The Malta Football Association yesterday announced the death of its former technical director, Ronnie Attard. He was 70.

Attard was renowned for the meticulous way he went about his job at the training grounds in Ta’ Qali and the administrative offices of the association during a long career in football coaching and management.

“This is a sad loss. Attard was an excellent organiser and very efficient as head of the asso-ciation’s marketing depart-ment,” the Malta FA said in a statement.

Attard, who also held the post of national teams manager, started his coaching career at Żejtun after a rather low-key playing career that got under way at Hibs.

His most notable achieve-ment in club football was leading Ħamrun Spartans to the FA Trophy success after beating Żurrieq 1-0 in the 1984 final. Before joining the MFA technical staff, Attard also coached the national U-16 and U-18 selections.

“Attard dedicated his life to football and spent most of his career at Ta’ Qali working closely with national coaches Horst Heese, Pippo Psaila, Pietro Ghedin, Robert Gatt, Milorad Kosanovic and Josif Ilic,” the MFA added.

“Attard was also a close collaborator of Fr Hilary Tagliaferro in setting up the youth sector and football nurseries in the 1980s.”

Funeral mass will be said at the Attard parish church at 2pm, today.