Simon Tortell

Simon Tortell
Personal information
Full name Simon Tortell
Date of birth (1959-08-08)8 August 1959
Place of birth Sliema, Malta
Date of death 15 June 2012(2012-06-15) (aged 52)
Position(s) striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1984 Sliema Wanderers 63 (18)
International career‡
1978–1983 Malta 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 June 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 June 2012

Simon Tortell (8 August 1959 — 15 June 2012) was a Maltese footballer. He was born in Sliema, Malta.

Club career

Tortell was a striker who played for nine years with Sliema Wanderers, winning a league title and a FA Trophy medal with them. He scored in the 1979 FA Trophy Final against Floriana. He retired at age 24 to graduate from Malta University and become a lawyer.

International career

Tortell made his debut for Malta in an October 1978 European Championship qualification match against Wales. He earned a total of 5 caps, scoring 1 goal.

His final international was the infamous[1] December 1983 European Championship qualification defeat by Spain, which Malta lost 1-12, ensuring that Spain qualified for Euro 1984 ahead of the Netherlands on goal difference.[2]

Personal life

After retirement, Tortell became a successful lawyer and was partner at his own firm Simon Tortell & Associates.[3] His father, Peter Tortell, also played for Sliema Wanderers in the 1950s. Simon Tortell died after a long illness on June 14, 2012, at age 52. He was married to Silvana Tortell and was father of three daughters.[4]

Honours

Floriana

1976
1979

References

  1. ^ Dubieuze wedstrijden (dubious matches) - Volkskrant (in Dutch)
  2. ^ International stats - EU Football
  3. ^ Bio - Simon Tortell & Associates
  4. ^ Former Malta player passes away - Times of Malta