John Holland (soccer player)

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John Holland (born July 7, 1953 in Sliema ) is a former Maltese football player on the position of defender . Holland was voted Footballer of the Year in Malta twice (1976 and 1978) and between 1974 and 1987 made a total of 61 international matches for the Maltese national team . With his long-time club FC Floriana , he won the championship title and the cup competition three times .

career

Holland began his career at Melita FC; an amateur club founded by his grandfather Gianni Bencini. Since his talent promotion at this club reached its limits, he joined FC Floriana in 1969, where he was under contract throughout his professional career and for which he made his debut in a first division game on November 27, 1971 against Gżira United denied.

His most important games for FC Floriana include the 1-0 win on September 20, 1972 against Ferencváros Budapest in the 1972/73 European Cup Winners' Cup and the home game against Club Bruges on October 3, 1973 in the 1973/74 European Cup , when both regular goalkeepers of Floriana were out due to injuries and Holland kept the goal instead. The two goals he conceded were reportedly unsustainable even for almost any regular goalkeeper.

Holland played his last game for FC Floriana on April 1, 1989 in a cup game against FC St. George’s .

He made his debut for the national team in a friendly against Libya on August 24, 1974 at Empire Stadium Gzira , which was lost 1-0. His 61st and last international match on May 24, 1987 against Sweden in the qualifying for the European Championship 1988 was lost 0-1.

Trivia

John Holland is the father of football player Jonathan Holland , who was born in 1978 and was also under contract with FC Floriana at the beginning of his career.

successes

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Holland, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Maltese soccer player
DATE OF BIRTH July 7, 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Sliema , Malta