The æamrun Spartans Football Club is a Maltese professional football club based in æamrun. Since being founded in 1907, æamrun Spartans have won 11 league championships, the latest one being in 2025, while being runners-up eleven times.
æamrun became the first Maltese side to reach the main phase of a European club competition, qualifying for the 2025âÂÂ26 UEFA Conference League after defeating RFS of Latvia in the play-off round. They then exited in the group stages after placing 33rd, finishing 4 points off a play-off spot. They also become the first Maltese side to win a game in the main phase of a European club competition, defeating Lincoln Red Imps 3-1.
The æamrun Spartans were founded in 1907. By season 1913âÂÂ14, æamrun Spartans were already an established team on the local scene winning the title during that season thanks to a better goal-average than St. George's. Their second League success came four years later when they finished again in joint top-spot with St. George's. This time the Spartans were crowned Champions of Malta by beating them in a playoff. æamrun's top player at that time was Gejtu Psaila, known as il-HaÃÂÃÂa. In the 1920s and 1930s, the club went through a difficult period as most æamrun players left to join other clubs.
A new team, æamrun Liberty, was formed and in just a couple of years, æamrun Liberty was among the elite of Maltese football. On their return to the First Division in 1946âÂÂ47, the club changed its name to æamrun Spartans. They were soon a hit as they won the Johnnie Walker Championship Trophy, winning also the Cassar Cup. They won the Cassar Cup again in 1948âÂÂ49 season. For four times between 1947 and 1952, they were four times runners-up.
The team started dwindling down in the 60's until they were relegated in the season 1969âÂÂ70. After returning to the First Division, they were relegated once again in 1973âÂÂ74. However, after two years in the Second Division, they were back in the First Division.
On the 75th anniversary, exactly during the season 1982âÂÂ83, the club was back at the top winning the title after an absence of 36 years. æamrun also won the FA Trophy during that season. That was the beginning of an era under the guide of president Victor Tedesco. The team was strengthened with top players like Gigi Salerno, Raymond and George Xuereb, Edwin Farrugia, Raymond Vella, Joe Brincat and Carlo Seychell. Alfred Cardona was their coach. After a lot of disputes with the Immigration Division, Victor Tedesco signed two foreigners, Englishmen Peter Hatch and John Linacre â the first foreigners to play on the island after a long period of time.
The Spartans set a new record being the first local team to win both the home and away legs in a UEFA competition after beating Ballymena of Northern Ireland. In just under a decade, from season 1982-83 till season 1991-92 æamrun have won the Maltese Premier League four times, the Maltese FA Trophy 6 times and the Maltese Super Cup 5 times, amongst others.
After such successful campaigns, the Spartans faced financial difficulties. The team had to transfer its best players until finally they were relegated to the First Division in 1998âÂÂ99. After one year, they were promoted back to the Premier League after winning the Division 1 title. Financial difficulties persisted and they were relegated back to the Maltese Challenge League (First Division at the time) at the end of season 2003âÂÂ04, winning promotion as First Division champions in 2004âÂÂ05, being relegated in 2005âÂÂ06 and winning the First Division championship once again in 2006âÂÂ07.
Following the promotion to the Maltese Premier League the Spartans finished in 6th place during the 2007âÂÂ08 campaign, and also made their way to the final of the FA Trophy against Birkirkara FC losing the cup to a last minute goal. This season was also a great success to its supporters after winning the Malta Best Support Award.
æamrun Spartans faced more difficulties and albeit staying in the top division for some years, they were relegated to the Maltese First Division in the 2012âÂÂ13 season, and to the Maltese Second Division during the 2013-14 campaign â the worst ever placing in their history. In 2014, after goalkeeper Andrea Cassar reported two officials for match fixing, the club was charged with match fixing and relegated to the first division.æamrun Spartans gained promotion from the Second Division by placing second during season 2014âÂÂ15.
The 2015âÂÂ16 season ended successfully for æamrun Spartans FC. The team finished in second place in the First Division and was subsequently promoted to the Premier Division after an absence of four years. In this period the administration of the club improved greatly and many difficulties, mainly financial, were surmounted. New enthusiasm and optimism embraced the club. The supporters were looking forward for a fresh start.
The 2018âÂÂ19 season was a very positive one where the team, led by Italian coach Giovanni Tedesco defied the odds and finished in 4th place after getting a 94th-minute equaliser in the last match of the season against arch rivals Valletta F.C. which result forced the latter to play a decider for the Championship title. Hamrun fans hoped that European club football was once again in reach after an absence of 26 years, however Balzan beat Valletta in the final of the FA Trophy, which meant that Balzan won the 4th and last Maltese berth for European football during the next season.
During the 2019âÂÂ20 season, Italian coach Manuele Blasi took control of the team. The team performed well initially but due to financial difficulties had to release key players. Blasi was replaced by Andrea Ciaramella in early 2020 with the team ending in 9th position when the league was suspended due to the Covid pandemic in March 2020 with 6 matches left to play.
In the summer of 2020 intense negotiations took place to find solid financial backing for Hamrun Spartans F.C. These proved successful when Joseph Portelli agreed to take control of the club. The club immediately signed three of the most promising young Malta National Team players - Juan Carlos Corbalan, Joseph Mbong and Matthew Guillaumier. A professional corporate image was given to the club and it began the 2020âÂÂ21 season strongly, sitting top of the league at the end of 2020. After the halt of the league decided by the Malta Football Association during April, the Spartans were declared champions of the league, 30 years after winning their last title.
On 9 June 2021, the club was excluded from participating in the 2021âÂÂ22 UEFA Champions League for being involved in a match fixing scandal back in 2013.
On 11 August 2022, after a victory over Levski Sofia on penalties in the third qualifying round of 2022âÂÂ23 UEFA Europa Conference League, æamrun became the first ever Maltese side to reach the play-off stage of a UEFA club competition; where they played against the famous Serbian club Partizan, who proved too strong. Having lost 4âÂÂ1 in Belgrade in the first leg, æamrun managed to achieve a highly respectable and entertaining 3âÂÂ3 draw in the second leg back in Malta. The Spartans had beaten Alashkert, Veleà ¾ Mostar and Levski Sofia in the first three rounds of qualifying to set up a meeting with the Serbian side.
On 4 May 2024, æamrun cemented their season after a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Hibernians and lifted their 10th premier league trophy during 2023âÂÂ24 Maltese Premier League. The achievement means that the Spartans could finally add the first golden star above the club badge after permission by Malta Premier League.
On 28 August 2025, æamrun became the first ever Maltese side to reach the league phase of a major European club competition, qualifying for the 2025âÂÂ26 UEFA Conference League after defeating RFS of Latvia in the play-off round. æamrun also secures a lucrative financial reward for both the club and the football league in Malta. The club guaranteed itself a base payout of around â¬3.2 million from UEFA. Prize money distributed to other clubs will now be divided among 11 teams rather than 12, ensuring a larger share for each. Later that year, on 27 November, they secured their first win in the European competition in a 3âÂÂ1 victory over Lincoln Red Imps.
Hamrun Spartans Youth Nursery was founded by Tony Bajada in December 1987. At the time the Nursery catered for around 40 players.