before the turn of the millennium.^[2] Indeed, during the 1970s a side representing Gozo was invited to join in Malta's Independence celebrations and play two friendly matches against local sides. Other historical records indicate that a Gozitan team might have played more matches before that period.^[3] Indeed, the first ever match for a Gozitan representative team came in January 1937, where a Gozo XI faced Tarxien Rainbows in a friendly match played at the then Silver Jubilee Stadium.^[4]

For a period, a Gozitan representative team also played in the Maltese FA Trophy, but the Gozo Football Association's decision to organise Gozo F.C. and have it play in the Maltese football league system, eventually led to a lengthy hiatus of the Gozo representative team. Indeed, the next known Gozitan appearance came in 1999, when a selection representing Gozo played in the first edition of the UEFA Regions Cup. Ten years later, in 2009, the Gozo representative football team debuted in the Viva World Cup by playing in the 2009 Viva World Cup. In the following year, Gozo hosted the 2010 edition of the Viva World Cup^[5] and therefore, once again, Gozo had the opportunity to participate in that Cup. Overall, Gozo's performance was disappointing as they finished at the bottom of their group but the team could find solace in their win against Provence, their first ever win on the field against international opponents.^[6] Gozo's appearance in the 2010 Viva World Cup was, however, their last appearance in the now-defunct competition.

The launch of the Gozo Cup^[7] during the same year presented an opportunity for the representative side to play friendly matches against Maltese football clubs. The Gozo Cup ran for four consecutive years, and during that period the Gozo representative also played a number of friendlies, including their 17–1 victory against the Raetia national football team in Xewkija.^[8]

Since then, Gozo's appearances primarily came at the UEFA Regions' Cup. Indeed, the Gozitan representative football team appearance in the 2017 edition of the bi-annual UEFA Regions Cup marked Gozo's participation in, and hosting of, the tournament for the third edition running.^[9] They also participated in the subsequent edition, the 2019 edition.

In 2022 Gozo joined the Island Games Association and this made the Gozo representative football team eligible to participate in the biannual multi-sport event's football tournament.^[10] This marked Gozo's return to the international fuora^{[clarification needed]} following a hiatus of over a decade. In 2024, it was announced that the Gozitan representative football team will participating in both men's and women's football competitions in the 2025 Island Games.^[11]

International Football - Men

Head coach	Mark Buttigieg
Most caps	Milos Stojanovic (9)
Top scorer	John Camilleri (5)
First international
Provence 3–1 Gozo  (Novara, Italy; 22 June 2009)
Biggest win
Gozo 17–1 Raetia  (Xewkija, Malta; 14 January 2012)
Biggest defeat
Sapmi 7–2 Gozo  (Brescia, Italy; 24 June 2009)  Gozo 0–5 Occitania (Xewkija, Gozo; 2 June 2010
VIVA World Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2009)
Best result	5th place (2009 & 2010)
Island Games
Appearances	1 (first in 2023)
Best result	6th place (2023)

---

Year	Position	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
2006	did not enter
2008
2009	5th	3	1	0	2	5	10
2010	5th	3	1	0	2	3	8
2012	did not enter
Total		6	2	0	4	8	18

Year	Position	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
2023	6th	4	2	0	2	4	2

---

---

The following players were called-up for the 2023 Island Games by coach Mark Buttigieg.^[13]

Caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2023

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Steve Sultana	(1990-09-07) 7 September 1990 (age 34)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters
12	1GK	Daniel Spiteri	(1996-05-16) 16 May 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Kerċem Ajax
2	2DF	Sam Frank Bajada	(1988-01-16) 16 January 1988 (age 36)	0	0	S.K. Victoria Wanderers
3	2DF	Ferdinando Apap (captain)	(1992-07-29) 29 July 1992 (age 32)	3	0	Hibernians
4	2DF	Lawrence Grima	(1995-12-31) 31 December 1995 (age 28)	0	0	Qala Saints
5	2DF	Neil Camilleri	(2003-05-02) 2 May 2003 (age 21)	0	0	S.K. Victoria Wanderers
6	2DF	Manuel Tabone	(1989-05-10) 10 May 1989 (age 35)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters
11	2DF	Kenneth Mercieca	(1987-10-29) 29 October 1987 (age 37)	1	0	Xagħra United
13	2DF	Gennaro Hili	(1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 28)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters
16	2DF	Kurt Grima	(2000-12-17) 17 December 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Għajnsielem
18	2DF	Ian Xuereb	(1993-10-19) 19 October 1993 (age 31)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters
8	3MF	Dejan Bogdanovic	(2003-06-29) 29 June 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Xewkija Tigers
10	3MF	Shaun Attard	(1994-07-25) 25 July 1994 (age 30)	0	0	Qala Saints
14	3MF	Michael Bezzina	(1992-04-09) 9 April 1992 (age 32)	3	1	Xagħra United
15	3MF	Chris Mercieca	(1997-06-07) 7 June 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Qrendi
17	3MF	Stefan Cassar	(1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters
7	4FW	Jordi Parnis	(2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 (age 24)	0	0	Qala Saints
9	4FW	Sam Harland	(1995-09-14) 14 September 1995 (age 29)	0	0	S.K. Victoria Wanderers
19	4FW	Matthias Mercieca	(2003-08-20) 20 August 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Xewkija Tigers
20	4FW	Joseph Zammit	(2001-01-18) 18 January 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Nadur Youngsters

---

• Players who represtented both Malta and Gozo
  • Ferdinando Apap
  • Shaun Bajada
  • Daniel Bogdanovic

International Football - Women

Most caps	Various (2)
First international
Gozo 0–4 Padania  (Xewkija, Gozo; 3 June 2010)
Biggest defeat
Gozo 0–4 Padania  (Xewkija, Gozo; 3 June 2010)
VIVA World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2010)
Best result	2nd place (2010)

---

Year	Position	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
2008	did not enter
2010	2nd	2	0	0	2	0	7

Year	Position	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
2023	did not enter

---

---

• Players who represtented both Malta and Gozo
  • Emma Xuereb

Regions' Cup Team

Confederation	UEFA
Most caps	Michael Bezzina (10)
Top scorer	Michael Bezzina Andrew Mizzi Claudio Antunes Pavlidis (2)
First international
Provence 3–1 Gozo  (Novara, Italy; 22 June 2009)
Biggest win
Gozo 2–0 Vaasa (Xewkija, Gozo, Malta; 1 October 2014)
Biggest defeat
Macedonia 8–2 Gozo  (Thessaloniki, Greece; 24 June 1999) Ironi Tiberias 6–0 Gozo  (Thessaloniki, Greece; 22 June 1999)  Gozo 0–6 Moscow Oblast (Xewkija, Gozo; 16 October 2012) Bavaria 6–0 Gozo  (Leiblfing, Bavaria; 30 September 2018)
UEFA Regions' Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 1999)
Best result	Intermediary Round (2013)

---

Year	Position	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
1999	Preliminary	3	0	0	3	2	18
2001	did not enter
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013	Intermediary	3	1	1	1	5	10
2015	Intermediary	3	1	0	2	4	5
2017	Intermediary	3	0	1	2	1	8
2019	Intermediary	3	0	0	3	1	13
NA 2021	was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2023	did not enter
2025	Intermediary	3	0	0	3	0	7
Total		18	2	2	14	13	61

---

• Official site of the Gozo Football Association
• 2017 UEFA Regions Cup – Profile