Luke Dimech
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke Anthony Dimech | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AEK Larnaca | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lincoln City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–2001 | Sliema Wanderers | 133 | (3) |
| 2002 | Shamrock Rovers | 16 | (0) |
| 2003 | Birkirkara | 10 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | Mansfield Town | 45 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Chester City | 30 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Marsaxlokk | 26 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Macclesfield Town | 26 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Valletta | 47 | (2) |
| 2010– | AEK Larnaca | 6 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Malta U21 | 14 | (0) | |
| 1999–2010 | Malta | 66 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 15, 2009 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 15, 2009 | |||
Luke Anthony Dimech (born January 11, 1977 in Valletta, Malta) is a Maltese professional footballer currently playing for AEK Larnaca where he plays as a defender.
Playing career
Sliema Wanderers
Dimech began his career playing for Sliema Wanderers. Luke's first season was the 1995–96 season and instantly gained silverware when the club won the Maltese Premier League.
Luke spent seven seasons with the club and even managed establishing himself in the Maltese national team in 1999, in total Dimech made 133 appearances and scored on three occasions during his time with the club.
Shamrock Rovers
After many impressive displays Luke moved to Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers for one season, making his debut on 2 September 2002.[1] He was sent off in his fourth appearance.[2] He proceeded to make a total of 16 appearances, but after falling out of favour with the club, Luke left Dublin. He played in the 2002 FAI Cup Final.
Birkirkara
Dimech returned to Malta joining up with Birkirkara in 2003, and made 10 appearances with the club.
Mansfield Town
Another good season in the Maltese League[citation needed] saw Dimech on the move again, this time he joined English side Mansfield Town in August, 2003[3].
Dimech initially signed a one-year deal with the club but at the end of the 2003–04 season, Dimech enjoyed some very dominant displays,[citation needed] scoring once against Leyton Orient,[4] but the season finished with disappointment when Mansfield Town were beaten in the League Two play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town. Despite the disappointment Luke was rewarded for some very impressive displays with another one-year contract.[5]
Dimech's second season with Mansfield Town was quite indifferent in the early part of the season;[citation needed] Keith Curle was sacked and replaced by Carlton Palmer. Dimech carried the good form he enjoyed the following season and cemented a place in the heart of the defence, Dimech did not enjoy the best of second halfs of the season and after falling out of favour with Carlton Palmer,[citation needed] Dimech was released at the end of the 2004–05 season. In two seasons with Mansfield Town, Dimech made 45 appearances and scored one goal.
Chester City
His next move was onto another English club, Chester City on a free transfer in July 2005 on a one-year contract. His manager was once again Keith Curle and his central defensive partner was David Artell, who moved with him from Mansfield.
Dimech was a regular in the heart of the Chester City defence and made 30 appearances during the 2005–06 season. Having only a one-year contract at the club and an indifferent second half to the season meant that Luke was released when his contract expired.[6]
Marsaxlokk
Dimech then returned back in his homeland joining Marsaxlokk in 2006 in time for the new season. He has also captained the side during the season, in the absence of Carlo Mamo. He was also still a major part of the Malta national team setup, forming a strong partnership alongside veteran Brian Said.
Following Marsaxlokk triumph in the league, and the end of the players contract, Dimech decided not to renew and instead decided to search for a club elsewhere in Europe, thought to be England.
Macclesfield Town
On 19 July 2007, Dimech signed a one-year deal with manager Ian Brightwell to join League Two side Macclesfield Town[7] and was re-united with Carl Regan who he played alongside in Chester City's defence.
Dimech made his Macclesfield Town debut on the opening day of the League Two season away to Bradford City on 11 August 2007, in which the game finished 1–1. Three days later Luke made his home debut in the first round tie of Football League Cup against League One outfit Leeds United, the game finished 1–0 to Leeds, thanks to 78th minute goal from Ian Westlake.
On 31 January 2008, Dimech and Carl Regan's partnership came to an end as Regan joined former Macclesfield-manager Paul Ince at Milton Keynes Dons. As one of Dimech's former Chester team mates left the club, another one arrived in the shape of Sean Hessey who joined the club on a season long loan from Chester City, and is likely to fill the void left by the departing Regan.[citation needed]
On 18 May 2008, Dimech and four other Macclesfield Town players were released by manager Keith Alexander. During his time with Macclesfield Town, Dimech made 26 appearances, but did not find the net.
Valletta F.C.
On 20 May 2008, Dimech signed for Valletta F.C. On 24 May 2010, Dimech was released by Valletta F.C following an incident in a Championship Pool game against Sliema Wanderers in April. Some Valletta supporters were critical towards him when the players were leaving the pitch at half time, and he responded by taking off his shirt and putting it on the pitch. This earned him a second yellow card in the game, and a club suspension before the club eventually decided to release him. In all he made 47 appearances and scored 2 goals.
AEK Larnaca
On 25 June 2010, Dimech signed for AEK Larnaca.
International career
Malta
Dimech is a regular in the Maltese national team and to date has 66 caps with one goal. He began playing for Malta on 28 April 1999 when he made his debut against Iceland. When John Buttigieg took over the Maltese national team in 2009, there was apparently some sort of disagreement over Dimech's hairstyle, leading to Dimech being excluded from the squad. Later in the season he officially retired from the national team.
International goals
Malta Goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | April 30, 2003 | Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta |  Cyprus |
1-2 | 1-2 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
Honours
Sliema Wanderers
Winner
- 1995–96 Maltese Premier League
Marsaxlokk
Winner
- 2006–07 Maltese Premier League
Personal life
- Dimech has a younger brother, Mark, who plays in England for Basford United in the Nottinghamshire Senior League, and is also the team's captain.
References
- ^ http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vshels020902.htm
- ^ http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vstpats270902.htm
- ^ Mansfield sign duo
- ^ "Mansfield 1-1 Leyton Orient". BBC. 16 August 2003. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ Stags trio agree new deals
- ^ Chester allow six players to exit
- ^ Macclesfield bag defender Dimech
External links
- Luke Dimech – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Luke Dimech at MaltaFootball.com
- Luke Dimech at MTFC.co.uk
- Luke Dimech at Soccerbase
- National Football Teams
  | This biographical article relating to Maltese association football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- Living people
- 1977 births
- Maltese footballers
- Malta international footballers
- Sliema Wanderers F.C. players
- Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- Birkirkara F.C. players
- Mansfield Town F.C. players
- Chester City F.C. players
- Marsaxlokk F.C. players
- Macclesfield Town F.C. players
- Valletta F.C. players
- AEK Larnaca FC players
- The Football League players
- Maltese expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Cyprus
- Maltese football biography stubs