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Cypriot First Division

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Not to be confused with Cypriot First Division (women).

Cyta Championship
File:Cyta Championship Logo.png
Founded1934; 90 years ago (1934)
CountryCyprus
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toCypriot Second Division
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsAris Limassol (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAPOEL
(28 titles)
Top goalscorerCyprus Sotiris Kaiafas (1967–1984)
(261 goals)
TV partnersCytavision
PrimeTel
Cablenet
Websitewww.cfa.com.cy Edit this at Wikidata
Current: 2023–24

The Cypriot First Division (Template:Lang-el), known as the Cyta Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus, run by the Cyprus Football Association.[1]

The league is contested by 14 teams and runs from August to May, with the three lowest-placed teams being relegated to the Cypriot Second Division, and replaced by the top three teams in that division.

History

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 FC was 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 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. 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 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 only Turkish Cypriot team playing in the Cypriot First Division since 1934–35, withdrew from the Championship and, along with other Turkish Cypriot teams, established the Cyprus 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 the European Cup and the Cup winners in the European 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 the Greek First National Division. Greek Cypriot teams were relegated every season from the Alpha Ethniki, apart from 1973–74, when APOEL managed to remain in the Greek Championship, which meant that Cyprus would have two teams in Greek top tier. However, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that year, APOEL and Omonia (the 1973–74 Cypriot champions) withdrew from the League.[citation needed]

Format

Current format

As 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 as goal 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 the UEFA Champions League, while the second and third placed teams enter the UEFA Europa Conference League. If the cup winners finish in third or above, the fourth placed team also enters the UEFA Europa Conference League. Meanwhile, the bottom three teams in Group B are relegated to the Second Division.

Previous formats

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]

Point system

The point system of the Cypriot First Division has changed throughout the years:

  1. From 1934–35 until 1959–60, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[3]
  2. From 1960–61 until 1969–70, teams were awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat.[3]
  3. From 1970–71 until 1990–91, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.[4]
  4. Since the 1991–92 season, 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:

  1. Points gained in games between the teams, in both rounds.
  2. Goal difference in games between the teams, in both rounds.
  3. Most away goals scored in games between the teams, in both rounds.
  4. Goal difference across all games, in both rounds.
  5. Most goals scored across all games, in both rounds.

2023–24 Clubs

Club Location 2022–23 season
AEK Larnaca Larnaca 3rd
AEL Limassol Limassol 9th
AEZ Limassol Promoted from 2nd Div.
Anorthosis Famagusta 7th
APOEL Nicosia 2nd
Apollon Limassol Limassol 5th
Aris Limassol Limassol 1st
Doxa Katokopias Katokopia, Nicosia 14th
Ethnikos Achnas Achna, Famagusta Promoted from 2nd Div.
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia, Limassol 10 th
Nea Salamina Famagusta 8th
Othellos Athienou, Larnaca Promoted from 2nd Div.
Omonia Nicosia 6th
Pafos FC Paphos 4th

