2023–24 Gibraltar Football League

The 2023–24 Gibraltar Football League season is the fifth season of the Gibraltar Football League in Gibraltar (and second under its current name), and the 125th season of football on the territory overall. The league began on 16 September 2023. Lincoln Red Imps are the reigning champions, winning their third successive title in April 2023. Due to the league's fall down the UEFA coefficient rankings, this season only 2 teams qualified for the UEFA Conference League.

The winners (Lincoln Red Imps, their sixth consecutive title win and twenty-eighth overall) qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runners-up ( St Joseph's) and third-placed team ( FCB Magpies) qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League first qualifying round.

Format

The 2023–24 season sees a change in the format of the GFL. Instead of playing one round of fixtures before splitting, teams will instead play each other twice for a total of 20 games this season. After the second round of games, the top 6 enter the GFL Championship Group, where each team plays each other once to decide the league champion. However, the Challenge Group has been scrapped.

Controversy

In November 2023, it was reported that Lynx were planning to report the Gibraltar Football Association to UEFA and FIFA after it was revealed that Lincoln Red Imps had fielded an ineligible player (believed to be Ibrahim Ayew) in their opening league match, which Lincoln won 3-2. The GFA's ruling was that though the player was suspended, Lincoln would not be punished for the mistake. This was despite the fact that Mons Calpe had been punished for a similar infraction the previous season. This led to complaints of bias and corruption within the GFA which formed the basis of the Lynx complaint.

Lynx subsequently finished 7th in the league, missing out on the Championship Group by a single point.

Teams

The following clubs compete in the 2023–24 season.

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
, -
! Team
! Manager
! Captain
! Kit manufacturer
! Club sponsor
! 2022–23
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 3rd
, -
,
,
,
, Joma
,
, 10th
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 2nd
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 11th
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 6th
, -
,
,
,
,

Damex
, 1st
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 9th
, -
,
,
,
,
,
, 4th
, -
, Manchester 62
,
,
, Joma
,
, 8th
, -
,
,
,
, Givova
, FanPlay 365
, 7th
, -
,
, {{nowrap, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, Abraham, Paz
, {{nowrap, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, Juanma, González
, {{nowrap, Legea
,
, 5th

Managerial changes

{, class="wikitable sortable"
, -
!Team
!Outgoing manager
!Manner of departure
!Date of vacancy
!Position in table
!Incoming manager
!Date of appointment
, -
, FCB Magpies
, {{sort, Rooney, Nathan, {{flagicon, ENG Nathan Rooney
, Resigned
, rowspan=1 , 17 May 2023
, rowspan=6 , ''Pre-season''
, {{sort, Cortijo, Alfonso, {{flagicon, ESP Alfonso Cortijo
, 1 June 2023
, -
, Manchester 62
, {{sort, McDonough, Jamie, {{flagicon, ENG Jamie McDonough
, Appointed assistant coach
, 31 May 2023
, {{sort, Limbrick, Anthony, {{flagicon, AUS Anthony Limbrick
, 20 June 2023
, -
, Europa Point
, {{sort, Lowe, Garry, {{flagicon, GIB Garry Lowe
, Signed by Bruno's Magpies
, 6 July 2023
, {{sort, Savic, Dalibor, {{flagicon, SWE Dalibor Savic
, 12 July 2023
, -
, Glacis United
, {{sort, Di Piedi, Michele, {{flagicon, ITA Michele Di Piedi
, Sacked
, 16 August 2023
, {{sort, Racino, Claudio, {{flagicon, ARG Claudio Racino
, 1 September 2023
, -
, Europa
, {{sort, Berlanga, Miguel Ángel, {{flagicon, ESP Miguel Ángel Berlanga
, Mutual consent
, 25 August 2023
, {{sort, Pérez, Mario, {{flagicon, ESP Mario Pérez
, 25 August 2023
, -
, FCB Magpies
, {{sort, Cortijo, Alfonso, {{flagicon, ESP Alfonso Cortijo
, Promoted to Director
, 1 September 2023
, {{sort, Rooney, Nathan, {{flagicon, ENG Nathan Rooney
, 1 September 2023
, -
, Mons Calpe
, {{sort, Guti, David, {{flagicon, ESP David Guti
, Sacked
, 2 October 2023
, 8th
, {{sort, Sánchez, Juan Marí, {{flagicon, ESP Juan Marí Sánchez
, 3 October 2023
, -
, Manchester 62
, {{sort, Limbrick, Anthony, {{flagicon, AUS Anthony Limbrick
, Resigned
, 23 November 2023
, 6th
, {{sort, Bula, Allen, {{flagicon, GIB Allen Bula (caretaker)
, 3 December 2023
, -
, Europa
, {{sort, Pérez, Mario, {{flagicon, ESP Mario Pérez
, Sacked
, 6 December 2023
, 10th
, {{sort, Espinosa, Ángel, {{flagicon, ESP Ángel Espinosa (caretaker)
, 6 December 2023
, -
, Manchester 62
, {{sort, Bula, Allen, {{flagicon, GIB Allen Bula
, rowspan=2 , End of caretaker spell
, 14 December 2023
, 4th
, {{sort, McDonough, Jamie, {{flagicon, ENG Jamie McDonough
, 15 December 2023
, -
, Europa
, {{sort, Espinosa, Ángel, {{flagicon, ESP Ángel Espinosa
, 1 January 2024
, 10th
, {{sort, Di Piedi, Michele, {{flagicon, ITA Michele Di Piedi
, 1 January 2024
, -
, College 1975
, {{sort, Blanco, Luis Manuel, {{flagicon, ARG Luis Manuel Blanco
, Resigned
, 17 February 2024
, 10th
, {{sort, Vela, Leo, {{flagicon, ARG Leo Vela
, 18 February 2024
, -
, Europa Point
, {{sort, Savic, Dalibor, {{flagicon, SWE Dalibor Savic
, End of contract
, 30 April 2024Officiellt: Dalibor Savic lämnar Europa Point FC
fotbolltransfers. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
, 6th
, {{sort, McCarthy, Ryan, {{flagicon, IRL Ryan McCarthy (interim)
, 1 May 2024

