Gejtu Psaila

Gejtu Psaila
Personal information
Date of birth 1893
Place of birth Ħamrun, Crown Colony of Malta
Date of death 14 March 1968 (aged 74–75)
Position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1918 Ħamrun Spartans
1918–1919 KOMRM
1920–1921 Marsa United
1921–1922 Malta Police
1922–1925 Floriana
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gejtu Psaila (1893 – 14 March 1968), also known as Il-Haċċa, was a Maltese footballer who played as a defender. He was the first ever professional footballer from Malta, and was considered one of the best Maltese footballers of all time.

Club career

Psaila began his career at Ħamrun Spartans in 1910, where he helped them win two league titles. In 1918, he joined a team representing The King's Own Malta Regiment, who he had previously played for in a charity match for in 1916. Psaila helped the team win the 1918–19 Maltese First Division, in the team's only league season. He spent the 1920–21 season at newly-formed Marsa United, before joining the Malta Police football team, which he helped create.

At Malta Police, he was considered one of the team's star players for the 1921–22 season, and was the team's captain. In 1922, he signed for Floriana, where he became Malta's first ever professional footballer. Psaila spent three seasons at Floriana, where he helped them win the Cassar Cup in 1923 and the Maltese First Division in the 1924–25 season, before retiring from football.

In 2022, Psaila was selected by the IFFHS for their Malta all-time men's dream team.

International career

While the Malta national football team did not exist yet, Psaila represented an MFA League XI during World War I.

Personal life

Two of his sons, Romeo and Gejtu Jr, were also footballers.

Honours

Ħamrun Spartans
KOMRM
Floriana
Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 Baldacchino, Carmel (December 2018). "'A legend in his lifetime'". Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Baldacchino, Carmel (28 July 2011). "Centre-half Psaila creates family legacy". Times of Malta. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Baldacchino, Carmel (30 March 2017). "Tal-Militia keep flag flying". Times of Malta. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 "IFFHS MEN'S ALL TIME MALTA DREAM TEAM - 126". iffhs.com. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Baldacchino, Carmel (7 April 2016). "The national team back in 1917". Times of Malta. Retrieved 19 April 2026.