Other names | Heraklion Derby Ηρακλειώτικο ντέρμπι The Battle of Crete Η Μάχη της Κρήτης |
---|---|
Location | Heraklion, Crete, Greece |
Teams | |
First meeting | 18 August 1929 (friendly) Ergotelis 1–0 OFI |
Latest meeting | 27 January 2019 Greek Football Cup OFI Crete 1–1 Ergotelis (4-3 pens) |
Next meeting | TBD |
Stadiums | Pankritio Stadium (Ergotelis), Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium (OFI) |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | Official matches: 25 (since 2004) |
Most wins | OFI Crete (11) |
Top scorer | TBD |
Largest victory | 2005–06 Super League OFI Crete 4–0 Ergotelis |
The Cretan derby (Greek : Το Κρητικό Ντέρμπι), also called Heraklion Derby (Greek : Ηρακλειώτικο ντέρμπι) or The Battle of Crete (Greek : Η Μάχη της Κρήτης), is an association football rivalry between Ergotelis and OFI, two teams from Heraklion, Crete. Historically, the derby has been the most iconic football rivalry on the island, as both clubs were the most prestigious representatives of Crete in the Greek Super League.
In recent years, however, the rivalry has been affected by Ergotelis's relegation. After several seasons in the lower tiers of Greek football, Ergotelis officially withdrew from national leagues in 2022 and began competing in the A1 EPSI , the fourth football tier and top local division in Heraklion. The club's decision to step back and focus on youth development has widened the gap between them and OFI, who remain in the Super League. As a result, the Cretan derby no longer holds the same competitive significance, with the two clubs now playing in vastly different leagues. The most recent Cretan derby was in 2019, when OFI eliminated Ergotelis in the Greek Football Cup . Both games ended in 1–1 ties, with OFI eventually qualifying by winning 4–3 in the penalty shootout. Since then, the clubs have not met in official competitions due to their different standings.
Socially, Ergotelis and OFI have historically represented different demographics within Heraklion. Ergotelis primarily represented the upper middle class, while OFI attracted supporters from working-class areas. The two clubs were established nearly simultaneously in the 1920s, with OFI being founded in 1925 and Ergotelis following in 1929. Over the years, the rivalry has intensified, particularly in the 1960s, when matches between the two were considered major social events in Heraklion.
The tension between the two clubs was further fueled during the Greek military junta. Following the 1966–67 season of the Greek Second National Division (Beta Ethniki), Ergotelis was relegated to amateur status due to a new law that limited the number of professional football clubs per city. Five of Ergotelis' key players were transferred to OFI, and Ergotelis fans have long attributed this incident to political interference by the junta, which they claim favored OFI. The rivalry remains deeply rooted in Heraklion's football culture today.
While OFI has been historically more successful, achieving promotion to the Super League in 1968 and remaining there for most of the next three decades, Ergotelis lingered in the lower divisions until their resurgence in the early 2000s. Ergotelis earned their first promotion to the Super League in 2004, marking a new chapter in the rivalry.
Ergotelis’s withdrawal from the national leagues in 2022 marked a significant shift in the rivalry. The two teams, once fierce competitors in both local and national competitions, no longer compete at the same level. The last official derby match occurred in 2019 during the Greek Football Cup , and with Ergotelis now focused on rebuilding through youth development in the local leagues, it is unlikely the two sides will face each other again in the near future.
This shift has made the Cretan derby more of a symbolic rivalry than a competitive one, as OFI continues to perform in the top tier of Greek football while Ergotelis rebuilds in the amateur leagues. The rivalry, however, remains a key part of Cretan football history.
The Cretan Derby between OFI Crete and Ergotelis is steeped in history, with matches dating back to the late 1920s when the clubs were first established. The very first recorded match, a friendly on 18 August 1929, saw Ergotelis leading 1–0 against OFI , but the game was interrupted in the 35th minute due to a brawl between players from both teams. [1]
Below is a detailed breakdown of their head-to-head encounters from 2004 onwards, reflecting the modern era of their rivalry:
Head-to-Head Statistic | Data |
---|---|
OFI Crete Wins | 11 |
Ergotelis Wins | 6 |
Draws | 8 |
Total Goals Scored (OFI Crete) | 42 |
Total Goals Scored (Ergotelis) | 32 |
Date | Competition | Home Team | Result | Away Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020/09/06 | INT CF | OFI Crete | 0–2 | Ergotelis |
2019/08/18 | INT CF | OFI Crete | 2–2 | Ergotelis |
2019/01/24 | Greek Cup | OFI Crete | 1–1 (4–3 pens) | Ergotelis |
2019/01/09 | Greek Cup | Ergotelis | 1–1 | OFI Crete |
2018/08/19 | INT CF | OFI Crete | 2–1 | Ergotelis |
2018/03/24 | Super League 2 | OFI Crete | 4–2 | Ergotelis |
2017/12/04 | Super League 2 | Ergotelis | 2–4 | OFI Crete |
2015/02/07 | Super League | Ergotelis | 3–2 | OFI Crete |
2014/12/05 | Super League | OFI Crete | 1–0 | Ergotelis |
2014/02/18 | Super League | Ergotelis | 0–1 | OFI Crete |
2013/10/20 | Super League | OFI Crete | 1–1 | Ergotelis |
2012/05/09 | INT CF | OFI Crete | 3–4 | Ergotelis |
2012/09/09 | INT CF | OFI Crete | 2–2 | Ergotelis |
2012/02/04 | Super League | Ergotelis | 0–1 | OFI Crete |
2011/10/02 | Super League | OFI Crete | 1–0 | Ergotelis |
2009/04/13 | Super League | OFI Crete | 0–0 | Ergotelis |
2008/12/15 | Super League | Ergotelis | 1–3 | OFI Crete |
2008/01/27 | Super League | Ergotelis | 1–1 | OFI Crete |
2007/10/01 | Super League | OFI Crete | 4–1 | Ergotelis |
2007/02/04 | Super League | OFI Crete | 1–3 | Ergotelis |
2006/09/24 | Super League | Ergotelis | 2–0 | OFI Crete |
2005/04/03 | Super League | Ergotelis | 0–1 | OFI Crete |
2004/11/27 | Super League | OFI Crete | 5–0 | Ergotelis |
Major Honours won | ||
---|---|---|
Competition | Ergotelis | OFI |
Super League Greece | 0 | 0 |
Greek Football Cup | 0 | 1 (1987) |
Total | 0 | 1 |
...
