TheCypriot First Division(Greek:Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας), known as theCyprus League by Stoiximanfor sponsorship reasons, is the top-tierfootballleague competition inCyprus,run by theCyprus Football Association.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Country | Cyprus |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegationto | Cypriot Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | APOEL(29th title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | APOEL (29 titles) |
| Top goalscorer |  Sotiris Kaiafas(1967–1984)(261 goals) |
| TV partners | Cytavision Cablenet |
| Website | www |
| Current:2024–25 Cypriot First Division | |
The league is contested by 14 teams and runs from August to May, with the three lowest-placed teams being relegated to theCypriot Second Division,and replaced by the top three teams in that division.
History
editThis section includes a list ofgeneral references,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(October 2017) |
Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British. Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed.
Anorthosis Famagusta FCwas founded in 1911, after which many other clubs were established. In 1932, the annual Cypriot Championship began, at first unofficially. Every season, the championship was organised by a different football club, which caused conflict among some of the teams.
As football became more established, the clubs were united in agreeing that an official body was needed to regulate the sport. In September 1934, theCyprus Football Association(CFA) was formed and the Cypriot Championship and Cup began to take place annually.[2]The first Champions of Cyprus wereTrustin 1935, but the club folded three years later. The 1930s were dominated byAPOEL,who won five championships in a row until 1940. Like other championships throughout the world, the Cypriot Championship was interrupted due to World War II from 1941 until 1945.[citation needed]
In 1955,Çetinkaya Türk S.K.,who had been the onlyTurkish Cypriotteam playing in the Cypriot First Division since 1934–35, withdrew from the Championship and, along with other Turkish Cypriot teams, established theCyprus Turkish Football Association,with its own competitions. The reason behind this was political, as the Turkish Cypriots were opposed to the anticolonial struggle of EOKA and union with Greece (enosis). However, this federation was never recognised, and none of its teams was permitted to play in international competitions.
Cypriot independence in 1960 was followed by full UEFA membership for the Cyprus Football Association in 1962. From 1963, the champions of Cyprus could compete in theEuropean Cupand the Cup winners in theEuropean Cup Winners Cup.The runners-up in the Greek Cypriot First Division began to compete in the UEFA Cup in 1971. From 1967 until 1974, the Greek Cypriot Champions were promoted to theGreek First National Division.Greek Cypriot teams were relegated every season from the Alpha Ethniki, apart from1973–74,when APOEL managed to remain in the Greek Championship, which meant that Cyprus would have two teams in Greek top tier. However, due to theTurkish invasion of Cyprusthat year, APOEL andOmonia(the1973–74Cypriot champions) withdrew from the League.[citation needed]
Format
editCurrent format
editAs of the 2022-23 season, 14 clubs compete in the league, and are ranked based on the point system described below. Each club plays the other sides twice, home and away, for a total of 26 games for each club. This is referred to as the first round of the league. In the second round, the teams are divided into two groups; the teams ranked 1st to 6th play off for the title and European spots in Group A, while the bottom eight teams battle to avoid relegation in Group B. Group A is often referred to as the Championship Play-offs, while Group B is referred to as the Relegation Play-offs. Each team's points and criteria, such asgoal difference,goals scored, etc. are retained during the transition from first to second round. Similarly to the first round, every club plays the other sides twice, for a total of 10 or 14 games for each club, in Group A and Group B respectively.
At the end of the second round, the club ranked 1st in Group A is declared the winner of the league. The champion qualifies for theUEFA Champions League,while the second and third placed teams enter theUEFA Europa Conference League.If thecupwinners finish in third or above, the fourth placed team also enters theUEFA Europa Conference League.Meanwhile, the bottom three teams in Group B are relegated to theSecond Division.
Previous formats
editFrom 2007–08 until 2012–13 season, in the second round, the first 12 (out of 14) teams were separated into three groups of four teams according to their position at the end of the first round. For the 2013–14 season, in the second round, the first 12 (out of 14) teams were separated into two groups of six teams according to their position at the end of the first round. The last two teams of the first round were relegated directly to theB1 Divisionand the bottom two teams of the relegation group also. The points from the first round were carried to the second round and the teams played each other twice.[citation needed]
Point system
editThe point system of the Cypriot First Division has changed throughout the years:
- From1934–35until1959–60,teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[3]
- From1960–61until1969–70,teams were awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat.[3]
- From1970–71until1990–91,teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[4]
- Since the1991–92season, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[5]
In the event that two or more teams have the same amount of points, they are ranked based on:
- Points gained in games between the teams, in both rounds.
- Goal difference in games between the teams, in both rounds.
- Most away goals scored in games between the teams, in both rounds.
- Goal difference across all games, in both rounds.
- Most goals scored across all games, in both rounds.