Regular season

During the regular season, each team faced each other twice (once at home at once away), before the league is split into two (with only the top six teams advancing to the GFL Championship Group).

League table

{{#invoke:Sports table, main, style=WDL
, sourc
Soccerway

, team_order=LIN, SJO, FCB, MON, MAN, EPO, LYN, EFC, GLA, LGI, COL

, result1=CHA , result2=CHA , result3=CHA , result4=CHA , result5=CHA , result6=CHA

, update=complete
, win_FCB=13, draw_FCB=3 , loss_FCB=4 , gf_FCB=52, ga_FCB=28
, win_COL=3 , draw_COL=2 , loss_COL=15, gf_COL=21, ga_COL=65
, win_EFC=6 , draw_EFC=2 , loss_EFC=12, gf_EFC=25, ga_EFC=34
, win_EPO=8 , draw_EPO=4 , loss_EPO=8 , gf_EPO=27, ga_EPO=22
, win_GLA=5 , draw_GLA=1 , loss_GLA=14, gf_GLA=21, ga_GLA=47
, win_LIN=17, draw_LIN=1 , loss_LIN=2 , gf_LIN=63, ga_LIN=12
, win_LGI=3 , draw_LGI=4 , loss_LGI=13, gf_LGI=16, ga_LGI=50
, win_LYN=8 , draw_LYN=3 , loss_LYN=9 , gf_LYN=29, ga_LYN=31
, win_MAN=9 , draw_MAN=1 , loss_MAN=10, gf_MAN=39, ga_MAN=41
, win_MON=8 , draw_MON=5 , loss_MON=7 , gf_MON=31, ga_MON=28
, win_SJO=16, draw_SJO=2 , loss_SJO=2 , gf_SJO=49, ga_SJO=15

, note_header_res=Teams play each other twice (20 matches), before the top six teams advance to the GFL Championship Group.

