Valletta FC stalwart Gilbert Agius lines up alongside superstars Ryan Giggs, Francesco Totti and Steven Gerrard in a list of the longest serving one-club footballers worldwide.
I was really, really tempted to play for other clubs this year... but I decided not to ruin the memory of playing for one
The 39-year-old Valletta legend was number nine on the list, published by Italian website calciomercatoweb.it on Saturday.
It placed him two positions above Inter captain Zanetti and seven places ahead of Liverpool talisman Gerrard.
“It’s indescribable. There are countless players around the world so having my name on that list is a great achievement for me and the club,” Agius said.
Only players considered to be still active (in attività) were included.
Agius is semi-retired as a player and will be concentrating primarily on his role as Valletta’s assistant coach this season.
However, he has not officially hung up his boots and could appear for the Citizens again if needed.
Calcio Mercato wrote that the former national team captain started his Valletta career on July 1, 1994, and had served the club for just over 19 years.
When told this, Agius was quick to point out that he had actually made his league debut for his hometown club against Sliema Wanderers in September 1990.
“They missed out four years. But I’m still very happy, it’s a small mistake,” he said with a chuckle.
If the website had counted Agius’s Valletta career from his debut, he would have edged Manchester United icon Giggs into third place. The number one spot was claimed by Sao Paolo’s Brazilian goalkeeper Rogério Ceni. Agius has mixed emotions when he looks back on his 23 years with Valletta.
“I’m happy that I played for so long, but all those years have passed by so quickly,” he said wistfully.
Agius spent the first half of the 2000/2001 on loan at Serie C1 team Pisa, but he was still contracted to Valletta and returned home.
Despite his obvious loyalty, if he had received a solid offer from a strong foreign team while he was at his peak, he expects that he would have taken it.
Agius even admits that he considered offers from other Maltese teams over the years, “but I did the best thing and stayed with Valletta. I had a very nice career full of success”.
He considered leaving again this season because he did not expect to get many opportunities to play, given his age and the strength of the Citizens’ squad.
“I was really, really tempted to play for other clubs this year, even though I’m semi-retired, but I decided not to ruin the memory of playing for one club here in Malta,” he said.
Asked to choose one highlight from his illustrious career, he pauses for a moment then refuses.
“I can’t choose one. I would have to choose my whole career. If I take away one element it won’t be the same.”