Former national football coach Joe Attard passed away last night after fighting an illness with great Christian fortitude.

Joe had a very successful career as an educationalist, where he taught at Secondary Level within Malta's Educational System, with his favourite subject being Physics.

In coaching he was very successful. He was Malta's national football coach in 1969.

Other highlights in his coaching career included:

A very successful coaching tandem with the World legendary football player Sir Stanley Matthews when in 1970-1971 they teamed up to win the League title, FA Trophy, The Sons of Malta Cup, The Independence Cup and The Testaferrata Cup with what has been reckoned to be the strongest team ever fielded by Hibernians of Paola.

He once again coached Hibernians for a further two seasons 1979-1981 and during this second tenure he won more honours for the Paola Club namely, a second League title and two FA Trophies.