Ronnie Cocks
Maltese footballer and manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ronald Cocks (1 August 1943 – 16 May 2017)[1] was a Maltese footballer. He captained Malta's national football team 13 times, including in a match against England at Wembley in 1971.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 August 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Gżira, Malta | ||
| Date of death | 16 May 2017 (aged 73) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1956–1961 | Gżira United | ||
| 1962–1966 | Sliema Wanderers | ||
| 1967 | Pittsburgh Phantoms | 17 | (10) |
| 1968–1974 | Sliema Wanderers | ||
| 1975–1978 | Ħamrun Spartans | ||
| 1978– | Pietà Hotspurs | ||
| Gżira United | |||
| International career | |||
| 1966–1978 | Malta | 21 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| Pietà Hotspurs | |||
| Mosta | |||
| Gżira United | |||
| Msida | |||
| St. George's | |||
| Pembroke | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Club
Cocks played mainly for Gżira United and the Sliema Wanderers, and had a short spell with the Pittsburgh Phantoms in 1967.[3] He was named Maltese Player of the Year for the 1965/66 season.[2]
International
Cocks made his debut for Malta in a February 1966 friendly match against Libya and earned a total of 21 caps, scoring 1 goal. His final international was a March 1978 friendly against Tunisia.[1]
Managerial career
He also coached several Maltese clubs, amongst them Pietà, Mosta and Gzira. He later worked at the Academy at Luxol.[3]
Personal life
Cocks was married to Marianne and the couple had three children. During his playing career he also worked as a welder and panel-beater at Gasan Group of Companies, at Panta Lesco and again at Gasan. He also had jobs with Bortex Clothing factory and Heidemann and worked as a fitness instructor at two hotels.[3]
He died in May 2017.[4]