, name_FCB= FCB Magpies
, name_COL= College 1975
, name_EFC=Europa
, name_EPO=Europa Point
, name_GLA= Glacis United
, name_LIN= Lincoln Red Imps
, name_LGI= Lions Gibraltar
, name_LYN=Lynx
, name_MAN= Manchester 62
, name_MON= Mons Calpe
, name_SJO= St Joseph's

, show_limit=5
, class_rules=1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Fair Play

, res_col_header=Q
, col_CHA=green1 , text_CHA=Qualification for the GFL Championship Group

Results

{{#invoke:sports results, main
, sourc
Soccerway
, update=complete
, a_note=
, matches_style=FBR
, team_order=FCB, COL, EFC, EPO, GLA, LIN, LGI, LYN, MAN, MON, SJO

, name_FCB= FCB Magpies
, name_COL= College 1975
, name_EFC=Europa
, name_EPO=Europa Point
, name_GLA= Glacis United
, name_LIN= Lincoln Red Imps
, name_LGI= Lions Gibraltar
, name_LYN=Lynx
, name_MAN= Manchester 62
, name_MON= Mons Calpe
, name_SJO= St Joseph's

, match_FCB_COL=7–2
, match_FCB_EFC=3–1
, match_FCB_EPO=2–2
, match_FCB_GLA=3–0
, match_FCB_LIN=0–0
, match_FCB_LGI=3–1
, match_FCB_LYN=2–1
, match_FCB_MAN=2–0
, match_FCB_MON=3–1
, match_FCB_SJO=2–4

, match_COL_FCB=2–6
, match_COL_EFC=2–3
, match_COL_EPO=0–5
, match_COL_GLA=1–1
, match_COL_LIN=0–6
, match_COL_LGI=2–1
, match_COL_LYN=0–2
, match_COL_MAN=2–4
, match_COL_MON=1–3
, match_COL_SJO=0–3

, match_EFC_FCB=4–3
, match_EFC_COL=0–3
, match_EFC_EPO=0–1
, match_EFC_GLA=3–2
, match_EFC_LIN=1–4
, match_EFC_LGI=1–2
, match_EFC_LYN=1–3
, match_EFC_MAN=0–1
, match_EFC_MON=3–1
, match_EFC_SJO=0–1

, match_EPO_FCB=0–1
, match_EPO_COL=4–0
, match_EPO_EFC=1–0
, match_EPO_GLA=2–0
, match_EPO_LIN=1–2
, match_EPO_LGI=0–0
, match_EPO_LYN=0–1
, match_EPO_MAN=1–5
, match_EPO_MON=1–1
, match_EPO_SJO=1–0

, match_GLA_FCB=1–2
, match_GLA_COL=1–0
, match_GLA_EFC=0–1
, match_GLA_EPO=3–1
, match_GLA_LIN=2–8
, match_GLA_LGI=3–1
, match_GLA_LYN=2–0
, match_GLA_MAN=0–1
, match_GLA_MON=2–1
, match_GLA_SJO=1–3

, match_LIN_FCB=3–0
, match_LIN_COL=7–0
, match_LIN_EFC=2–1
, match_LIN_EPO=1–0
, match_LIN_GLA=3–1
, match_LIN_LGI=2–0
, match_LIN_LYN=3–2
, match_LIN_MAN=5–0
, match_LIN_MON=2–1
, match_LIN_SJO=1–2

, match_LGI_FCB=0–2
, match_LGI_COL=1–1
, match_LGI_EFC=0–5
, match_LGI_EPO=1–3
, match_LGI_GLA=1–0
, match_LGI_LIN=0–2
, match_LGI_LYN=0–4
, match_LGI_MAN=2–1
, match_LGI_MON=0–0
, match_LGI_SJO=1–5

, match_LYN_FCB=1–0
, match_LYN_COL=2–3
, match_LYN_EFC=0–0
, match_LYN_EPO=1–1
, match_LYN_GLA=2–1
, match_LYN_LIN=0–3
, match_LYN_LGI=4–1
, match_LYN_MAN=1–3
, match_LYN_MON=2–1
, match_LYN_SJO=1–2

, match_MAN_FCB=1–5
, match_MAN_COL=4–1
, match_MAN_EFC=1–1
, match_MAN_EPO=0–2
, match_MAN_GLA=5–0
, match_MAN_LIN=0–7
, match_MAN_LGI=7–0
, match_MAN_LYN=5–1
, match_MAN_MON=1–2
, match_MAN_SJO=0–3

, match_MON_FCB=2–4
, match_MON_COL=1–0
, match_MON_EFC=1–0
, match_MON_EPO=3–1
, match_MON_GLA=5–1
, match_MON_LIN=0–2
, match_MON_LGI=2–2
, match_MON_LYN=1–1
, match_MON_MAN=2–0
, match_MON_SJO=1–1

, match_SJO_FCB=2–2
, match_SJO_COL=4–1
, match_SJO_EFC=3–0
, match_SJO_EPO=1–0
, match_SJO_GLA=4–0
, match_SJO_LIN=1–0
, match_SJO_LGI=3–2
, match_SJO_LYN=2–0
, match_SJO_MAN=4–0
, match_SJO_MON=1–2

GFL Championship Group

The top six teams from the regular season contest the GFL Championship Group to decide the league champion. Results from the regular season were carried over into this round.

