2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division

The 2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division was the 120th season of the top-tier state football league in Gibraltar, as well as the sixth season since the Gibraltar Football Association joined UEFA in 2013. The league was contested by ten clubs, and began on 13 August 2018.[1]

Premier Division
The Victoria Stadium where each match was played
Season2018–19
Dates13 August 2018 – 20 May 2019
ChampionsLincoln Red Imps (24th title)
Champions LeagueLincoln Red Imps
Europa LeagueEuropa
St Joseph's
Matches played135
Goals scored477 (3.53 per match)
Top goalscorerBoro (21 goals)
Best goalkeeperJamie Robba
Javi Muñoz
(9 clean sheets)
Biggest home winEuropa 13–1 Boca Gibraltar
(18 May 2019)
Biggest away winBoca Gibraltar 0–11 Lincoln Red Imps
(2 February 2019)
Highest scoringEuropa 13–1 Boca Gibraltar
(18 May 2019)
Longest winning run9 matches
Lincoln Red Imps
Longest unbeaten run16 matches
Europa
Longest winless run19 matches
Boca Gibraltar
Longest losing run16 matches
Boca Gibraltar
All statistics correct as of 20 May 2019.

Lincoln Red Imps were the reigning champions, having won their 23rd title the previous season. They competed in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, while Europa and St Joseph's contested the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. The season was marred by revelations of betting rules violations by a host of players and coaches at a number of clubs.

Format

The ten Premier Division clubs played each other three times for a total of 27 matches each.[2] The tenth-placed team in the league would be relegated and the ninth-placed team in the league would enter a playoff with the second-placed team from the Second Division for a place in the 2019–20 Premier Division.[2]

The champions earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2019–20 Champions League, and the second–placed club earned a place in the preliminary round of the 2019–20 Europa League. This season also saw the expansion of the Home Grown Player Rule to require all teams to have a minimum of three Gibraltarian players on the field of play at all times, as well as introducing a maximum registered squad size of 25 players. However, the introduction of the Gibraltar Intermediate League allows them to register a reserve squad of 18 players, of which 13 must be Gibraltarian.[3]

Violations of betting rules

Starting in November, the Gibraltar FA began issuing a number of bans following an in-depth investigation of suspected betting rule violations by players and coaches. At first, several Europa players, including Rubo Blanco, Iván Moya and manager Juan José Gallardo, were banned[4] Following this, Lincoln Red Imps manager Yiyi Pérez was also suspended[5] In March 2019, Lions Gibraltar and Gibraltar Phoenix players including Rafael Bado and Juan Manuel Llaves received bans.[6] On 12 April, 4 further players from Boca Gibraltar, Gibraltar United and Manchester 62, as well as former St Joseph's and Glacis United manager Alfonso Cortijo, received bans.[7]

Teams
Location of the stadium where all teams play

At the conclusion of the previous season, Manchester 62 were relegated. Boca Gibraltar took their place, having won the Second Division title and earning promotion for the first time in their history.

Lynx finished 9th the previous season, leaving them to face the runners up in the Second Division, FC Olympique 13, in a play-off. Lynx won the play-off 2–0 on 8 June 2018 to secure their status in the Premier Division.

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Club sponsor 2017–18
Boca Gibraltar Allen Bula Felix Formica-Corsi ES Coral D2, 1st
Europa Rafa Escobar Liam Walker Jako La Parrilla
Betfred		 2nd
Gibraltar Phoenix Juan Maria Sánchez Ñito Jiménez Luanvi Viajes LineaSol 6th
Gibraltar United Paco Luna Kyle Goldwin Kappa Quantocoin 4th
Glacis United Jesús Napolitano Nacho Fernández Nike 7th
Lincoln Red Imps Víctor Afonso Roy Chipolina Joma Mansion.com 1st
Lions Gibraltar Albert Ferri Alberto Caravaca Givova 8th
Lynx Carlos Gobantes Gabriel González Silver Sport Verralls 9th
Mons Calpe Luis Manuel Blanco Federico Villar Givova Tokamóvil 5th
St Joseph's Raúl Procopio Baizán Boro Joma 3rd
  • Ñito Jiménez replaced Blas Álvarez as Gibraltar Phoenix captain after the latter was banned by the GFA for the remainder of the season, while Alberto Caravaca replaced Kalian Perez as Lions Gibraltar captain after Perez was banned for 16 months.[8]

