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Founded | 1934 |
---|---|
Country | Cyprus |
Confederation | UEFA |
Number of teams | 14 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Cypriot Second Division |
Domestic cup(s) | Cypriot Cup Cypriot Super Cup |
International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Europa Conference League |
Current champions | APOEL (28th title) (2018–19) |
Most championships | APOEL (28 titles) |
Top goalscorer | ![]() (261 goals) |
TV partners | CytaVision PrimeTel Cablenet |
Website | CFA |
Current: 2020–21 Cypriot First Division |
The Cypriot First Division (Greek : Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας); is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus, run by the Cyprus Football Association. Its football level corresponds to that of League Two of the English football league system. Since February 2016, it is sponsored by Cyta and thus officially known as Cyta Championship. [1] The league is contested by 12 teams and runs from August to May, with the three lowest-placed teams relegated to the Cypriot Second Division and replaced by the top three teams in that division. At the seasons 2018–19 and 2019–20, the league will be contested by 12 teams and will also be run from August to May, with the two lowest-placed teams relegated to the Cypriot Second Division and replaced by the top two teams in that division.
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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.
Since 1911, when Anorthosis Famagusta FC was founded, many clubs were established and in 1932 the Cypriot Championship began annually at first unofficially. Every season, the championship was organized by a different football club which caused some conflicts between 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. And in September 1934, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was formed and the Cypriot Championship and Cup began to take place annually. [2] The first Champions of Cyprus were Trust in 1935 but the club folded three years later. The 1930s were dominated by APOEL, who won five championship in a row until 1940. Like other Championships in the World, the Cypriot Championship was interrupted, due to World War II from 1941 until 1945.[ citation needed ]
The Cypriot Championship unification, lasted for only two seasons. In 1955, Çetinkaya Türk S.K., who had been the only Turkish Cypriot team playing in the Cypriot First Division since 1934–35, withdrew from the Championship and with other Turkish Cypriot teams, established the Cyprus Turkish Football Federation, with its own competitions. The reason behind this was political, as the Turkish Cypriot leadership were supporting the partition of the island. However, this Federation was never recognized and no team of that federation could play in international competitions.
The independence of Cyprus in 1960, was followed by full membership for the Cyprus Football Association to UEFA in 1962. From 1963, the champions of the Cyprus, could compete in the European Champions Cup and the Cup winners in the European Cup Winners Cup. Since 1971, the runners up in the Greek Cypriot First Division can compete in the UEFA Cup. From 1967 until 1974, the Greek Cypriot Champions were promoted to the Greek First National Division. Greek Cypriot teams were relegated every season from the Alpha Ethniki, apart from 1974, when APOEL managed to remain in the Greek Championship which meant that Cyprus would have two teams in Alpha Ethniki. However, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that year, APOEL and Omonia (the champion of Cyprus for 1974) withdrew from the League.[ citation needed ]
As of the 2017/18 season, 12 clubs compete in the league. Each club plays the other sides twice, for a total of 22 games for each club. The bottom two teams (of the first round) are relegated directly to the Second Division. In the second round the teams ranked 1-6 play off for the title and European places, and teams finishing 7-12 play each other to avoid an additional relegation place. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. The league champions qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The runner-up and third placed team in the league enters the UEFA Europa League. If the cup winners finish in the regular European places, the fourth placed team of the league are granted a UEFA Europa League berth. [3]
From 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 the B1 Division and 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 ]
The points system of the Cypriot First Division changed three times during the years:
Club | Location | 2018–19 season |
---|---|---|
AEK Larnaca | Larnaca | 2nd |
AEL Limassol | Limassol | 4th |
Anorthosis | Larnaca | 7th |
APOEL | Nicosia | 1st |
Apollon Limassol | Limassol | 3rd |
Doxa Katokopias | Katokopia | 9th |
Enosis Neon Paralimni | Paralimni | 10th |
Ethnikos Achna | Achna | 2D, 1st |
Nea Salamis Famagusta | Larnaca | 5th |
Olympiakos Nicosia | Nicosia | 2D, 2nd |
Omonia | Nicosia | 6th |
Pafos FC | Paphos | 8th |
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
APOEL | 28 | 20 | 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 |
Omonia | 20 | 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 |
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 | 3 | 5 | 1990–91, 1993–94, 2005–06 |
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 |
AEK Larnaca | – | 4 | – |
Digenis Morphou | – | 1 | – |
Enosis Neon Paralimni | – | 1 | – |
The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot First Division, up to the 2019/20 season: [9]
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The All-time Cypriot First Division table is a ranking of all Cypriot football clubs based on their performance in the Cypriot First Division. [10] The points are the sum of the points of all seasons, despite the point system of the season. The 1963–64 Cypriot First Division season 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 |
The Cypriot Cup is the main cup competition in Cypriot football, run by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA). It began in 1934, the same season with the Cypriot Championship. It is the second most important competition for Cypriot club teams after Cypriot Championship. Only the Cypriot First Division and the second division teams are participating in the competition.
APOEL is a major multi-sport club based in Nicosia, Cyprus.
AEK Larnaca FC is a Cypriot professional football club from Larnaca, Cyprus. Their home ground as from the 2016–2017 season is the brand new AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis stadium with a capacity of 7,400 spectators. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has also basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca BC and a volleyball section for women.
The 2006–07 Cypriot First Division was the 68th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. APOEL won their 19th title.
The 2007-08 Cypriot First Division started on 1 September 2007. The defending champions were APOEL.
The Cypriot Second Division is the second highest football division of the Cypriot football league system. Administrated by the Cyprus Football Association, is contested by 16 teams, with the top two teams promoted to the Cypriot First Division and the last four teams relegated to the Cypriot Third Division.
The 2005–06 Cypriot First Division was the 67th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Apollon won their 3rd title.
The 2004–05 Cypriot First Division was the 66th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Anorthosis won their 12th title.
The 2003–04 Cypriot First Division was the 65th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. APOEL won their 18th title.
The 2002–03 Cypriot First Division was the 64th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Omonia won their 19th title.
The 2000–01 Cypriot First Division was the 62nd season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Omonia won their 18th title.
The 2008–09 Cypriot First Division was the seventy season of top-tier football on Cyprus. It started on 30 August 2008 and ended on 10 May 2009. The defending champions were Anorthosis.
The 1986–87 Cypriot First Division was the 48th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Omonia won their 15th title.
The 1995–96 Cypriot First Division was the 57th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. APOEL won their 16th title.
The 1998–99 Cypriot First Division was the 60th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Anorthosis won their 10th title.
The 2009–10 Cypriot First Division was the 71st season of the Cypriot top-level football league. It started on 29 August 2009. APOEL were the defending champions.
Nea Salamis Famagusta FC or Nea Salamina Famagusta FC is a professional football club based in Ammochostos, Cyprus. It has been a refugee club since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, when Turkey occupied the northern part of the island. The club is temporarily based in Larnaca.
The 2015–16 Cypriot First Division was the 77th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. It began on 22 August 2015 and ended on 15 May 2016. APOEL were the defending champions.
The 2016–17 Cypriot First Division was the 78th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. The season began on 20 August 2016 and ended on 21 May 2017. The fixtures were announced on 7 July 2016. APOEL were the defending champions.
The following article is a summary of the 2017–18 football season in Cyprus, which is the 76th season of competitive football in the country and runs from August 2017 to May 2018.
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