Jose Borg takes over at Birkirkara as he makes women’s football return

Malta women’s champions Birkirkara have announced Jose Borg as their new first-team coach, as he put pen to paper on a one-year contract.

The UEFA Pro license holder had returned to Malta after a brief experience with Manitoba FC in North American football.

For Borg, this will be a return to the women’s game after previously coaching Hibernians, Raiders Luxol and Gozo Women.

In his eight years at the Paolites, Borg won two championships, a Knock-Out and two Super Cups.

Borg is already familiar with the Birkirkara environment having been the the club’s Technical Director during the 2020/2021 season.

During that campaign, Birkirkara bowed out from the UEFA Women’s Champions League after a narrow 2-1 loss to Romanian giants Cluj before winning the domestic championship and domestic cup.

He has also vast experience in the men’s game having been at the helm of St Andrews, Tarxien Rainbows and Marsa.

Borg will replace former coach Melania Bajada who has parted ways with the club after five successful seasons. In the 2021/2022 season, she steered the Stripes to another league-cup double as they won their 10th championship and 16th Knock-Out competition.

In the process, Bajada also guided the Stripes to a run of 69 unbeaten games in the league matching the previous record set by Hibernians.

The Maltese champions will be now looking to bolster their squad ahead of their first assignment of the new season – the Women’s Champions League.

Birkirkara’s campaign in the Champions League will be launched in the first qualifying round which is pencilled between August 18 and August 21.

The Stripes will discover their opponents in the draw which will be held on June 24.

Last season, Birkirkara faced Glasgow City and Slovan Bratislava during the first qualifying round.