About Maltese First Division

The list of Maltese football champions begins with the original top tier known as the First Division, which was established in 1909 as the country’s first organized football competition. In its early years, the league featured a small and changing number of teams, with Floriana winning the inaugural title in the 1909–10 season. The competition was briefly interrupted during World War II but otherwise continued consistently, forming the foundation of Maltese football.

During this era, Maltese football was largely dominated by two major clubs, Sliema Wanderers and Floriana, often referred to as the “Old Firm” of Malta. They won the majority of championships before 1940 and continued to be dominant in the post-war period, sharing many titles through the 1950s. Over time, other clubs such as Valletta and Hibernians began to challenge their dominance, bringing more competition into the league.

By the late 1970s, the First Division had evolved into a more structured and competitive league, setting the stage for modernization. In 1980, the system was officially rebranded and reorganized into the Maltese Premier League, marking the end of the First Division era while maintaining continuity in the list of national champions.