Justin Haber
|
Haber with Hibernians in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 June 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Floriana, Malta | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hibernians | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Floriana | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2002 | Floriana | 23 | (0) |
| 1998 | → Dobrudzha (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Birkirkara | 74 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | US Quevilly | 27 | (0) |
| 2006 | RE Virton | 5 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Marsaxlokk | 7 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Chaidari | 15 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Sheffield United | 0 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Ferencváros (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Ferencváros II (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Ferencváros | 10 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Ferencváros II | 8 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Kerkyra | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Mosta | 18 | (0) |
| 2013–2016 | Birkirkara | 87 | (0) |
| 2016 | Hibernians | 12 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Floriana | 26 | (0) |
| 2017–2022 | Gżira United | 71 | (0) |
| 2022 | Santa Lucia | 13 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Hibernians | 11 | (0) |
| 2023 | Marsaxlokk | 0 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Gżira United | 2 | (0) |
| 2025–2025 | Żabbar St. Patrick | 0 | (0) |
| 2025–2025 | Hibernians | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2016 | Malta | 54 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6th October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 August 2015 | |||
Justin Haber (born 9 June 1981) is a Maltese professional footballer and convicted sex offender[1] who last played as a goalkeeper for Maltese Premier League club Hibernians FC and formerly played with the Malta national football team.
Haber is also a businessman and former Labour party councillor for Floriana.
Football career
Floriana
Born in Floriana, Malta, Haber started his football career at Floriana F.C. During his three-year spell at Floriana, he made 23 appearances and was later sent on loan to a Bulgarian top division team Dobrudzha Dobrich.
Birkirkara
Justin then joined Birkirkara in 2002, and stayed with the club until 2005. Haber was a vital member of the team, gaining him 74 caps.
US Quevilly
Towards the end of 2005, Haber joined French-side US Quevilly, where he gained 27 caps.
Marsaxlokk
In 2006, Haber moved back to Malta to join Marsaxlokk FC for the 2006–07 season. He managed to help the small seaside club to win its first ever Maltese Championship.
Haidari
In June 2007, it was announced that Haber had joined Greek side Haidari FC on a two-year contract. The club is based in a suburban town close to Athens and participates in the Greek Second Division.
Sheffield United
In July 2008 Haber joined Sheffield United on a two-year deal.[2][3] Haber had previously undergone a trial during United's 2006–2007 season in the Premier League, however, then manager Neil Warnock decided not to offer the Maltese keeper a contract[3] In August 2009, after failing to break into the Blades first team, Haber was allowed to join their sister club Ferencváros on loan until the end of the year.[4]
Ferencváros
In January of the following year Haber signed an 18-month contract with Ferencvárosi. He was a regular first team pick, and in the 2010–11 season he helped his team become third place, and a chance to play in the Europa League.[4][5]
Kerkyra
Haber signed a two-year deal with Greek Super League club Kerkyra on 5 July 2011.
Birkirkara
In 2012, he returned to Malta to play for Birkirkara.
Żabbar St. Patricks
In 2025, he joined Żabbar St.Patricks from Gżira United.
Hibernians
On 20 August 2025, Haber joined Hibernians on a free transfer for his third spell at the club.[6] His contract with Hibernians was terminated upon his conviction the same day for sexual harassment of a minor.[7]
Restaurant owner
In 2008, Haber opened a seafood restaurant in Marsaxlokk called Haber 16, with the holding company Haber 16 Ltd.[8][9] On 20 February 2020, Haber 16 was featured on the Netflix series Restaurants on the Edge.[10] The restaurant was later closed and replaced by Harbour by Johann.
Political career
Haber contested the 2024 local council elections and was elected to the Floriana local council with Partit Laburista.[11] Haber resigned from the local council the next year following a conviction for threatening to behead his sister.[12]
Legal issues
In November 2023, Haber was ordered to pay money to a partner company who invested in his Marsaxlokk restaurant. The partner, Delta 3 Finance and Investments Company, claimed they had to pay off debts of both the restaurant and Haber himself.[13]
In May 2025, Haber was found guilty of threatening his sister, where he sent text messages threatening to "cut her [...] head off". A restraining order was issued against Harber in his sister's defence for one year.[14]
In October 2025, Haber was found guilty of sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl who worked at his restaurant, reportedly groping her buttocks and forcefully kissing her. He was given a suspended sentence and placed on the sex offender's register.[1][15]
References
- ^ a b "Justin Haber found guilty of sexually harassing 14-year-old girl". MaltaToday. Media Today Co. Ltd. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Triple swoop by Blades". Sky Sports. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Justin Haber joins Sheffield United". independent.com.mt. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Justin Haber is Hungary with Ferencvaros". maltesefootballstarlets.com. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ^ Magyarfutball.hu. "Haber Justin (Floriana 1981.06.09 – ) • Személyek • Magyarfutball.hu – a magyar labdarúgás adatbázisa". magyarfutball.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (20 August 2025). "Veteran goalkeeper Justin Haber returns to Hibernians FC". SportsDesk. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (9 October 2025). "Hibernians FC terminate contract of goalkeeper Justin Haber". Times of Malta. Allied Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ Jacobsen, Baryn (10 October 2019). "From Goalkeeper To Restaurateur: Justin Haber's Marsaxlokk Eatery Has More Than Just Fish On The Menu". Lovin Malta. Lovin Malta Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "HABER 16 LTD (C 87127)". Business Automation Registry Online System. Malta Business Registry. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "'Holy Wow!' Malta's Justin Haber Features On First Episode Of Netflix's Newest Food Show And It's An Emotional Patriotic Masterpiece". lovinmalta.com/. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ Briffa, Daniel (26 April 2024). "Former National Team Goalkeeper Justin Haber To Contest Local Council Elections". Malta Daily. Malta Daily. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ Bonanno, Matthew (2 June 2025). "Justin Haber resigns from Floriana local council after beheading threat". Times of Malta. Allied Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ Agius, Matthew (7 November 2023). "Justin Haber ordered to pay thousands to business partner over failed restaurant business". MaltaToday. MediaToday Co. Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ Malta, Times of (27 May 2025). "Councillor and former goalkeeper Justin Haber guilty of threatening his sister". Times of Malta. Allied Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Former National Team goalkeeper Justin Haber found guilty of sexual harassment of a minor - given suspended sentence". The Maltese Herald. Dar Camilleri. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
External links
- www.justinhaber.co.uk - Official Website at the Wayback Machine (archived 29 March 2009)
- Justin Haber at Soccerbase
- Justin Haber at National-Football-Teams.com