League table

{{#invoke:Sports table, main, style=WDL
, sourc
Soccerway

, team_order= LIN, SJO, MAG, EPO, MON, MAN

, result1=CL1Q , result2=ECL1Q , result3=ECL1Q

, update=complete
, win_MAG=14, draw_MAG=4 , loss_MAG=7 , gf_MAG=55, ga_MAG=36
, win_EPO=10, draw_EPO=5 , loss_EPO=10, gf_EPO=32, ga_EPO=31
, win_LIN=21, draw_LIN=2 , loss_LIN=2 , gf_LIN=86, ga_LIN=15
, win_MAN=9 , draw_MAN=2 , loss_MAN=14, gf_MAN=44, ga_MAN=64
, win_MON=9 , draw_MON=6 , loss_MON=10, gf_MON=37, ga_MON=39
, win_SJO=20, draw_SJO=3 , loss_SJO=2 , gf_SJO=62, ga_SJO=16

, status_LIN=C

, name_MAG= FCB Magpies
, name_EPO=Europa Point
, name_LIN= Lincoln Red Imps
, name_MAN= Manchester 62
, name_MON= Mons Calpe
, name_SJO= St Joseph's

, show_limit=5
, class_rules=1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Fair Play

, res_col_header=Q
, col_CL1Q=green1 , text_CL1Q=Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
, col_ECL1Q=yellow1 , text_ECL1Q={{nowrap, Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round

, note_res_ECL1Q=The 2023–24 Rock Cup winners also qualified for the Conference League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners (Lincoln Red Imps) qualified based on league position, the Conference League spot was passed to the third-placed team.

Results

{{#invoke:sports results, main
, sourc
Soccerway
, update=complete
, a_note=
, matches_style=FBR
, team_order=FCB, EPO, LIN, MAN, MON, SJO

, name_FCB= FCB Magpies
, name_EPO=Europa Point
, name_LIN= Lincoln Red Imps
, name_MAN= Manchester 62
, name_MON= Mons Calpe
, name_SJO= St Joseph's

, match_FCB_EPO=null
, match_FCB_LIN=0–3
, match_FCB_MAN=3–1
, match_FCB_MON=null
, match_FCB_SJO=null

, match_EPO_FCB=0–0
, match_EPO_LIN=null
, match_EPO_MAN=null
, match_EPO_MON=null
, match_EPO_SJO=0–3

, match_LIN_FCB=null
, match_LIN_EPO=4–0
, match_LIN_MAN=null
, match_LIN_MON=5–1
, match_LIN_SJO=null

, match_MAN_FCB=null
, match_MAN_EPO=1–3
, match_MAN_LIN=1–10
, match_MAN_MON=null
, match_MAN_SJO=0–5

, match_MON_FCB=2–0
, match_MON_EPO=1–2
, match_MON_LIN=null
, match_MON_MAN=2–2
, match_MON_SJO=0–2

, match_SJO_FCB=2–0
, match_SJO_EPO=null
, match_SJO_LIN=1–1
, match_SJO_MAN=null
, match_SJO_MON=null

