2016–17 Gibraltar Premier Division
# 2016–17 Gibraltar Premier Division

The 2016–17 Gibraltar Premier Division (known as the Argus Insurance Premier Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 118th season of the national amateur and semi-professional football league in Gibraltar since its establishment - the highest level of football in Gibraltar. The league was contested by ten clubs, the top eight clubs from last season and two promoted clubs from 2015–16 Gibraltar Second Division. Lincoln Red Imps were the reigning champions, sealing a record 22nd title last season. The season began on 21 September 2016 and ended on 22 May 2017. Europa won the title, ending Lincoln's 14 title run and winning their first title since 1952.

## Format

As with the previous season, each of the ten Premier Division teams played each other three times for a total of 27 matches each. The tenth-placed team was relegated while the ninth-placed team from the Premier Division entered a playoff with the second-placed team from the Second Division for a spot in the 2017–18 Premier Division.

Starting from this season, Gibraltar are granted two spots instead of one in the Europa League. The season also saw the introduction of a Home Grown Player (HGP) rule, forcing clubs in both of Gibraltar's divisions to have at least 3 Gibraltarian players in their matchday squads, with at least one on the field of play at all times.

## Teams

After the previous season, Angels and Britannia XI were both relegated to the Second Division; Europa Point and Mons Calpe were promoted in their places.

| Club | Finishing position 2015–16 |
| - | - |
| Europa FC | 2nd |
| Europa Point | 1st in Second division (Promoted) |
| Gibraltar United | 8th |
| Glacis United | 7th |
| Lincoln Red Imps | 1st (champions) |
| Lions Gibraltar | 4th |
| Lynx | 5th |
| Manchester 62 | 6th |
| Mons Calpe | 2nd in Second division (Promoted via play-off) |
| St Joseph's | 3rd |

### Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Europa | Juan José Gallardo | Javi Muñoz | Jako | Grand Home Care |
| Europa Point | Daniel Amaya | Kivan Castle | Luanvi | Malaga City Academi |
| Gibraltar United | Manolo Nuñez Sánchez | Robert Montovio | Nike | Sunborn / Turicum Bank |
| Glacis United | Manuel Jimenez Perez | Leandro Pereyra | Nike | Atlantic Financial Group |
| Lincoln Red Imps | Julio César Ribas | Roy Chipolina | Joma | U-Mee |
| Lions Gibraltar | Rafael Bado | Kalian Perez | Erreà | |
| Lynx | Albert Parody | Robert Guilling | Erreà | DS Group |
| Manchester 62 | Kiko Prieto | Aaron Payas | Joma | CEPSA GIB |
| Mons Calpe | Mauro Ardizzone | Hugo Colace | Daen | Reygada Sports Group |
| St. Joseph's | Raúl Procopio Baizán | Javier López | Joma | Neptune Marine |

### Managerial Changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lions Gibraltar | David Wilson | Resigned | 14 September 2016 | Pre-season | Rafael Bado | 15 September 2016 |
| Manchester 62 | Juan Carlos Camacho | Sacked | 14 September 2016 | Pre-season | Gabino Rodríguez | 15 September 2016 |
| Europa Point | George Jermy | Sacked | 15 December 2016 | 10th | Daniel Amaya | 15 December 2016 |
| St Joseph's | Alfonso Cortijo | Signed by Beijing Guoan | 19 December 2016 | 3rd | Raúl Procopio Baizán | 19 December 2016 |
| Mons Calpe | William | Sacked | 16 January 2017 | 5th | Mauro Ardizzone | 17 March 2017 |
| Manchester 62 | Gabino Rodríguez | Sacked | 8 February 2017 | 8th | Carlos Inarejos | 8 February 2017 |
| Manchester 62 | Carlos Inarejos | Resigned | 17 March 2017 | 8th | Kiko Prieto | 21 March 2017 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Europa FC (C) | 27 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 93 | 18 | +75 | 73 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Lincoln Red Imps | 27 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 16 | +84 | 72 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | St Joseph's | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 53 | 18 | +35 | 54 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Glacis United | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 42 | 34 | +8 | 44 | |
| 5 | Mons Calpe | 27 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 42 | |
| 6 | Lynx | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 28 | |
| 7 | Gibraltar United | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 43 | −23 | 21 | |
| 8 | Lions Gibraltar | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 54 | −37 | 21 | |
| 9 | Manchester 62 (O) | 27 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 27 | 60 | −33 | 17 | Qualification for the play-off |
| 10 | Europa Point (R) | 27 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 13 | 120 | −107 | 8 | Relegation to the Gibraltar Second Division |

* ↑ Europa FC qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2017 Rock Cup. However, since they already qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.

## Results

* ↑ Match awarded 3–0 to Lynx; the match originally finished 2–1 to Lynx.
* ↑ Match awarded 3–0 to Gibraltar United due to Europa Point failing to raise a team for the match.
* ↑ Match awarded 3–0 to Glacis United due to Mons Calpe breaching league rules; the match originally finished 0–0.

## Promotion/relegation play-off

At the end of the season, the ninth-placed team from the Premier Division will enter a play-off with the second-placed team from the Second Division for a spot in the 2017–18 Premier Division. FCB Magpies finished second in the Second Division after their win on May 8, 2017.

## Top goalscorers

    As of 22 May 2017

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Kike Gómez | Europa FC | 30 |
| 2 | Joseph Chipolina | Lincoln Red Imps | 17 |
| 3 | John-Paul Duarte | St. Joseph's | 15 |
| 3 | Guillermo Roldán | Europa FC | 15 |
| 3 | Liam Walker | Europa FC | 15 |
| 6 | Lee Casciaro | Lincoln Red Imps | 14 |
| 7 | George Cabrera | Lincoln Red Imps | 13 |
| 8 | Salvador Carrasco Lopez | Glacis United | 11 |
| 8 | Juan Pablo Pereira Sastrie | Mons Calpe | 11 |
| 10 | Tulio Etchemaite | Lincoln Red Imps | 10 |
