Etienne Barbara
Encyclopedia
Etienne Barbara is a Maltese
footballer. He currently plays for Carolina RailHawks
in the North American Soccer League.
. After having been spotted by scouts following some impressive displays, he earned a move to play in the Maltese Premier League
with Floriana in July 1999. Early in his career with he was often used in defensive positions and although he played 74 games with the club he only managed eight goals – all which were all scored during the 2001–02 season. In 2002 Barbara received his first call up to the Maltese national team
due to a number of impressive performances for Floriana.
With Barbara in high demand he moved on from Floriana after four years of service, and joined ambitious newly promoted club Marsaxlokk
on 25 January 2003. He scored an impressive 21 goals in just 43 games. Following two successful years, and a serious of impressive displays with Marsaxlokk
, Barbara earned a move to join up with Birkirkara
in January 2005. In two seasons, Barbara managed an impressive 31 goals in 59 appearances with Birkirkara, but was forced to leave the club in July 2007, when he was and team mate Roderick Briffa
where deemed surplus to requirements, following a major reshuffle in the playing staff the club.
Barbara transferred from Birkirkara to Sliema Wanderers
in July 2007, and signed a two-year deal, where he teamed up with former team mate Roderick Briffa
who had joined earlier in the month. He remained with Malta’s most successful club for one season, making a total of 23 appearances and scoring eight goals, but indicated he would leave at the end of the 2007/08 season in order to pursue a career in Europe.
(IV) side SC Verl
, where he signed a two-year contract. He made his debut for Verl on 16 August 2008 in a league match against Bayer Leverkusen II, being introduced in the second half as a 55th minute substitute for Waldemar Jurez.
During the 2008/2009 winter break, League of Ireland First Division winners Dundalk
made a move to take Barbara to play for them in the League of Ireland Premier Division. It is believed that Barbara was interested in the move, but with the player still under contract with SC Verl
, the move did not materialize.
Barbara played 1117 minutes for the SC Verl (not counting cup and preparation games), without scoring a single goal, and during the preparations for the 2009/2010 season, Etienne was dismissed with immediate effect for unexcused absence.
and took part in a pre-season tournament with English
Football League Championship
side Sheffield Wednesday
, however he was not offered a contract.
On 20 August 2009 it was announced that Barbara had joined Maltese Premier League
champions Hibernians
. Barbara had hoped to win a contract elsewhere in Europe, but after weeks of speculation and deals not materialising, this put a host of Maltese Premier League
on alert. The first to express a strong interest where Floriana, with new manager Roddy Collins
reportedly offering Barbara the option of linking him with a club in the United Kingdom in January.
However Collins dropped his interest in Barbara on August 20 therefore he joined Hibernians
, who were keen to sign him, likely to fill the void left by Terence Scerri
, who joined Valletta
. Barbara had an outstanding debut, scoring all three goals and winning the Man of the Match award in a 3-1 in over his former club Marsaxlokk
. Later on the game was invaldiated.
USSF Division 2 club Carolina RailHawks on 25 February 2010. He scored two goals in his RailHawks debut on 10 April 2010, in a game against AC St. Louis
. Barbara currently holds the record for most goals scored by a Carolina Railhawk in a single season for two consecutive years, scoring eight goals during the 2010 campaign, and breaking his own record with nine goals in the first seven matches of the 2011 campaign. Additionally, he is the clubs' all time leading scorer. In August 2011, he was voted as offensive player of the month, just days after he scored a brilliant hatrick. In October 2011, Etienne Barbara won the NASL Golden Ball, the award for the league’s most valuable player. Barbara received all nineteen first place votes cast by media from each NASL market. In his second season with the RailHawks, he scored 20 goals and had eight assists to win the NASL’s Golden Boot. He was also named to the NASL Best XI. Due to Etienne's great form, he has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS
or another high level league.
during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying match away to Israel
, which ended with an impressive 2–2 draw. He scored his first and second goals in the same match during the Malta International Tournament, when Malta defeated Estonia
with a 5–2 scoreline.
Barbara scored the third of his international goals in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
match against Bulgaria
in a 1–1 draw, an equaliser to cancel out an earlier goal from Chavdar Yankov
.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
footballer. He currently plays for Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League.
Malta
Barbara started his career as a youth player with QormiQormi FC
Qormi Football Club are a Maltese football club from the city of Qormi, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:Qormi Football Club was founded in 1961 after the amalgamation of Qormi Youngsters and Qormi United, which is from where the club acquired its motto Fl-Għaqda s-Saħħa,...
. After having been spotted by scouts following some impressive displays, he earned a move to play in the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
with Floriana in July 1999. Early in his career with he was often used in defensive positions and although he played 74 games with the club he only managed eight goals – all which were all scored during the 2001–02 season. In 2002 Barbara received his first call up to the Maltese national team
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
due to a number of impressive performances for Floriana.
With Barbara in high demand he moved on from Floriana after four years of service, and joined ambitious newly promoted club Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
on 25 January 2003. He scored an impressive 21 goals in just 43 games. Following two successful years, and a serious of impressive displays with Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
, Barbara earned a move to join up with Birkirkara
Birkirkara F.C.
Birkirkara Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island of Malta. In the 2009–2010 season, they were the Maltese champions. The club currently plays in the Maltese Premier League and have been league winners on three occasions...
in January 2005. In two seasons, Barbara managed an impressive 31 goals in 59 appearances with Birkirkara, but was forced to leave the club in July 2007, when he was and team mate Roderick Briffa
Roderick Briffa
Roderick Briffa is a professional footballer. He currently plays for the Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.-Birkirkara:...
where deemed surplus to requirements, following a major reshuffle in the playing staff the club.
