Tony Formosa

Tony Formosa (2 June 1937 – 13 January 2024) was a Maltese football manager who managed the national team and a host of Maltese top-level teams.

Tony Formosa

Personal information
Date of birth	(1937-06-02)2 June 1937
Place of birth	Rabat, Gozo, Malta
Date of death	13 January 2024(2024-01-13) (aged 86)
Youth career
	Valletta
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1961	St. Patrick FC	4	(0)
Managerial career
1961	Żejtun Corinthians
	Ħamrun Spartans
1966	Malta
1967–1973	Malta U18
1968–1970	Valletta
1971–1972	Malta
1973–1975	Valletta
1975–1981	Floriana
1982–1986	Sliema Wanderers
1986–1988	Valletta (joint)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Formosa's playing career started in the 1960/61 season but it was cut short by injury in February 1961, after fracturing his arm in a game against Marsa. He totalled only four top tier games for St. Patrick F.C.

Formosa had several managerial positions with Maltese giants Ħamrun Spartans, Valletta, and Sliema Wanderers as well as with the national team and the Malta U18 team.^[1] Formosa was manager of the national team that played its first ever World Cup qualifier against Hungary in 1971^[2] and achieved a record of 40 matches without defeat with Floriana.^[3]

After coaching in 197 Maltese top flight matches, Formosa retired from managing and was appointed Head of Sports within the Ministry of Education and Culture.^[4] In this position, he convinced the government to build new sports facilities and managed to lure the Formula One Offshore Powerboats World Championships to Malta for three successive years.^[5]

Death

Formosa died on 13 January 2024, at the age of 86.^[1]

Honours

Valletta

• Maltese Premier League: 1974
• Maltese FA Trophy: 1975
• Cassar Cup: 1969
• Independence Cup: 1975

Floriana

• Maltese Premier League: 1977
• Maltese FA Trophy: 1976, 1981
• Independence Cup: 1976, 1977, 1978