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Gibraltar Phoenix Albert Ferri Mutual consent 8 June 2018 Pre-season Juan Maria Sánchez 15 June 2018
Glacis United Mariano Marcos Garcia Signed by CD San Roque Theo Vonk 26 June 2018
Lions Gibraltar Rafael Bado Mutual consent 29 June 2018 Albert Ferri 29 June 2018
Gibraltar United Manolo Nuñez Sánchez Resigned 13 July 2018[9] Lucas Cazorla 14 July 2018
Glacis United Theo Vonk 9 August 2018[10] Alfonso Cortijo 10 August 2018
Lincoln Red Imps Yiyi Perez Suspended[11] 8 November 2018 2nd Manolo Nuñez Sánchez 8 November 2018[12]
Glacis United Alfonso Cortijo Resigned[13] 9 November 2018 7th Jesús Napolitano December 2018
Europa Juanjo Gallardo Suspended[14] 23 November 2018 1st Miguel Ángel Rodríguez 23 November 2018
Lincoln Red Imps Manolo Nuñez Sánchez Resigned 12 December 2018[15] 2nd Víctor Afonso 13 December 2018[16]
Boca Gibraltar Juanjo Pomares 18 December 2018[17] 9th Allen Bula 19 December 2018[18]
Gibraltar United Lucas Cazorla Sacked 6 January 2019 4th Paco Luna 7 January 2019
Europa Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mutual consent 5 February 2019 2nd Rafa Escobar 6 February 2019[19]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Lincoln Red Imps (C) 27 21 3 3 84 19 +65 66 Qualification for the Champions League preliminary round
2 Europa FC 27 20 4 3 84 20 +64 64 Qualification for the Europa League preliminary round
3 St Joseph's 27 17 4 6 69 29 +40 55
4 Mons Calpe 27 15 4 8 63 29 +34 49
5 Gibraltar Phoenix 27 13 4 10 42 34 +8 43
6 Gibraltar United 27 11 6 10 48 37 +11 39
7 Lynx 27 8 7 12 29 45 −16 31
8 Glacis United 27 7 3 17 28 58 −30 24
9 Lions Gibraltar 27 3 0 24 17 77 −60 9
10 Boca Gibraltar 27 2 1 24 13 129 −116 7
Source: UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[20]
(C) Champion.

Results

Season statistics

Scoring
As of 19 May 2019[21]

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Boro St Joseph's 21
2 Juanfri St Joseph's 20
3 Pibe Mons Calpe 18
4 Leonardo Carboni Mons Calpe 16
5 Tjay De Barr Europa 14
6 Urko Arroyo Europa 12
Liam Walker Europa
8 Joseph Chipolina Lincoln Red Imps 11
Labra Gibraltar Phoenix
10 Manuel Arana Europa 10
Héctor Figueroa Lincoln Red Imps
Raúl Segura Gibraltar Phoenix

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Joseph ChipolinaLincoln Red ImpsLions Gibraltar3–0 (H)24 August 2018
Boro4St Joseph'sLynx7–1 (H)11 December 2018
GiovanniLincoln Red ImpsGibraltar United5–1 (A)17 January 2019
PibeMons CalpeLions Gibraltar4–0 (A)18 January 2019
Juan Manuel LlavesGibraltar PhoenixGlacis United6–0 (H)19 January 2019
Anthony HernandezLincoln Red ImpsBoca Gibraltar11–0 (A)2 February 2019
Kike GómezLincoln Red ImpsBoca Gibraltar11–0 (A)2 February 2019
BoroSt Joseph'sGlacis United8–0 (H)2 February 2019
JuanfriSt Joseph'sBoca Gibraltar10–1 (H)28 February 2019
José Luis ReyesSt Joseph'sBoca Gibraltar10–1 (H)28 February 2019
Leonardo CarboniMons CalpeBoca Gibraltar5–0 (A)9 March 2019
Alberto ZapataGibraltar UnitedBoca Gibraltar7–0 (H)30 March 2019
PibeMons CalpeLions Gibraltar6–0 (H)15 April 2019
Urko ArroyoEuropaLynx5-0 (H)4 April 2019
Leonardo CarboniMons CalpeGibraltar United5-2 (H)4 May 2019
Héctor FigueroaLincoln Red ImpsBoca Gibraltar10–0 (H)5 May 2019
Alberto CaravacaLions GibraltarBoca Gibraltar7-0 (A)11 May 2019
Liam Walker4EuropaBoca Gibraltar13-1 (H)18 May 2019
Urko Arroyo4EuropaBoca Gibraltar13-1 (H)18 May 2019

Clean Sheets
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Javi Muñoz Europa 9
Jamie Robba St Joseph's
3 Matt Cafer Gibraltar Phoenix 8
Manuel Soler Lincoln Red Imps
Marcos Zappacosta Mons Calpe
6 Kyle Goldwin Gibraltar United 7
7 Borja Glacis United 5
8 Dayle Coleing Europa 4
Jaylan Hankins Lincoln Red Imps
10 Álex Caro Lynx 3
Sebastian Andres Lallana Lynx

Awards

Monthly awards

No league football was played in September 2018 due to the international break and the Gibraltar Music Festival.

