- Luke Dimech
Football player infobox
playername = Luke Dimech
fullname = Luke Anthony Dimech
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|1|11
cityofbirth =Valletta
countryofbirth =Malta
currentclub = Valletta
clubnumber = 6
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs = Lincoln City
years = 1995–2001
2002
2003
2003–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Sliema Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers
Birkirkara
Mansfield Town
Chester City
Marsaxlokk
Macclesfield Town
Valletta
caps(goals) = 133 (3)
016 (0)
010 (0)
045 (1)
030 (0)
026 (0)
026 (0)
000 (0)
nationalyears =
1999–
nationalteam = Malta U21
Malta
nationalcaps(goals) = 014 (0)
060 (1)
pcupdate =August 9 ,2008
ntupdate =September 16 ,2008 Luke Anthony Dimech (born
January 11 ,1977 inValletta ,Malta ) is a professional footballer who plays forMaltese Football League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.Playing career
liema Wanderers
Dimech began his career playing for Sliema Wanderers. 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.
hamrock Rovers
After many impressive displays Luke moved to
Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers for one season, making his debut on 2 September 2002. [ [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vshels020902.htm] He got sent off on his fourth appearance. [ [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vstpats270902.htm] ] Went on to make a total of 16 appearances, but after falling out of favour with the club, Luke left Dublin. Played in the 2002FAI Cup 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 LeagueFact|date=October 2008 saw Dimech on the move again, this time he joined English side Mansfield Town in August, 2003 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/3124169.stm Mansfield sign duo] ] .
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,Fact|date=October 2008 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/3864733.stm Stags trio agree new deals] ]Dimech's second season with Mansfield Town was quite indifferent in the early part of the season;Fact|date=October 2008
Keith Curle was sacked and replaced byCarlton 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 withCarlton Palmer ,Fact|date=October 2008 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 City 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chester/5002402.stm Chester allow six players to exit] ]
Marsaxlokk
Dimech then returned back in his homeland joining Marsaxlokk 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 veteranBrian 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.
Macclesfield Town
On 19 July 2007, Dimech signed a one-year deal with manager
Ian Brightwell to joinLeague Two side Macclesfield Town [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/macclesfield_town/6907120.stm Macclesfield bag defender Dimech] ] and was re-united withCarl 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 ofFootball League Cup againstLeague One outfit Leeds United, the game finished 1–0 to Leeds, thanks to 78th minute goal fromIan 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 ofSean Hessey who joined the club on a season long loan from, and is likely to fill the void left by the departing Regan.Fact|date=October 2008On 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.
International career
Malta
Dimech is a regular in the Maltese national team and to date has 55 caps with one goal. He began playing for Malta on 28 April 1999 when he made his debut against Iceland.
International goals
Malta Goals
Honours
liema Wanderers
Winner
* 1995–96Maltese Premier League Marsaxlokk
Winner
* 2006–07Maltese Premier League Personal life
* Dimech has a younger brother, Mark, who plays in England for Basford United in the
Nottinghamshire Senior League , and is also the team's captain.References
External links
* [http://www.maltafootball.com/players/lukedimech.html Luke Dimech at MaltaFootball.com]
* [http://www.mtfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10393~24191,00.html Luke Dimech at MTFC.co.uk]
*
* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/php/spieler.php?id=4506 National Football Teams]
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