UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Held set to raise standards

Former West Germany international Siegfried Held took over the reins of the Malta national team in June 2001, replacing the outgoing Yugoslavian Josif Ilic.

Former West Germany international Siegfried Held took over the reins of the Malta national team in June 2001, replacing the outgoing Yugoslavian Josif Ilic.

World Cup final appearance
The 59-year-old Held has a wealth of experience from his playing days with BV Borussia Dortmund, Offenbach Kickers 1901 and KFC Uerdigen 05. For these three 1. Bundesliga clubs, he played a total of 422 league games and also made 41 appearances for West Germany, including the 1966 FIFA World Cup final defeat against England at Wembley Stadium.

Coaching CV
Held’s coaching career includes spells at Turkey’s Galatasaray SK from 1989-91, VfB Admira Wacker Mödling in Austria from 1991-93, and 1. FC Dynamo Dresden between 1993 and 1995. After a short stay in Japan with Gamba Osaka he returned to Germany to coach VfB Leipzig from 1995-1998. At international level Held was coach of Iceland for three years from 1986 and had a spell in charge of the Egyptian Olympic team in the late Nineties.

Success against Canada
His contract with the Malta Football Association runs until the end of the EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign. He was in charge for Malta’s last three World Cup qualifiers, home defeats against Bulgaria (0-2) and Northern Ireland (0-1) and a narrow 3-2 reverse away to the Czech Republic. Held’s first win arrived in November 2001, a 2-1 home success against Canada – something to cheer about at long last.

Hard work ahead
“I will work hard and try my best. I intend to use my knowledge, expertise and experience for the benefit of Maltese football but all I can promise is hard work.” So said Held on his appointment as Malta coach. He is certainly determined to lift the island’s footballers to a higher level. Maltese footballers have been accused in the past of of being too laid-back and lacking self-discipline. This is where the German has already made his mark: during the first four international games under his guidance, the team performed in a much more self-disciplined manner.

Time will tell
Held’s reputation of being a disciplined and hard-working coach is at stake. Time alone will tell if he can put Maltese football on the international map at last.