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Reference
Manager Club Player Club
August Yiyi Pérez Lincoln Red Imps Joseph Chipolina Lincoln Red Imps [22]
October Juan Maria Sánchez Gibraltar Phoenix Tjay De Barr Europa [23]
November Raúl Procopio Baizán St Joseph's Juanfri St Joseph's [24]
December Raúl Procopio Baizán St Joseph's Boro St Joseph's [25]
January Luis Manuel Blanco Mons Calpe Pibe Mons Calpe [26]
February Víctor Afonso Lincoln Red Imps Kike Gómez Lincoln Red Imps [27]
March Rafa Escobar Europa Álex Quillo Europa [28]
April Víctor Afonso Lincoln Red Imps Sergio Molina Lincoln Red Imps [29]

End-of-season awards

End of season awards were handed out by Football Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Football Association's official UEFA correspondents, on 28 May and 2 June.[30][31]

Award Winner Club
Manager of the Season Raúl Procopio Baizán St Joseph's
Goalkeeper of the Season Jamie Robba St Joseph's
Defender of the Season Bernardo Lopes Lincoln Red Imps
Midfielder of the Season Mustafa Yahaya Europa
Striker of the Season Boro St Joseph's
Player of the Season Bernardo Lopes Lincoln Red Imps
Young Player of the Season Tjay De Barr Europa
Fans' Player of the Season Bernardo Lopes Lincoln Red Imps
Fans' Young Player of the Season Tjay De Barr Europa

See also

References
  1. "Changes to Domestic Football - to be implemented in season 2018/19". GFA. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. "Premier Division: Season Rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. GFA RULE CHANGES PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE LOCALS TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUES Football Gibraltar. 5 June 2018. Accessed 10 June 2018.
  4. Europa FC players banned for up to seven years for irregular betting activities GBC.gi. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. Football coach and player found guilty of breaches in betting rule Archived 2019-06-07 at the Wayback Machine Gibraltar Chronicle. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. 6 players Guilty of breaching the GFA's Betting Rules Gibraltar FA. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. 4 players & a coach guilty of breaching the GFA's betting rules Gibraltar FA. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. 6 players Guilty of breaching the GFA's Betting Rules Gibraltar FA. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. Farewell Manolo Gibraltar United. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. THEO VONK STEPS DOWN FROM ROLE AS GLACIS HEAD COACH Football Gibraltar. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  11. Football coach and player found guilty of breaches in betting rule Archived 2019-06-07 at the Wayback Machine Gibraltar Chronicle. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018
  12. LINCOLN APPOINT MANOLO NUNEZ SANCHEZ AS NEW MANAGER Football Gibraltar. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  13. Alfonso Cortijo resigns due to personal reasons Gibraltar Chronicle Sports on Twitter. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  14. implacable contra el amaño de partidos. Cinco jugadores del Europa FC y un técnico, suspendidos. FUTBOLEROS POR EL MUNDO (Spanish). 23 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  15. Stephen Head and Mick McElwee to take charge of Lions game Football Gibraltar on Twitter. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  16. Victor Afonso appointed Lincoln manager Lincoln Red Imps on Twitter. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  17. Farewell Juanjo Boca Gibraltar on Twitter. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  18. Welcome Allen Bula Boca Gibraltar on Twitter. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  19. El Europa de Gibraltar tienta a Rafa Escobar con una "oferta irrechazable" EuropaSur. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  20. "Premier Division: Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  21. "Top Scorers".
  22. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, August 2018 Football Gibraltar. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  23. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, October 2018 Football Gibraltar. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  24. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, November 2018 Football Gibraltar. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  25. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, December 2018 Football Gibraltar. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  26. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, January 2019 Football Gibraltar. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  27. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, February 2019 Football Gibraltar. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  28. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, March 2019 Football Gibraltar. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  29. Premier Division Player and Manager of the Month, April 2019 Football Gibraltar. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  30. Football Gibraltar Awards, Part 1 Football Gibraltar. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  31. Football Gibraltar Awards, Part 2 Football Gibraltar. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
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