Barbara transferred from Birkirkara to Sliema Wanderers
Sliema Wanderers F.C.
Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909...
in July 2007, and signed a two-year deal, where he teamed up with former team mate Roderick Briffa
Roderick Briffa
Roderick Briffa is a professional footballer. He currently plays for the Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a defender.-Birkirkara:...
who had joined earlier in the month. He remained with Malta’s most successful club for one season, making a total of 23 appearances and scoring eight goals, but indicated he would leave at the end of the 2007/08 season in order to pursue a career in Europe.
Germany
Barbara found his move to Europe in the shape of German Regionalliga WestRegionalliga West
The Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga...
(IV) side SC Verl
SC Verl
SC Verl is a German association football club based in Verl, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded on 6 September 1924, and since 1970 has consistently played in the higher echelons of amateur football.-History:...
, where he signed a two-year contract. He made his debut for Verl on 16 August 2008 in a league match against Bayer Leverkusen II, being introduced in the second half as a 55th minute substitute for Waldemar Jurez.
During the 2008/2009 winter break, League of Ireland First Division winners Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
made a move to take Barbara to play for them in the League of Ireland Premier Division. It is believed that Barbara was interested in the move, but with the player still under contract with SC Verl
SC Verl
SC Verl is a German association football club based in Verl, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded on 6 September 1924, and since 1970 has consistently played in the higher echelons of amateur football.-History:...
, the move did not materialize.
Barbara played 1117 minutes for the SC Verl (not counting cup and preparation games), without scoring a single goal, and during the preparations for the 2009/2010 season, Etienne was dismissed with immediate effect for unexcused absence.
Back to Malta
Following his dismissal by Verl, Barbara was given a trialTrial (sport)
Trial may refer to the following types of competitions.*Time trials*Car or motor trial, motoring competitions of skill and/or reliability*Motorcycle trials, an obstacle motorcycle competition...
and took part in a pre-season tournament with English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, however he was not offered a contract.
On 20 August 2009 it was announced that Barbara had joined Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
champions Hibernians
Hibernians F.C.
Hibernians F.C. is a Maltese football club hailing from the town of Paola, Malta. It is one of the top football teams in Malta. The club was founded in 1922, but football in Paola, Raħal Ġdid in Maltese, dates back to 1894. The team has a long successful story in its history. Hibernians has always...
. Barbara had hoped to win a contract elsewhere in Europe, but after weeks of speculation and deals not materialising, this put a host of Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
on alert. The first to express a strong interest where Floriana, with new manager Roddy Collins
Roddy Collins
Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins....
reportedly offering Barbara the option of linking him with a club in the United Kingdom in January.
However Collins dropped his interest in Barbara on August 20 therefore he joined Hibernians
Hibernians F.C.
Hibernians F.C. is a Maltese football club hailing from the town of Paola, Malta. It is one of the top football teams in Malta. The club was founded in 1922, but football in Paola, Raħal Ġdid in Maltese, dates back to 1894. The team has a long successful story in its history. Hibernians has always...
, who were keen to sign him, likely to fill the void left by Terence Scerri
Terence Scerri
Terence Scerri is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Valletta, where he plays as a striker.-Hibernians:...
, who joined Valletta
Valletta F.C.
Valletta Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Valletta F.C. has the strongest support on the island...
. Barbara had an outstanding debut, scoring all three goals and winning the Man of the Match award in a 3-1 in over his former club Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
. Later on the game was invaldiated.
United States
Barbara joined United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
USSF Division 2 club Carolina RailHawks on 25 February 2010. He scored two goals in his RailHawks debut on 10 April 2010, in a game against AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
. Barbara currently holds the record for most goals scored by a Carolina Railhawk in a single season for two consecutive years, scoring eight goals during the 2010 campaign, and breaking his own record with nine goals in the first seven matches of the 2011 campaign. Additionally, he is the clubs' all time leading scorer. In August 2011, he was voted as offensive player of the month, just days after he scored a brilliant hatrick. In October 2011, Etienne Barbara won the NASL Golden Ball, the award for the league’s most valuable player. Barbara received all nineteen first place votes cast by media from each NASL market. In his second season with the RailHawks, he scored 20 goals and had eight assists to win the NASL’s Golden Boot. He was also named to the NASL Best XI. Due to Etienne's great form, he has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS
MLS
- Organizations :* Major League Soccer, the highest level professional soccer league in the United States and Canada* Michigan Lutheran Seminary, a preparatory high-school in Saginaw, Michigan- Commerce :...
or another high level league.
International career
Barbara made his international debut for MaltaMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying match away to Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
, which ended with an impressive 2–2 draw. He scored his first and second goals in the same match during the Malta International Tournament, when Malta defeated Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
with a 5–2 scoreline.
Barbara scored the third of his international goals in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup...
match against Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
in a 1–1 draw, an equaliser to cancel out an earlier goal from Chavdar Yankov
Chavdar Yankov
Chavdar Yankov is a Bulgarian footballer currently playing for FC Rostov on loan from Metalurh Donetsk. He is known for his passing, aerial ability and tackling. He is a central midfielder who plays in the holding midfield role or as an attacking midfielder...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 February 2004 | Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
1–0 | 5–2 | Malta International Tournament | |
| 2. | 16 February 2004 | Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
4–2 | 5–2 | Malta International Tournament | |
| 3. | 12 October 2005 | Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup... |