Melbourne Knights FC Official Website The Melbourne Knights are pleased to announce their next signing ahead of the 2022 season, defensively minded – Justin Micallef.
Fresh off a season from fellow NPL side Heidelberg United FC, the 24-year-old has versatility on offer, both defensively as a fullback and offensively as a winger.
Summing up the transfer simply, Micallef puts joining the club as “a very easy decision”, going on to say, “I believe the playing style that [Steve] Bebic executes, is the way I play”. “The coaching and support staff make the Knights a standout club”.
Micallef, born in Malta, has played abroad within the Maltese leagues, beginning with the Balzan under-19’s, before a transfer to fellow Maltese club Senglea Athletic in 2019. In 2020, Micallef made the transition to Australia, joining NPL Queensland side Gold Coast United. He featured in 20 matches up north, and despite being most comfortable in defence, even found himself scoring three goals, prior to his move to Victoria.
During his season with the Bergers last year, Micallef featured in six matches for the side, including five starts, in what turned out to be another shortened season. Proving quality over quantity, those with a keen NPL eye will no doubt remember his man-of-the-match worthy performance in round 4 against Green Gully, where Micallef scored and assisted in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.
It’s clear the NPL Victoria competition has left a lasting impression on the youngster, as he described it as “one of the best and most competitive” in Australia, hence his desire to continue within the league.
On a personal note, Micallef wishes to “make an impact on and off the field”. Continuing he hopes to “help the team with scoring and assisting as many times as possible”.
As a team and understanding the spectacle of the world game, he hopes to “play some entertaining football that the fans will enjoy”, as well as “push to win some silverware” along the way.
Everyone at the Melbourne Knights welcomes Justin to the club and looks forward to seeing him in action in 2022!
By Tom Hayes.