2024–25 Clubs
edit| Club | Location | 2023–24 season |
|---|---|---|
| AEK Larnaca | Larnaca | 2nd |
| AEL Limassol | Limassol | 8th |
| Anorthosis | Famagusta | 6th |
| APOEL | Nicosia | 1st |
| Apollon Limassol | Limassol | 7th |
| Aris Limassol | Limassol | 4th |
| Enosis Neon Paralimni | Paralimni,Famagusta | Promoted from 2nd Div. |
| Ethnikos Achnas | Achna,Famagusta | 10th |
| Karmiotissa | Pano Polemidia,Limassol | 11th |
| Nea Salamina | Famagusta | 9th |
| Omonia Aradippou | Aradippou,Larnaca | Promoted from 2nd Div. |
| Omonia | Nicosia | 3rd |
| PAC Omonia 29M | Nicosia | Promoted from 2nd Div. |
| Pafos FC | Paphos | 5th |
Champions
editPerformance by club
edit| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| APOEL | 29 | 21 | 1935–36,1936–37,1937–38,1938–39,1939–40,1946–47,1947–48,1948–49,1951–52,1964–65,1972–73,1979–80,1985–86,1989–90,1991–92,1995–96,2001–02,2003–04,2006–07,2008–09,2010–11,2012–13,2013–14,2014–15,2015–16,2016–17,2017–18,2018–19,2023–24 |
| Omonia | 21 | 16 | 1960–61,1965–66,1971–72,1973–74,1974–75,1975–76,1976–77,1977–78,1978–79,1980–81,1981–82,1982–83,1983–84,1984–85,1986–87,1988–89,1992–93,2000–01,2002–03,2009–10,2020–21 |
| Anorthosis | 13 | 10 | 1949–50,1956–57,1957–58,1959–60,1961–62,1962–63,1994–95,1996–97,1997–98,1998–99,1999–2000,2004–05,2007–08 |
| AEL Limassol | 6 | 2 | 1940–41,1952–53,1954–55,1955–56,1967–68,2011–12 |
| Apollon Limassol | 4 | 6 | 1990–91,1993–94,2005–06,2021–22 |
| EPA Larnaca | 3 | 5 | 1944–45,1945–46,1969–70 |
| Olympiakos Nicosia | 3 | 4 | 1966–67,1968–69,1970–71 |
| Pezoporikos Larnaca | 2 | 8 | 1953–54,1987–88 |
| Trust | 1 | 3 | 1934–35 |
| Çetinkaya Türk | 1 | 1 | 1950–51 |
| Aris Limassol | 1 | — | 2022–23 |
| AEK Larnaca | — | 6 | – |
| Digenis Morphou | — | 1 | – |
| Enosis Neon Paralimni | — | 1 | – |
Titles won by club (%)
Appearances in the top division
editThe below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot First Division, up to and including the 2023/24 season.[8]
45 teams have played at least one season in First Division.
Teams inboldare participating in the2024-25 Cypriot First Division.
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- The1963–64 Cypriot First Division,where the championship was abandoned, is not included in the table.
- Çetinkaya total includes 12 when competing as Lefkosa Turk Spor Kulubu
- APEP Pitsilia total includes one as APEP Limassol
All-time Cypriot First Division table (1934–35 until 2017–18)
editThe All-time Cypriot First Division table is a ranking of all Cypriot football clubs based on their performance in the Cypriot First Division.[9]The points are the sum of the points of all seasons, despite the point system of the season. The1963–64 Cypriot First Divisionseason is not included because the championship was abandoned.
| Rank | Club | Ssn | Points | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APOEL FC | 77 | 3227 | 1785 | 1072 | 382 | 331 | 4001 | 1787 | 2072 |
| 2 | AC Omonia | 62 | 3021 | 1628 | 1005 | 331 | 292 | 3536 | 1552 | 1984 |
| 3 | Anorthosis Famagusta FC | 72 | 2910 | 1777 | 896 | 447 | 434 | 3218 | 2044 | 1175 |
| 4 | Apollon Limassol | 59 | 2468 | 1589 | 722 | 415 | 452 | 2691 | 1946 | 745 |
| 5 | AEL Limassol | 77 | 2435 | 1791 | 740 | 440 | 611 | 2922 | 2486 | 436 |
| 6 | Nea Salamis Famagusta FC | 56 | 1790 | 1467 | 490 | 381 | 596 | 2026 | 2224 | -198 |
| 7 | Olympiakos Nicosia | 67 | 1688 | 1501 | 496 | 360 | 645 | 2243 | 2775 | -532 |
| 8 | Enosis Neon Paralimni FC | 46 | 1459 | 1253 | 426 | 365 | 462 | 1663 | 1699 | -36 |
| 9 | Pezoporikos Larnaca FC | 49 | 1432 | 1062 | 444 | 318 | 300 | 1719 | 1326 | 393 |
| 10 | Aris Limassol FC | 53 | 1287 | 1311 | 329 | 324 | 658 | 1668 | 2648 | -980 |
| 11 | EPA Larnaca FC | 50 | 1222 | 1052 | 362 | 277 | 413 | 1570 | 1641 | -71 |
| 12 | Alki Larnaca FC | 43 | 1202 | 1128 | 309 | 284 | 535 | 1400 | 1986 | -586 |
| 13 | Ethnikos Achna FC | 31 | 1078 | 895 | 296 | 219 | 380 | 1201 | 1370 | -169 |
