Domenic Aquilina

 

All is set for Serbian Danilo Doncic to be appointed as the new head coach of Valletta FC.  Holder of a UEFA Pro Licence, the much-travelled 48-year-old replaces outgoing compatriot Zoran Popovic.

Doncic started his coaching career in 2006 with San Gwann from where he moved to Floriana in Malta's top tier. His big leap came soon after when he joined one of the best Serbian football coaches, Dragan Okuka, to become his assistant at PFC Lokomotiv Sofia in Bulgaria.  He came back to Malta in 2011 to join Sliema, Tarxien Rainbows, Mosta and St. Andrews before again embarking on a job, which took him to Bahrain with Al-Najma as Club Manager in 2014.  A year later, Ethnikos Achnas, in Greece's top division, was his next stop before returning here to manage St. Andrews.

As a footballer, the prolific goal scorer - three times Malta's Premier League top scorer - turned out for a host of clubs in his home country and abroad, namely with FK Beograd, Lokomotiv Sofia, and Imortal DC. 

He made his mark here in Malta from 1994-1997 with Valletta where he landed the unprecedented "grand slam" of six trophies won in 2000-01. 

He concluded his playing career with a haul of 196 matches played and 151 goals scored in the Malta Premier League, Sliema being his last club at the age of 37.

Doncic returns to his old club with one objective in mind - that of landing the BOV Premier League title for the citizens.

Popovic seems to have fallen short with Valletta after long discussions over a new contract and the Serbian coach informed club president Victor Schriha that he had decided to return to his country due to family reasons.

So all set for Doncic to return to his old club flame Valletta. His first game in charge of Valletta as head coach will be against Senglea Athletic on 6 January.