Ray Farrugia

Ray Farrugia
Personal information
Full name Raymond 'Żażu' Farrugia
Date of birth (1955-10-01) 1 October 1955 (age 69)
Place of birth Floriana, Malta
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1974–1978 Floriana
1978–1990 Melita Eagles 318 (123)
1990–1994 Naxxar Lions
International career
1977–1983 Malta 4 (0)
Managerial career
1994–1998 Naxxar Lions
1998–2002 Malta U-21
2002–2004 Pietà Hotspurs
2005–2006 Marsaxlokk
2006–2007 Sliema Wanderers
2011–2014 Malta U-21
2014–2018 Malta (assistant)
2018–2019 Malta
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Raymond "Żażu" Farrugia (born 1 October 1955 in Floriana, Malta) is a football coach and former player[1] He had been the head coach for the Malta national football team from 2 May 2018.[2] to the end of 2019.

Club career

Ray Farrugia started out in his hometown team of Floriana, where he played for four years between 1974 and 1978.[3] In 1978, he left for Sydney, Australia, to play for Melita Eagles.[3][4] He was popular enough to be honoured with the first ever testimonial match in Australia.[3]

In 1990, he returned to Malta to play for Naxxar Lions, until 1994.

International career

Farrugia played four times for Malta, twice against Tunisia, the infamous 12–1 defeat against Spain, and once against the Netherlands. He had attracted the interest of Australia when playing in Sydney, however he was unable to join the squad since he had already turned out for Malta.[3]

Managerial career

Between 1994 and 1998, Farrugia coached Naxxar Lions. He served as the head coach of the Malta under-21 team between 2011 and 2014. In 2014, he was promoted to assistant coach to Pietro Ghedin who was at the helm of the Malta senior side.[5]

After the sacking of Tom Saintfiet, Farrugia was appointed as head coach for Malta's senior team.[6][7]

Farrugia debuted as Malta manager on 29 May 2018, against the Armenia national football team with a satisfactory draw.[8] He introduced Malta national under-21 football team players in the squad, such as the likes of Jake Grech and Jurgen Degabriele. He also handed a full debut to Gozitan Ferdinando Apap.[9] Farrugia's second match was a narrow defeat of 1–0 against the Georgia national football team.[10]

After finishing in the last position in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying group, in November 2019 the Malta Football Association announced that Farrugia's contract will not be renewed after its expiry at the end of the year.[11]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 18 November 2019
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Malta 2 May 2018 31 December 2019 18 1 4 13 005.6
Total 18 1 4 13 005.6 —

Honours

Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika (Medal for Service to the Republic): 2020[12]

References

  1. ^ "I want to coach the senior side - Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia". Malta Today. 15 April 2001. Archived from the original on 18 April 2001. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Farrugia 'proud and honoured' to be new Malta coach". Malta Football Association. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Story of Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia". The Malta Independent. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ Aquilina, Domenic (22 August 2016). "Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia upbeat ahead of World Cup qualifying match against Scotland". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia promoted to assistant national coach". The Malta Independent. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ^ Vella, Matthew (2 May 2018). "Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia named Malta coach after Saintfiet sacking". Malta Today. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. ^ Brincat, Henry (3 May 2018). ""It's like I've seen my mother once again" – Ray Farrugia on his appointment as national coach". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Agius secures draw with Armenia in Ray Farrugia's debut as coach - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.
  9. ^ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Farrugia opts for a blend of youth and experience in Malta squad".
  10. ^ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Malta concede late defeat to Georgia".
  11. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (20 November 2019). "Updated: National coach Farrugia to be let go by Malta Football Association". Times of Malta. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  12. ^ A. Busuttil (13 December 2020). "RAY FARRUGIA PRESENTED WITH THE MIDALJA GĦALL-QADI TAR-REPUBBLIKA". Retrieved 13 December 2020.