John Buttigieg is making a comeback to top-level coaching after taking charge of Sliema Wanderers, the club where he grew up at as a player.

Buttigieg, who has worked in youth football since losing his job as Malta coach in 2011, takes over from Italian Alfonso Greco, now at the helm of Serie D club Ostiamare.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Sliema Wanderers president Keith Perry expressed his delight to have persuaded Buttigieg to become the club’s head coach.

“The appointment of a coach is a very important matter in club football,” Perry told reporters during Buttigieg’s presentation to the media, held earlier today at the Sliema Wanderers clubhouse.

“The discussion among the committee members on who should be our next coach takes quite some time as we take this issue seriously.

“Our last season was full of ups and downs but we ended it in the best way possible by winning the FA Trophy.

“After the end of the 2015/16 campaign, we had a difficult situation when it came to choosing the right man who can take Sliema Wanderers to the next level.

“To be honest, we haven’t spoken to other coaches because when we confirmed that John Buttigieg was available, we were convinced that he was the right man to take our team forward.

“John is a man of integrity and puts a lot of emphasis on discipline. He’s also a Sliema boy, has played for our club and his late father, Robbie Buttigieg, is a club icon.

“This is a homecoming for John Buttigieg. We’re very happy that he has agreed to become our coach and, even from his side, there was a felling that he belongs to this club.”

Buttigieg said he was honoured to coach one of the leading clubs in Maltese football.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the committee for the faith they have shown in me,” the 53-year-old said.

“This is club where I started my football career and, although there were no nurseries during that period, there was already a structure here to promote young players.

“I’m honoured to be the coach of one of the biggest clubs in Malta.

“My family is from Sliema and there is clearly a connection with this club.

“I played for Sliema a long time ago. Twenty-seven years have passed since them and it’s nice to be back.”

Sliema have confirmed only three foreign players from last season’s squad, Italian defender Stefano Bianciardi, Gary Muir, the Scottish wing-back, and Serbian midfielder Marko Potezica.

Perry dismissed speculation that defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino could leave the club following interest from Premier League newcomer Gżira United.