| 14 | AEK Larnaca FC | 23 | 1039 | 675 | 295 | 154 | 226 | 1100 | 876 | 224 |
| 15 | Doxa Katokopias FC | 14 | 419 | 434 | 108 | 95 | 231 | 503 | 848 | -345 |
| 16 | APOP Paphos FC | 19 | 406 | 502 | 105 | 126 | 271 | 501 | 1007 | -506 |
| 17 | Evagoras Paphos | 18 | 371 | 480 | 90 | 136 | 254 | 431 | 906 | -475 |
| 18 | Ermis Aradippou FC | 12 | 353 | 374 | 94 | 75 | 205 | 402 | 767 | -365 |
| 19 | Digenis Akritas Morphou FC | 15 | 339 | 396 | 94 | 110 | 192 | 397 | 690 | -293 |
| 20 | AEP Paphos FC | 10 | 315 | 278 | 81 | 72 | 125 | 376 | 478 | -102 |
| 21 | Omonia Aradippou | 13 | 232 | 357 | 64 | 92 | 201 | 315 | 686 | -371 |
| 22 | Çetinkaya Türk S.K. | 18 | 189 | 209 | 77 | 35 | 97 | 393 | 503 | -110 |
| 23 | ASIL Lysi | 8 | 180 | 198 | 37 | 40 | 121 | 169 | 430 | -261 |
| 24 | APOP Kinyras FC | 5 | 161 | 148 | 44 | 29 | 75 | 201 | 275 | -74 |
| 25 | Orfeas Nicosia | 4 | 134 | 90 | 24 | 16 | 50 | 110 | 180 | -70 |
| 26 | Anagennisi Deryneia FC | 7 | 123 | 186 | 31 | 35 | 120 | 163 | 409 | -247 |
| 27 | Armenian Young Men's Association | 11 | 121 | 176 | 23 | 27 | 126 | 256 | 593 | -337 |
| 28 | APEP FC | 7 | 101 | 192 | 25 | 34 | 133 | 158 | 460 | -302 |
| 29 | Keravnos Strovolou FC | 4 | 84 | 108 | 28 | 28 | 52 | 111 | 167 | -56 |
| 30 | Pafos FC | 2 | 78 | 72 | 19 | 21 | 32 | 77 | 109 | -32 |
| 31 | Enosis Neon Trust | 4 | 68 | 44 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 129 | 54 | 75 |
| 32 | Ayia Napa FC | 4 | 64 | 110 | 12 | 28 | 70 | 90 | 218 | -128 |
| 33 | Ethnikos Assia FC | 3 | 60 | 78 | 17 | 9 | 52 | 102 | 184 | -82 |
| 34 | Chalkanoras Idaliou | 2 | 43 | 60 | 16 | 11 | 33 | 59 | 116 | -57 |
| 35 | Alki Oroklini | 1 | 39 | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 48 | 73 | -25 |
| 36 | Karmiotissa FC | 1 | 37 | 36 | 10 | 7 | 19 | 47 | 71 | -24 |
| 37 | Othellos Athienou FC | 1 | 25 | 32 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 26 | 42 | -16 |
| 38 | AEK Kouklia FC | 1 | 23 | 36 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 34 | 94 | -60 |
| 39 | Onisilos Sotira | 1 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 63 | -41 |
| 40 | AEZ Zakakiou | 1 | 11 | 26 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 63 | -43 |
| 41 | Atromitos Yeroskipou | 1 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 69 | -50 |
| 42 | Enosis Neon THOI Lakatamia | 1 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 15 | 75 | -60 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Το Κυπριακό Πρωτάθλημα γίνεται Cyprus League by Stoiximan![The Cypriot Championship becomes the Cyprus League by Stoiximan!] (in Greek). cfa.cy. 30 August 2024.Archivedfrom the original on 1 September 2024.Retrieved1 September2024.
- ^"HISTORY OF CFA".CFA. 31 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2015.Retrieved31 March2015.
- ^abΓαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001,p. 71
- ^Γαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001,p. 88
- ^Γαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001,p. 130
- ^"Cyprus - List of Champions".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.23 June 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2022.Retrieved24 June2016.
- ^"Πρωταθλήτριες Ομάδες".CFA.Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2017.Retrieved24 June2016.
- ^"Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot First Division".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.22 June 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2022.Retrieved17 January2018.
- ^"Cyprus - All-Time Table".Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.22 June 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2022.Retrieved8 August2017.
Bibliography
edit- Γαβριηλίδης, Μιχάλης; Παπαμωυσέως, Στέλιος (2001).Ένας αιώνας Κυπριακό ποδόσφαιρο.Λευκωσία: Ο Συγγραφέας.ISBN9963-8720-1-8.
External links
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