Ian Azzopardi

Ian Azzopardi
Personal information
Full name Ian Azzopardi
Date of birth (1982-08-12) 12 August 1982
Place of birth Zejtun, Malta
Height 5 ft 12 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current team
 Valletta
Number 3
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Floriana 112 (4)
2007–2010 Sliema Wanderers 73 (3)
2010– Valletta 83 (10)
National team‡
Malta U16
Malta U18
Malta U21
2003– Malta 40 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2009.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 January 2010

Ian Azzopardi (born 12 August 1982 in Zejtun, Malta) is a Maltese footballer who currently plays for Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.

Playing career

Floriana

Ian Azzopardi began his career with Floriana as a trainee, and made his debut for Floriana during the 2000–01 season. Azzopardi notched up just two appearances, but failed to score any goals, as he helped his side to a 5th-place finish in the Maltese Premier League.

Ian went into the 2001–02 season in search of more first team football, as he hoped to break into the first team; however the season turned out to be a carbon copy of the previous one, with Azzopardi again making two appearances and scoring no goals, as Floriana finished in 6th position in the Maltese Premier League.

For the 2002–03 season, Azzopardi established himself as the club's first-team left back, and even forced his way into the Maltese international football team. Ian made a total of 20 appearances during the season, but again failed to find the net, as Floriana recorded a 7th-place finish in the Maltese Premier League.

With the profile of Azzopardi growing, and a character known by all as a very quite and humble person, he continued to impress in a Floriana shirt, making 26 appearances, but again failed to score, as Floriana finished the 2003–04 season in 5th place.

For the 2004–05 season, Azzopardi had firmly cemented the left back position as his own, as he made 22 appearances and even scored his first league goal, but Floriana finished one worse than the previous season with a 6th-place finish in the Maltese Premier League.

Azzopardi went into the 2005–06 season looking to try to achieve some glory with Floriana, but the team went on to finish in 7th position. Ian made 18 appearances, but managed to notch two goals to help the team's cause.

For the 2006–07 season, Azzopardi continued his good form, but again Floriana could only manage another 7th-place finish, with Azzopardi making 22 appearances and scoring one goal.

Sliema Wanderers

Ian Azzopardi in action for Sliema Wanderers.

With Floriana continually failing to seriously challenge some of their biggest rivals in Maltese football, Ian Azzopardi decided in June 2007, to move onto Sliema Wanderers following the end of his Floriana contract.

Azzopardi began his Sliema Wanderers career at the start of the 2007–08 season. Ian very quickly established himself as the clubs regular first team left back. In his first season Ian made a total of 21 appearances but failed to score any goals, as Sliema Wanderers recorded a 3rd-place finish in the Maltese Premier League.

Ian's second season (2008–09) with Sliema Wanderers was even more productive, as Ian made 24 appearances and scored his first goal for the club, and although Sliema Wanderers finished one position lower in 4th, than the previous season, Azzopardi got his hands on his first piece of silverware as Sliema Wanderers defeated Valletta to win the U*Bet FA Trophy.

For the 2009–10 season, Ian had competition in the left back position, following the signing of Clayton Failla from Hibernians. Ian scored his first goal of the season on 24 January 2010, as he added his team's third goal, in a 3–1 victory over Dingli Swallows.

–

International career

Malta Malta

Azzopardi received his first cap for Malta on 14 December 2003 in a match against Poland.

Ian scored his first goal, and the opening goal on 20 August 2008, in a 1–2 defeat to Estonia in a Friendly match.

On 9 September 2009, Azzopardi scored an own goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sweden, which Malta went on to lose 1–0.

International goals

Ian Azzopardi: International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 20 August 2008 Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta  Estonia 1–0 1–2 Friendly

Honours

Malta Sliema Wanderers

Winner

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 1 August 2009.

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Malta League Maltese Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01FlorianaMaltese Premier League2000000020
2001–022000000020
2002–03200000000200
2003–04260000000260
2004–05221000000221
2005–06182000000182
2006–07221000000221
2007–08Sliema Wanderers210000000210
2008–09241000000241
2009–10282000000282
2010–11Valletta0000000000
Total Malta 18570000001857
Career total 18570000001857
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