Champions

Tournament Season Winners[6][7] (number of titles) Runners-up of tournament
1934–35 Trust (1) Çetinkaya Türk
1935–36 APOEL (1) Trust
1936–37 APOEL (2) Trust
1937–38 APOEL (3) Trust
1938–39 APOEL (4) EPA Larnaca
1939–40 APOEL (5) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1940–41 AEL Limassol (1) APOEL
1941–44 Suspended due to World War II
1944–45 EPA Larnaca (1) APOEL
1945–46 EPA Larnaca (2) APOEL
1946–47 APOEL (6) EPA Larnaca
1947–48 APOEL (7) AEL Limassol
1948–49 APOEL (8) Anorthosis Famagusta
1949–50 Anorthosis Famagusta (1) EPA Larnaca
1950–51 Çetinkaya Türk (1) APOEL
1951–52 APOEL (9) EPA Larnaca
1952–53 AEL Limassol (2) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1953–54 Pezoporikos Larnaca (1) APOEL
1954–55 AEL Limassol (3) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1955–56 AEL Limassol (4) APOEL
1956–57 Anorthosis Famagusta (2) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1957–58 Anorthosis Famagusta (3) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1958–59 Not Held
1959–60 Anorthosis Famagusta (4) Omonia
1960–61 Omonia (1) Anorthosis Famagusta
1961–62 Anorthosis Famagusta (5) Omonia
1962–63 Anorthosis Famagusta (6) APOEL
1963–64 Championship Abandoned
1964–65 APOEL (10) Olympiakos Nicosia
1965–66 Omonia (2) Olympiakos Nicosia
1966–67 Olympiakos Nicosia (1) APOEL
1967–68 AEL Limassol (5) Omonia
1968–69 Olympiakos Nicosia (2) Omonia
1969–70 EPA Larnaca (3) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1970–71 Olympiakos Nicosia (3) Digenis Morphou
1971–72 Omonia (3) EPA Larnaca
1972–73 APOEL (11) Olympiakos Nicosia
1973–74 Omonia (4) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1974–75 Omonia (5) Enosis Neon Paralimni
1975–76 Omonia (6) APOEL
1976–77 Omonia (7) APOEL
1977–78 Omonia (8) APOEL
1978–79 Omonia (9) APOEL
1979–80 APOEL (12) Omonia
1980–81 Omonia (10) APOEL
1981–82 Omonia (11) Pezoporikos Larnaca
1982–83 Omonia (12) Anorthosis Famagusta
1983–84 Omonia (13) Apollon Limassol
1984–85 Omonia (14) APOEL
1985–86 APOEL (13) Omonia
1986–87 Omonia (15) APOEL
1987–88 Pezoporikos Larnaca (2) APOEL
1988–89 Omonia (16) Apollon Limassol
1989–90 APOEL (14) Omonia
1990–91 Apollon Limassol (1) Anorthosis Famagusta
1991–92 APOEL (15) Anorthosis Famagusta
1992–93 Omonia (17) Apollon Limassol
1993–94 Apollon Limassol (2) Anorthosis Famagusta
1994–95 Anorthosis Famagusta (7) Omonia
1995–96 APOEL (16) Anorthosis Famagusta
1996–97 Anorthosis Famagusta (8) Apollon Limassol
1997–98 Anorthosis Famagusta (9) Omonia
1998–99 Anorthosis Famagusta (10) Omonia
1999–2000 Anorthosis Famagusta (11) Omonia
2000–01 Omonia (18) Olympiakos Nicosia
2001–02 APOEL (17) Anorthosis Famagusta
2002–03 Omonia (19) Anorthosis Famagusta
2003–04 APOEL (18) Omonia
2004–05 Anorthosis Famagusta (12) APOEL
2005–06 Apollon Limassol (3) Omonia
2006–07 APOEL (19) Omonia
2007–08 Anorthosis Famagusta (13) APOEL
2008–09 APOEL (20) Omonia
2009–10 Omonia (20) APOEL
2010–11 APOEL (21) Omonia
2011–12 AEL Limassol (6) APOEL
2012–13 APOEL (22) Anorthosis Famagusta
2013–14 APOEL (23) AEL Limassol
2014–15 APOEL (24) AEK Larnaca
2015–16 APOEL (25) AEK Larnaca
2016–17 APOEL (26) AEK Larnaca
2017–18 APOEL (27) Apollon Limassol
2018–19 APOEL (28) AEK Larnaca
2019–20 Championship Cancelled
2020–21 Omonia (21) Apollon Limassol
2021–22 Apollon Limassol (4) AEK Larnaca
2022–23 Aris Limassol (1) APOEL

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
APOEL 28 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
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 — 5 –
Digenis Morphou — 1 –
Enosis Neon Paralimni — 1 –

Appearances in the top division

The below table indicates the total number of seasons each club has participated in the Cypriot First Division, up to and including the 2022/23 season.[8]

44 teams have played at least one season in First Division.

Teams in bold are participating in the 2023-24 Cypriot First Division.

Team Participations
APOEL Nicosia 82
AEL Limassol 82
Anorthosis Famagusta 77
Olympiakos Nicosia 71
Omonia Nicosia 67
Apollon Limassol 64
Nea Salamina Famagusta 60
Aris Limassol 55
EPA Larnaca 50
Enosis Neon Paralimni 50
Pezoporikos Larnaca 49
Team Participations
Alki Larnaca 43
Ethnikos Achna 34
AEK Larnaca 28
APOP Paphos 19
Doxa Katokopias 19
Çetinkaya Türk 18
Evagoras Paphos 18
Digenis Akritas Morphou 15
Ermis Aradippou 14
Omonia Aradippou 13
AYMA 11
Team Participations
AEP Paphos 10
ASIL Lysi 8
Anagennisi Dherynia 7
APEP Pitsilia 7
Pafos 7
APOP Kinyras Pegeia 5
Ayia Napa 4
Keravnos Strovolou 4
Orfeas Nicosia 4
Trast AC 4
Ethnikos Assia 3
Team Participations
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia 3
Alki Oroklini 2
Chalkanoras Idaliou 2
AEK Kouklia 1
AEZ Zakakiou 1
Akritas Chlorakas 1
Atromitos Yeroskipou 1
Onisilos Sotira 1
Othellos Athienou 1
PAEEK 1
THOI Lakatamia 1
  • The 1963–64 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)

The 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. 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

See also

References

  1. ^ "Πρωτάθλημα Cyta" μέχρι το 2019 (συμφωνία ΚΟΠ – Cyta) ["Cyta Championship until 2019] (in Greek). cfa.com.cy. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. ^ "HISTORY OF CFA". CFA. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b Γαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001, p. 71
  4. ^ Γαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001, p. 88
  5. ^ Γαβριηλίδης & Παπαμωυσέως 2001, p. 130
  6. ^ "Cyprus - List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Πρωταθλήτριες Ομάδες". CFA. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot First Division". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Cyprus - All-Time Table". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2017.

Bibliography

  • Γαβριηλίδης, Μιχάλης; Παπαμωυσέως, Στέλιος (2001). Ένας αιώνας Κυπριακό ποδόσφαιρο. Λευκωσία: Ο Συγγραφέας. ISBN 9963-8720-1-8.
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