Luke Montebello

Luke Montebello (born 13 August 1995) is a Malteste professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Balzan, where he plays as a forward.

Luke Montebello
Personal information
Full name Luke Montebello
Date of birth (1995-08-13) 13 August 1995
Place of birth Pieta, Malta
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Balzan
Number 99
Youth career
1999–2011 Birkirkara
2011–2012 Livorno
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Livorno 0 (0)
2013 Birkirkara 0 (0)
2013 Valletta 31 (8)
2015 → Żebbuġ Rangers (loan) 2 (0)
2015 → Tarxien Rainbows (loan) 31 (12)
2016 → Pembroke Athleta (loan) 4 (1)
2017–2018, 2019 Birkirkara 27 (12)
2019– Balzan 6 (2)
National team‡
Malta U17 3 (0)
Malta U19 3 (1)
2014 Malta U21 1 (0)
2017– Malta 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:26, 11 February 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:26, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Having played his youth football for the Birkirkara F.C. nursery, Montebello tried his luck abroad by joining the A.S. Livorno Calcio youth sector in 2011.[1] He had some success with the Italian youth side, before returning to Malta and signing with Valletta for 5 years.[2][3]

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

He was again sent out on loan for season 2016-17, this time to woodenspoonists Pembroke Athleta F.C.. He wore shirt number 77.[9] This was shortlived however, as he was called back to Valletta for the second half of the season, after he injured his should in October. He underwent surgery which turned out to be successful, however he still needed 7 to 8 weeks of recovery.[10]

Montebello moved again in 2017, this time with a permanent move. He returned to his childhood club Birkirkara F.C., after having established himself as one of the leading strikers in the Maltese Premier League.[11][12]

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

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.

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

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. "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.
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