- Ahmun (27')
By James Dow
Ahead of this evening’s UEFA Conference League first qualifying round first leg against Floriana at Centenary Stadium, we’ve taken a closer look at our Maltese opponents.
History
Floriana Football Club was founded in 1894, making them one of the oldest sides in Maltese football. They dominated alongside St George’s for decades before Valetta United, Sliema Wanderers and Hamrun Spartans started to really challenge the Tal-Irish. They were the first side to win the Maltese league and cup double in the 1912-13 season, which they repeated four times before the start of World War Two.
They have since broken many records in Maltese football, winning the national league four times in a row between 1950 and 1953, whilst also winning the treble three times in 1949-50, 1952-53 and 1957-58. The Greens were also the first side to represent Malta in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1961. Floriana boasts the national record for the longest unbeaten run, going 37 matches without defeat between February 1976 and 1977.
During the 1993-94 season, the Greens became the first side to qualify for the first proper round of the UEFA Champions League. In their history, the Greens have won 26 league titles and 21 national cup trophies. This is not the first time Floriana have come up against a Welsh side, facing Aberystwyth Town in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, defeating the Seasiders 4-3 over two legs.
Form
The Greens finished third overall in the league last season, after a 4-0 win against Sliema Wanderers in a third place play-off match in May. Floriana actually picked up the most points in the league on aggregate, with 17 wins and 11 draws from 32 games leaving them with a total of 62 points. However, due to the Maltese league format, a play-off took place due to the opening round winner and closing round winner being two different teams, leaving a play-off between the top two teams from the opening round, Floriana and Birkirkara and the closing round, Silema Wanderers and Hamrun Spartans with Floriana losing the semi-final to the latter on penalties. The Maltese side also reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, before being defeated 2-1 by Birkirkara.
Manager
Floriana recently appointed 57-year-old Portuguese coach Daniel Portela ahead of the 2025-26 season. Portela had been out of work since 2023, when he was in charge of the Al Nassr under-23 side in Saudi Arabia. His coaching career, which began in 1999, has largely been spent as an assistant manager, though he has held several academy roles, including spells with Rio Ave under-17s and Varzim SC under-19s.
His first senior management role came in 2009 with Angolan side Bravos do Maquis. He later took charge of Mozambique’s Clube do Chibuto, as well as Portuguese clubs SC Salgueiros and CD Fátima. In 2021, Portela joined Al Nassr, initially working as both technical director and assistant manager before stepping up as head coach of the under-23s, a position he held for 18 months prior to his departure.
Captain
Dunstan Vella joined the Greens in the summer of 2023 from Maltese rivals Hibernians. The midfielder, who can also play in the back four, made 69 appearances for the Peacocks, scoring six times and registering ten assists. Vella came through Hibs academy before making his debut off the bench in a 3-1 defeat to Sliema Wanderers in 2014. His first goal came three years later, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Senglea Athletic. The midfielder has also played 18 times for the Maltese national side, making his debut in a friendly against Armenia in 2018.
Key players
Charles M’Mombwa joined Floriana this summer, bringing a wealth of experience to the midfield. Born in Baraka, the 27-year-old spent his entire career in Australia before making the move to Malta. M’Mombwa made the majority of his appearances with Macarthur FC, playing 74 matches over four seasons, during which he scored three goals and provided three assists.
In 2024, he signed with Newcastle Jets, making 13 appearances and scoring once with his only goal coming in a 6–2 defeat to Western United in March.
On the international stage, M’Mombwa represents Tanzania. He marked his debut with a goal in a 1–0 win over Niger during a 2023 World Cup qualifier, and has since made ten appearances for the Taifa Stars.
