The 2017–18 Maltese Premier League (known as the BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 103rd season of top-flight league football in Malta. The season began on 18 August 2017 and ended on 22 April 2018. Hibernians were the defending champions, having won their 12th title the previous season.
Balzan and Valletta contended the league title for the whole season and were head-to-head in the final phases. On the last day of the season, on 21 April 2018, Valletta defeated Gżira United 2–1, while Balzan slipped in a 0–1 defeat against Hibernians, and as a result Valletta were crowned champions for the 24th time in their history.
Teams
Pembroke Athleta are relegated after they finished twelfth the previous season. They are replaced by Lija Athletic the 2016–17 Maltese First Division champions, Senglea Athletic the 2016–17 Maltese First Division runners-up, and Naxxar Lions the 2016–17 Maltese First Division Third Place.
Team In league since City Training Stadium Capacity Balzan 2011 Balzan Victor Tedesco Stadium 6,000 Birkirkara 1990 Birkirkara Ta' Qali National Stadium 17,797 Floriana 1986 Floriana Independence Arena 3,000 Gżira United 2016 Gżira Ta' Qali National Stadium 17,797 Ħamrun Spartans 2016 Ħamrun Victor Tedesco Stadium 6,000 Hibernians 1945 Paola Hibernians Ground 2,968 Lija Athletic 2017 Lija Lija Stadium500 Mosta 2011 Mosta Charles Abela Memorial Stadium 600 Naxxar 2017 Naxxar Centenary Stadium 2,000 Senglea Athletic 2017 Senglea Ta' Qali National Stadium 17,000 Sliema Wanderers 1984 Sliema Tigne Sports Complex 1,000 Saint Andrews 2015 St. Andrew's Luxol Stadium 800 Tarxien Rainbows 2008 Tarxien Tony Cassar Sports Ground 1,000 Valletta 1944 Valletta Centenary Stadium 2,000
Kits
Team Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorBalzanJomaInvestors Mutual LimitedBirkirkaraAdidasMcDonald'sFlorianaJomaScotts SupermarketGżira UnitedJomaTipbetĦamrun SpartansSportika SATalocanHiberniansJomaBezzinaLija AthleticAdidasThe Falzon Group Of CompaniesMostaMacronComputer DomainNaxxar MacronVINCSenglea Athletic AcerbisSliema Wanderers AdidasDIZZSaint AndrewsMacronTipicoTarxien RainbowsErreàCassar Ship RepairsVallettaJomaIniala Additionally, referee kits are made by Adidas, sponsored by TeamSports and FXDD, and Nike has a new match ball.
Venues Ta' Qali Ta' Qali Paola Hamrun Ta' Qali National Stadium Centenary Stadium Tony Bezzina Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium Capacity: 16,997 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 2,968 Capacity: 1,962
Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced by Date of appointmentBalzan Mutual consent5 May 2017Pre-season 24 May 2017Valletta Resigned30 May 2017 18 June 2017Birkirkara End of contract1 June 2017 1 June 2017 Sacked1 September 201711th 1 September 2017St. Andrews Resigned7 September 20179th 12 September 2017Naxxar 13th 8 September 2017Valletta Mutual consent20 December 20173rd 20 December 2017Hibernians Resigned5 March 20186th Neil Zarb Cousin6 March 2018
League table
Results Each team plays every other team in the league home-and-away for a total of 26 matches played each.
Relegation play-offs
A play-off match took place between the twelfth-placed team from the Premier League, Tarxien Rainbows, and the third-placed team from the First Division, Zejtun Corinthians, for a place in the 2018–19 Maltese Premier League.
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Amadou SambGżira United212 Mario FontanellaFloriana173 Bojan KaljevicBalzan144 Jake GrechBirkirkara11 Erjon BeuLija Athletic Jurgen DegabrieleHibernians7 Clayton FaillaHibernians10 Emmanuel OkoyeGżira United Samba TounkaraTarxien Rainbows Ricardo da Silva FariaTarxien Rainbows
Awards Monthly awards
MonthPlayer of the MonthPlayerClubAugust Michael MifsudVallettaSeptember Amadou SambGżira UnitedOctober CadúBalzanNovember CadúBalzanDecember Maurizio VellaFlorianaJanuary Kemar David ReidSt. AndrewsFebruary Jackson LimaHiberniansMarch Matteo PiciolloVallettaApril Kevaughn AtkinsonSt. Andrews
Attendances
References
External links Official website