OFI Football Club, commonly referred to as OFI, is a Greek professional football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. It is part of the OFI multi-sports club. The team competes in the Super League Greece, the top division of the Greek football league system, and hosts home games at the Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium in Heraklion, Crete.
Ergotelis Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Heraklion, Crete, which competes in the FCA Heraklion A1, the fourth tier of the Greek football league system, and hosts its home games at the Pankritio Stadium. Established in 1929 and named after the ancient Cretan Olympic runner, it is part of Gymnastics Club Ergotelis.
Patrick Ogunsoto is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent the majority of his career in Greece and is best known for his tenure at Greek side Ergotelis, for which he still remains the all-time top scorer.
P.O. Atsaleniou, short for Panathlitikos Omilos Atsaleniou and also known simply as Atsalenios or POA, is a Greek association football club based in the suburb Atsalenio of Heraklion, the largest city on the island of Crete. The club's short name Atsalenios can literally be translated made of steel. The club currently competes in the Gamma Ethniki, the third tier of the Greek football league system.
Charalampos Charalampakis is a Greek retired professional football defender.
Manolis Roubakis is a Greek professional footballer who plays for Atsalenios in the Greek Football League 2. Despite being right-footed, his natural position is left back; however, he's comfortable playing in both flanks of the defence.
Angelos Abdel Chanti, known in Jordan as Malek Shehadeh Ahmad Abdel-Hadi, is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Almyros Gaziou. Born in Greece, he has represented the Jordan national team.
Panagiotis Kordonouris is a Greek former footballer. He spent the majority of his career in Crete, representing clubs at various competition levels spanning the Greek Superleague to Crete's amateur regional competitions.
Giannis Kiliaras is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a left back for Super League 2 club Irodotos.
Michail Fragoulakis is a Greek professional footballer who plays for the Greek Gamma Ethniki club Giouchtas.
Manolis Moniakis is a Greek professional footballer, who plays as a left back for O.F.Arkalochoriou in the Heraklion FCA A1 Championship, a regional league in the fifth tier of the Greek football league system.
Alkis Dimitris is a Greek football manager and former professional player who played as a defender. He has spent the majority of his career representing Cretan clubs in various leagues of the Greek football league system, including the Greek Superleague.
Irodotos Football Club, short for Podosferikós Athlitikós Sýllogos Alikarnassoú Iródotos and also simply known as Irodotos, is a Greek football club based in Nea Alikarnassos, Heraklion. The club is named after the ancient historian Herodotus, descended from Halicarnassus, Asia Minor, whose bust is also used as the club logo. Irodotos was established in 1932 by refugees from Asia Minor, who were displaced following the Greco-Turkish War in 1922. By acclamation, Irodotos is considered the third most successful club in Heraklion in terms of achievements, due to its consistent presence in the Second and Third national divisions, but has maintained a considerable fan base, and a longstanding rivalry with local Superleague side OFI, despite the fact the two haven't met in national competitions for almost 30 years. The club currently competes in the Football League, the second tier of the Greek football league system, while also administering amateur men's football and basketball departments. In the past it also had departments for wrestling, cycling, women's football and athletics. Its colours are blue and white.
The Gymnastics Club «Ergotelis» Heraklion Crete, also known simply as Ergotelis, is a Greek multi sport club based in Heraklion, Crete. The name of the club was inspired by that of the famous ancient Cretan expatriate Olympic runner Ergoteles of Himera. Officially founded in 1929, Ergotelis' colours are yellow and black. The club runs multiple football and basketball departments for both men and women playing in both regional and domestic competitions.
Giannis Petrakis is a Greek professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of Super League club Panetolikos.
The Heraklion Football Clubs Association is an association responsible for administering football in the region of Heraklion. It is based in the city of Heraklion and is a member of the Hellenic Football Federation. The association is responsible for organizing regional Championship and Cup competitions for both adult and youth teams playing in its divisions.
Kostas Chaniotakis is a retired Greek footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Myron Sifakis is a Greek retired goalkeeper and current football manager.
Giannis Taousianis is a Greek professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Greece U-21.
Dimitrios Papadopoulos was a Greek professional footballer who played as a forward.