The 2024/25 European season is quickly approaching, with 236 clubs set to compete in UEFA’s continental club competitions this season.
With the first qualifying round draws occurring on Tuesday, Extratime Talk will be providing a comprehensive coefficient preview. Between now and then, each country will be previewed, and all clubs participating in Europe for the 2024/25 season are discussed.
In these articles, we will provide analyses of what to expect from each country in Europe. We will explore what is on the line from a coefficient standpoint, and the keys to succeeding, in that country’s case.
This is the 50th article of the coefficient series. In this piece, we will take a look at Malta and what to expect from their four representatives in Europe next season.
Malta in Europe: Country Profile
| Previous Season Coefficient (Rank) | 1.500 (44th) |
| Previous Season’s 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 8.250 (45th) |
| Starting 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 7.150 (41st) |
It was a deceptively decent year for Malta in Europe last season. Two teams managed to make UECL Q3, with only one team falling at the first hurdle. At Malta’s level, that is certainly not bad at all. While the coefficient could have been a bit higher, the performance of the four clubs is still something to build off for 2024/25.
Among the country’s roster of clubs for this summer’s qualifiers include two traditional big clubs, the back-to-back champions, and a side making just their fourth European appearance. With the pressure of finishing in the bottom five non-existent, this could be a year where Malta will profit in the coefficient ranking.
Malta in Europe: Country Profile
| Club | Qualified As | Round of Entry | Total European Seasons | Last Season’s Performance | 5-Year Club Coefficient (2023/24) | 5-Year Country Coefficient Contribution, 2023/24 (%) |
| Ħamrun Spartans | Domestic Champion | UCL Q1 | 11 | UECL Q3 | 4.500 | 1.625 (19.7%) |
| Silema Wanderers | Cup Winner | UECL Q2, Main Path | 39 | N/A | 1.650 | N/A |
| Floriana | Domestic Runner-up | UECL Q1 | 27 | N/A | 3.000 | 0.875 (10.61%) |
| Marsaxlokk | Domestic Fourth Place | UECL Q1 | 4 | N/A | 1.650 | N/A |
League winners for the third time in four years, Ħamrun Spartans will partake in the Champions League first qualifying round for the second straight summer. In each of their last two campaigns, Ħamrun has made at least Q3 of the Conference League, enjoying a round to the playoff round two summers ago. They will be ambitious to go one step further this time around.
Silema Wanderers won the FA Trophy to make their return to continental play 10 years on from their last showing. Despite their 39th European appearance – the joint most among Maltese sides – Silema has never won multiple ties in a European season. In fact, they have progressed just four times. They start in UECL Q2, and will aim to go farther than they ever have in Europe.
Floriana pushed Ħamrun in the title race, but ultimately missed out. Similar to Silema, Floriana does not have a lot of wins in Europe. While they did make UEL Q3 a few years ago, they have won just one tie over two legs. That is across 26 previous showings. That does not possess a pretty showing for the club, who commences in UECL Q1.
Rounding out Malta’s European representatives is perhaps the biggest surprise of the lot in Marseaxlokk. It is the club’s fourth foray into continental action, some 16 years after the last attempt. They have lost all six of their European games all-time, and will simply want to change that this time around. With just one goal scored across those six games, the numbers are firmly stacked against the club to win.
Malta’s Season Ambition
Malta’s season ambition may be to sneak into the top 38. They are less than a point behind 38th place Latvia to start the season. Plus, they are in 41st, only three places behind the Baltic nation. So, there should be ambition for top 38 from the country.
From a coefficient point-of-view, Malta has been regularly earning 1.500 or more points. That is not too bad, but that will have to increase if they want to have a serious shot at 38th. Thus, they really should be striving for about 2.500 points in order to have a reasonable chance at top 38. The only time they reached that total within the last five years was in the 2022/23 season, where they earned 2.625 points.
What a Good Season Would Look Like for Malta
Performance-wise, Malta should be happy if any of their teams make UECL Q3, outside of Ħamrun Spartans, who should really be striving for a return to the UECL playoff round. That has to be the goal this summer, to have their domestic champion in the Conference League playoff round, and at least one other club in UECL Q3. That should be seen as a good season, as anything less than that is a rather poor year for a country pushing for the top 38.
As for a coefficient total, at least 2.000 points has to be seen as a good year for Maltese football. Getting between 1.500 and 1.750 again shows a lack of progression, so 2.000 or better is a good year. Earn at least 2.500, and should be considered a very good year.
What to Expect From Malta in 2024/25
Can Malta realistically compete for a place in the top 38? That is the question to ask when considering what we can expect from the Maltese clubs next season. Their three UECL teams do not have a good track record in Europe. This should be a cause for concern.
Talking with Georg Zammit, he does not expect too much success for the Maltese teams in Europe next term. “When discussing chances in Europe one has to keep in mind the limit in resources of these clubs,” Zammit points out. “One could say Ħamrun have the strongest financial backing in the country, and they did have good European runs, however it all depends on the luck of the draw.”
Zammit is well aware of the potential for upsets, but according the him, the clubs “cannot really depend on upsetting teams on two legged ties, one round after another. It comes down to quality when talking about two legged ties in a European run” That is an excellent point, which is something the Maltese teams in the UECL will have to keep in mind.
Overall, it is hard to expect Malta to finish in the top 38. If they finish higher than 40th, that is already a decent year for them. But, 38th place has come too early for Maltese football. Perhaps in another year or two it happen, but not now.