{{short description|Maltese footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jake Grech | image = | caption = | fullname = Jake Grech | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|11|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = Pietà, Malta | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Floriana | clubnumber = 8 | youthyears1 = –2013 | youthclubs1 = Hamrun Spartans | years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = Hamrun Spartans | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 12 | years2 = 2017–2019 | clubs2 = Birkirkara | caps2 = 46<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | goals2 = 16<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | years3 = 2019–2023 | clubs3 = Hibernians | caps3 = 105<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | goals3 = 46<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | years4 = 2023–2024 | clubs4 = Balzan | caps4 = 12<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | goals4 = 1<!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES AND GOALS ONLY --> | years5 = 2024- | clubs5 = Floriana | caps5 = 72 | goals5 = 15 | club-update = 17 May 2026 | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = Malta U17 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = | nationalteam2 = Malta U19 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | nationalyears3 = | nationalteam3 = Malta U21 | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2018– | nationalteam4 = Malta | nationalcaps4 = 27 | nationalgoals4 = 1 | ntupdate = 19:00, 26 March 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Jake Grech''' (born 18 November 1997) is a Maltese professional footballer currently playing with Floriana in the Maltese Premier League.<ref>{{Soccerway|jake-grech/340383}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Ħamrun Spartans=== Jake Grech rose through the ranks of Ħamrun Spartans, and debuted with the team in the Maltese First Division.<ref name="mfa">{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/leagues/leagues/25/bov-second-division.htm?feature=topscores&mp=2447|title=BOV Second Division | Malta Football Association|website=mfa.com.mt|accessdate=22 June 2018}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Grech was a protagonist in Ħamrun Spartans' return from all the way down the Maltese Second Division and re-establishment of the Spartans in the Maltese Premier League. Grech was a regular goalscorer and assistman for the Spartans.<ref name="maltawinds">{{cite web|url=http://maltawinds.com/2017/06/18/jake-grech-moves-birkirkara-eur-120000-local-transfer-record/|title=Jake Grech moves to Birkirkara for EUR 120,000 – local transfer record|website=maltawinds.com|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="birkirkarafc">{{cite web|url=http://www.birkirkarafc.com/player.php?id=330|title=Birkirkara FC - Player Profile|website=birkirkarafc.com|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-01-14/football/Valletta-dig-deep-to-edge-plucky-Maroons-Hamrun-back-to-winning-form-against-10-man-Sliema-6736169058|title=Valletta dig deep to edge plucky Maroons; Hamrun back to winning form against 10-man Sliema|website=The Malta Independent|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="maltatoday">{{cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/sports/football/69984/floriana_and_amrun_share_the_spoils_in_a_draw#.Wy1FmEiFNPY|title=Floriana and Ħamrun share the spoils in a draw|website=MaltaToday.com.mt|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="hamrunspartans">{{cite web|url=http://hamrunspartans.com/hamrun-spartans-shock-hibernians/|title=Hamrun Spartans shock Hibernians | Hamrun Spartans FC|website=hamrunspartans.com|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="inewsmalta">{{cite web|url=http://www.inewsmalta.com/articles/article43880.html|website=inewsmalta.com|title=inewsmalta.com|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref>
===Birkirkara=== Grech's displays led to interest growing in him over the months.<ref name="timesofmalta">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170617/football/Birkirkara-close-in-on-U-21-midfielder-Grech.650949|author=Allied Newspapers Ltd|website=timesofmalta.com|title=Birkirkara close in on U-21 midfielder Grech|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref> In June 2017, Grech was transferred to Birkirkara F.C. for a record fee of €120,000.<ref name="maltawinds"/><ref name="tvm">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/sports/birkirkara-jiktbu-lill-mfa-ghal-erba-plejers-jake-grech-l-akbar-kolp/|title=Birkirkara jiktbu lill-MFA għal erba' plejers...Jake Grech l-akbar kolp|website=TVM|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref> Part of Grech's deal saw defender Daniel Zerafa move to Ħamrun.<ref name="timesofmalta2">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170618/football/Stripes-strike-deal-for-Grech.651026|author=Allied Newspapers Ltd|website=timesofmalta.com|title=Stripes strike deal for Grech|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref> Grech officially signed for Birkirkara on 18 June 2017.<ref name="birkirkarafc"/>
===Balzan=== On 21 June 2023, Grech signed a contract with Balzan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://balzanfc1937.com/12-06-23-balzan-fc-completed-the-signing-of-malta-international-midfielder-jake-grech/|title=Balzan FC completed the signing of Malta international midfielder Jake Grech|date=18 July 2023}}</ref>
=== Floriana === On 26th January, 2024, Grech left Balzan and signed a contract with Floriana, having been swapped with Jan Busuttil, who signed for Balzan.
==International career== Grech has represented Malta in various youth categories, such as the Malta national under-17 football team, the Malta national under-19 football team and the Malta national under-21 football team.<ref name="uefa">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/teams/players/250069812--jake-grech/|title=Under-21 - Malta - Jake Grech|website=UEFA|access-date=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="mfa2">{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/3307/jake-grech-heartened-by-teams-display-in-swiss-defeat.htm|title=Jake Grech heartened by team’s display in Swiss defeat | Malta Football Association|website=mfa.com.mt|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref> He was instrumental in various matches and showed great promise, at times being decisive for his side.<ref name="independent2">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-10-07/local-news/Jake-Grech-stunner-gives-Malta-a-merited-win-6736164871|title=Jake Grech stunner gives Malta U21 team a merited win over Latvia|website=The Malta Independent|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref>
Upon being promoted as National Team manager, Ray Farrugia decided call up Jake Grech to the senior squad, amongst other players.<ref name="timesofmalta3">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180525/football/farrugia-opts-for-a-blend-of-youth-and-experience-in-malta-squad.679971|author=Allied Newspapers Ltd|website=timesofmalta.com|title=Farrugia opts for a blend of youth and experience in Malta squad|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="independent3">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-05-25/football/Farrugia-finalises-Malta-squad-for-Armenia-and-Georgia-friendlies-6736190505|title=Farrugia finalises Malta squad for Armenia and Georgia friendlies|website=The Malta Independent|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref> In fact, Grech's first match with the Malta national football team was against Armenia in a match that ended in a draw.<ref name="timesofmalta4">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180529/football/farrugias-malta-earn-draw-against-armenia.680373|author=Allied Newspapers Ltd|website=timesofmalta.com|title=Farrugia's Malta earn draw against Armenia|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="mfa3">{{cite web|url=https://www.mfa.com.mt/en/news/news/3406/brave-malta-in-1-1-draw-against-armenia-in-friendly.htm|title=Brave Malta in 1-1 draw against Armenia in friendly | Malta Football Association|website=mfa.com.mt|accessdate=22 June 2018}}</ref>
==Style of play== During the team's spell in the lower divisions, Grech received a lot of playing time which helped him develop into a goal-scoring offensive-minded midfielder.<ref name="mfa"/><ref name="maltawinds"/><ref name="birkirkarafc"/>
==Personal life== Jake is the son of former Ħamrun Spartans star Marco Grech. Jake's brother Luke Grech is also a professional footballer, who also came up through Ħamrun Spartans's youth set up.<ref name="tvm"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grech, Jake}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:Maltese men's footballers Category:Malta men's international footballers Category:Hamrun Spartans F.C. players Category:Birkirkara F.C. players Category:Maltese Premier League players Category:Malta men's under-21 international footballers Category:Malta men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Hibernians F.C. players Category:Balzan F.C. players Category:Floriana F.C. players