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

''As of 12 May 2024.''
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
, -
!Rank
!Player
!Club
!Goals
, -
, rowspan=1, 1
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Juanfri
, align="left", Lincoln Red Imps
, rowspan=1, 17
, -
, rowspan=1, 2
, align="left", {{flagicon, SWE Hugo Jesslén
, align="left", Europa Point
, rowspan=1, 16
, -
, rowspan=1, 3
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Pablo Rodríguez
, align="left", St Joseph's
, rowspan=1, 15
, -
, rowspan=1, 4
, align="left", {{flagicon, SCO Connor Flynn-Gillespie
, align="left", Lynx
, rowspan=1, 14
, -
, rowspan=1, 5
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Labra
, align="left", Europa
, rowspan=1, 12
, -
, rowspan=1, 6
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Víctor Villacañas
, align="left", Lincoln Red Imps
, rowspan=1, 10
, -
, rowspan=1, 7
, align="left", {{flagicon, CUB Aldair Ruiz
, align="left", Manchester 62
, rowspan=1, 9
, -
, rowspan=6, 8
, align="left", {{flagicon, ARG Facu Álvarez
, align="left", FCB Magpies
, rowspan=6, 8
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ARG Seba Díaz
, align="left", FCB Magpies
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP José Giráldez
, align="left", FCB Magpies
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, GIB Tjay De Barr
, align="left", Lincoln Red Imps
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ENG Ahmed Salam
, align="left", Manchester 62
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, POL Hugo Bartkowiak{{efn, Includes 4 goals for College 1975.
, align="left", Mons Calpe

{{notelist

Hat-tricks

{, class="wikitable"
, -
! Player !! For !! Against !! style="text-align:center", Result !! Date
, -
, {{flagicon, NED {{sortname, Manny, Duku , , Manchester 62 , , Lions Gibraltar , , 7–0 (H) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2023, 11, 05
, -
, {{flagicon, SWE {{sortname, Hugo, Jesslén⁴ , , Europa Point , , College 1975 , , 5–0 (A) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2023, 11, 25
, -
, {{flagicon, ARG {{sortname, Seba, Díaz , , FCB Magpies , , Glacis United , , 3–0 (H) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2023, 12, 08
, -
, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, , Labra, Labra (footballer)⁴ , , Europa , , Lions Gibraltar , , 5–0 (A) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2023, 12, 16
, -
, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, , Juanfri , , Lincoln Red Imps , , College 1975 , , 7–0 (H) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2023, 12, 17
, -
, {{flagicon, SCO {{sortname, Connor, Flynn-Gillespie , , Lynx , , Lions Gibraltar , , 4–0 (A) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2024, 01, 28
, -
, {{flagicon, ARG {{sortname, Facu, Álvarez , , FCB Magpies , , College 1975 , , 7–2 (H) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2024, 02, 17
, -
, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, , Juanfri⁴ , , Lincoln Red Imps , , Manchester 62 , , 10–1 (A) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2024, 04, 21
, -
, {{flagicon, ESP {{sortname, Manuel, Caballero, Manuel Caballero (footballer) , , St Joseph's , , Manchester 62 , , 5–0 (A) , , {{dts, format=dmy, 2024, 05, 03

Clean sheets

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
, -
!Rank
!Player
!Club
!Clean sheets
, -
, rowspan=1, 1
, align="left", {{flagicon, GIB Bradley Banda
, align="left", St Joseph's
, rowspan=1, 13
, -
, rowspan=1, 2
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Nauzet Santana
, align="left", Lincoln Red Imps
, rowspan=1, 11
, -
, rowspan=1, 3
, align="left", {{flagicon, FIN Johannes Ström
, align="left", Europa Point
, rowspan=1, 9
, -
, rowspan=2, 4
, align="left", {{flagicon, GIB Christian Lopez
, align="left", FCB Magpies
, rowspan=2, 5
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, GIB Bradley Avellano
, align="left", Lynx
, -
, rowspan=3, 6
, align="left", {{flagicon, ARG Marcos Zappacosta
, align="left", Europa
, rowspan=3, 3
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Borja Valadés
, align="left", Lions Gibraltar
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Daniel Tudela
, align="left", Mons Calpe
, -
, rowspan=5, 9
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Walid Birrou
, align="left", Glacis United
, rowspan=5, 2
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, GIB Dayle Coleing
, align="left", Lincoln Red Imps
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ESP Fernando Canto
, align="left", Manchester 62
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, SCO Alan Martin
, align="left", Manchester 62
, -
, align="left", {{flagicon, ARG Christian Fraiz
, align="left", Mons Calpe

{{notelist

See also

* 2023–24 Gibraltar Intermediate League
* 2023–24 Gibraltar Women's Football League

References

{{Reflist

External links

GFL WebsiteGibraltar Football Association

{{Gibraltar Premier Division
{{Football in Gibraltar
{{2023–24 in European football (UEFA)

{{DEFAULTSORT:2023-24 Gibraltar Football League
Gibraltar National League seasons
Gib
1