Luke Dimech
Encyclopedia
Luke Anthony Dimech is a Maltese
professional footballer playing for AEK Larnaca
where he plays as a defender
.
. 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.
to join Shamrock Rovers
for one season, making his debut on 2 September 2002. He was sent off in his fourth appearance. 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.
side Mansfield Town
in August 2003.
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, scoring once against Leyton Orient, 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.
Dimech's second season with Mansfield Town was quite indifferent in the early part of the season; 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
, 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.
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.
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.
to join League Two side Macclesfield Town
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.
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.
. He is a well regarded and important player for the team. In August 2011, Dimech helped his club AEK Larnaca to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, after beating Rosenborg
2-1 on aggregate.
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.
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
professional footballer playing for AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca FC |Kition]] Athletic Union") is a Cypriot Sports club, based in the port of Larnaca. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs: EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has football section, basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca B.C...
where he plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Sliema Wanderers
Dimech began his career playing for Sliema WanderersSliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
. Luke's first season was the 1995–96 season and instantly gained silverware when the club won the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
.
Luke spent seven seasons with the club and even managed establishing himself in the Maltese national team
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
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 IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
to join Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
for one season, making his debut on 2 September 2002. He was sent off in his fourth appearance. 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
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
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 saw Dimech on the move again, this time he joined EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in August 2003.
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, scoring once against Leyton Orient, but the season finished with disappointment when Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
were beaten in the League Two play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. Despite the disappointment Luke was rewarded for some very impressive displays with another one-year contract.
Dimech's second season with Mansfield Town was quite indifferent in the early part of the season; Keith Curle
Keith Curle
Keith Curle is an English former professional football player, who is currently first team coach at Queens Park Rangers.As a player, he was capped three times by England at senior level.-Playing career:...
was sacked and replaced by Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Lloyd Palmer is a former English professional football player who played as a midfielder, most notably for Sheffield Wednesday.-Playing career:...
. 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
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Lloyd Palmer is a former English professional football player who played as a midfielder, most notably for Sheffield Wednesday.-Playing career:...
, 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 CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
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
David Artell
David John "Dave" Artell is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Crewe Alexandra.-The Rotherham years:...
, who moved with him from Mansfield.
Dimech was a regular in the heart of the Chester City defence
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
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.
Marsaxlokk
Dimech then returned to his homeland joining MarsaxlokkMarsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
in 2006 in time for the new season. He has also captained the side during the season, in the absence of Carlo Mamo
Carlo Mamo
Carlo Mamo is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Floriana, where he plays as a defender.-Tarxien Rainbows:...
. He was also still a major part of the Malta national team setup, forming a strong partnership alongside veteran Brian Said
Brian Said
Brian Said is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese First Division side St. Andrews, where he plays as a defender....
.
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 BrightwellIan Brightwell
Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
to join League Two side Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
and was re-united with Carl Regan
Carl Regan
Carl Anthony Regan is an English footballer currently with League Two side Shrewsbury Town.-Career:Regan, who is a right-back, began his career with Everton, but left after being offered a new one-year deal in 2000 without breaking into the first-team...
who he played alongside in Chester City's defence.
Dimech made his Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
debut on the opening day of the League Two season away to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
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
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
against League One outfit Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, the game finished 1–0 to Leeds, thanks to 78th minute goal from Ian Westlake
Ian Westlake
Ian John Westlake is an English professional footballer, currently playing for the Montreal Impact of the North American Soccer League.-Early career:...
.
On 31 January 2008, Dimech and Carl Regan's partnership came to an end as Regan joined former Macclesfield-manager Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
at Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. As one of Dimech's former Chester team mates left the club, another one arrived in the shape of Sean Hessey
Sean Hessey
Sean Peter Hessey is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Accrington Stanley....
who joined the club on a season long loan from Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, and is likely to fill the void left by the departing Regan.
On 18 May 2008, Dimech and four other Macclesfield Town players were released by manager Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
. 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 LarnacaAEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca FC |Kition]] Athletic Union") is a Cypriot Sports club, based in the port of Larnaca. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs: EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has football section, basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca B.C...
. He is a well regarded and important player for the team. In August 2011, Dimech helped his club AEK Larnaca to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, after beating Rosenborg
Rosenborg
Rosenborg may refer to:Denmark:* Rosenborg Castle, a castle in Copenhagen, DenmarkNorway:* Rosenborg, Trondheim, a place in Trondheim, Norway* Rosenborg BK, an association football club based in Trondheim, Norway...
2-1 on aggregate.
Malta
Dimech is a regular in the Maltese national team and to date has 66 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with one goal. He began playing for Malta on 28 April 1999 when he made his debut against Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
. When John Buttigieg
John Buttigieg
John Buttigieg is a retired Maltese footballer who played as a defender, and the current coach of the Maltese national team.-Club career:...
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. | 30 April 2003 | Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
1-2 | 1-2 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
Personal life
- Dimech has a younger brother, Mark, who plays in England for Basford United in the Nottinghamshire Senior LeagueNottinghamshire Senior LeagueThe Nottinghamshire Senior League or NSL is a football competition based in England, sitting at level 12 of the English football league system and is a feeder to the Central Midlands League...
, and is also the team's captain. His Older brother, Kris Dimech, used to play for Gedling Southbank and is now the team manager.