Luke Montebello

Luke Montebello
Personal information
Full name Luke Montebello
Date of birth (1995-08-13) 13 August 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Pietà, Malta
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Ħamrun Spartans
Number 7
Youth career
1999–2011 Birkirkara
2011–2012 Livorno
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Livorno 0 (0)
2013 Valletta 31 (8)
2015 → Żebbuġ Rangers (loan) 12 (2)
2015 → Tarxien Rainbows (loan) 31 (12)
2016 → Pembroke Athleta (loan) 4 (1)
2017–2019 Birkirkara 27 (12)
2019–2020 Balzan 6 (2)
2020–2022 Birkirkara 46 (24)
2022– Ħamrun Spartans 54 (32)
International career‡
Malta U17 3 (0)
Malta U19 3 (1)
2014 Malta U21 1 (0)
2017– Malta 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 April 2024

Luke Montebello (born 13 August 1995) is a Maltese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Maltese Premier League side Ħamrun Spartans, and the Malta national football team.

Club career

Having played his youth football for the Birkirkara nursery, Montebello joined Livorno's youth sector in 2011.[1] He had some success with the Italian youth side, before returning to Malta and signing with Valletta on a five-year contract.[2][3]

Montebello was sent out on loan to Żebbuġ Rangers for the second half of the 2014–15 season in a bid to help them avoid relegation.[4][5] [6] In search of first team football, he joined Tarxien Rainbows in summer 2015 on loan, scoring 12 goals in 31 matches in the Maltese Premier League.[3][7][8]

He was again sent out on loan for the 2016–17 season, this time to woodenspoonists Pembroke Athleta.[9] This was short-lived however, as he was called back to Valletta for the second half of the season, after he injured his shoulder in October. He underwent surgery which turned out to be successful, however he still needed 7 to 8 weeks of recovery.[10]

In 2017, Montebello returned to his childhood club Birkirkara on a permanent deal.[11][12]

In January 2018, Montebello was banned for match-fixing for one year.[13] After the suspension, he returned to play for Birkirkara again.[14]

In 2022, Montebello joined Ħamrun Spartans, where he would win the Maltese Premier League in the 2022/23 season and would also win the subsequent Maltese Super Cup.

International career

Luke Montebello featured in the Malta national under-17 football team and the Malta national under-19 football team. He also featured in the Malta national under-21 football team under Silvio Vella, making his debut on 5 September 2014.[citation needed]

Before an Under-21 match against Czech Republic national under-21 football team, allegedly Montebello was approached to throw the match for a sum of money; he allegedly did not accept and testified against the bribers in court.[15][16][17][18]

He was first included provisionally in the senior side on 4 November 2015.[19] He made his Malta national football team debut under Pietro Ghedin in a 1–3 defeat against Slovakia on 26 March 2017.[20]

Style of play

With a tall and powerful physique, Montebello has been described as a target man.[21]

Honours

Club

Valletta

Ħamrun Spartans

References

  1. ^ "Birkirkara FC - News". Birkirkarafc.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Luke Montebello ikompli jispikka ma' AS Livorno". Sportinmalta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Luke Montebello joins Tarxien R: Valletta FC". Vallettafc.net. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Striker Luke Montebello joins Zebbug Rangers: Valletta FC". Vallettafc.net. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Luke Montebello jiffirma ma' Żebbuġ Rangers - NETnews". Netnews.com.mt. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Luke Montebello jingħaqad ma' Żebbuġ R sal-aħħar tal-istaġun". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Montebello moves to Tarxien on loan". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  8. ^ "L-attakkant Luke Montebello jingħaqad ma' Tarxien R". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  9. ^ "ESKLUSSIVA - L-attakkant Luke Montebello b'self ma' Pembroke Athleta". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Bejn seba' u tmien ġimgħat barra għall-attakkant ta' Pembroke Luke Montebello". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Luke Montebello returns to Stripes". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Birkirkara jakkwistaw lil Luke Montebello - NETnews". Netnews.com.mt. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Six Malta U-21 players banned for match-fixing". timesofmalta.com. 9 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Maurizio Vella joins Birkirkara". maltafootball.com. 11 January 2019.
  15. ^ "inewsmalta.com". Inewsmalta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  16. ^ ""Match-fixing" fil-logħba tat-tim nazzjonali tal-U-21: kontroeżami jaħraq ta' plejer involut - NETnews". Netnews.com.mt. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Seyble Zammit tells court he's unable to recall details of match-fixing meeting". Maltatoday.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  18. ^ "'I don't remember': common phrase by player who approached others to lose Malta match v Montenegro - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Cremona ta' Valletta, Briffa ta' Floriana u Montebello ta' Tarxien promossi man-Nazzjonal". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Bright showing not enough as Malta lose to Slovakia". mfa.com.mt. Malta Football Association. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Montebello moves to Tarxien on loan". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.