Carmel Busuttil

Playing career: Rabat Ajax FC, AS Verbania Calcio, KRC Genk, Sliema Wanderers FC

Coaching career: Pietà Hotspurs FC, Malta (assistant coach)

• Regarded as his country's greatest player, 'Buzu' started out in 1979 as a 16-year-old with home-town club Rabat Ajax, and was instrumental in helping them secure two league titles and one Maltese Trophy. These victories led to appearances in the European Champion Clubs' Cup against FC Porto and AŠK Inter Bratislava.

• In 1987, Busuttil moved to Italian semi-professional outfit Verbania, and the following year to Genk, becoming the first Maltese to play for and captain a top-flight club in Europe.

•  Joined Sliema in 1994 and enjoyed further success, winning a championship medal and a Maltese Trophy - and went on to play 669 games for the club, scoring 236 goals, before retiring in 2001.

• Became the first Maltese player to earn 100 caps and in all represented his country 113 times between 1988 and 2000, hitting 23 goals. His great ball skills, an amazing turn of pace and a goalscorer's instinct – and admirable dedication brought him two Maltese footballer of the year awards.

• In 2000 Busuttil received the prestigious Order of Merit of the Republic from the then president of Malta, Professor Guido de Marco, for his contribution to Maltese sport.

• After retiring, he established his own football school, then served as assistant to Malta coach Horst Heese until July 2005. Busuttil subsequently took up his first head coach's post with Pietà Hotspurs in November 2006 and stayed there until 2008. The following year he accepted the role of assistant national coach, working under his former Maltese international colleague John Buttigieg.

• Chosen as Malta's most outstanding – or Golden − player in the last 50 years as part of festivities to help mark UEFA's Jubilee in 2004. "To those youngsters who are still aspiring to make the grade in top-level football, I say have faith in your abilities," he said upon receiving the award. "I am a clear example of a player from a minnow country like Malta who made the grade with a top European club, just because I believed in myself."

• Busuttil received a commemorative cap and medal from UEFA to mark his century of international appearances on 11 October 2011, before Malta's 2-0 home defeat by Israel in UEFA European Championship qualifying.

• "It's a big honour being recognised by Europe's highest football authority," he said. "Credit to UEFA for their recognition of all the centurions in European football. It rewards all those footballers who have gone past the mark of playing 100 times for their country for the big sacrifices we make."