Cypriot First Division

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

The Cypriot First Division (Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας), known as the Cyprus League by Stoiximan for sponsorship reasons, is the top-tier football league competition in Cyprus, run by the Cyprus Football Association.

Cyprus League by Stoiximan

Founded	1934 (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 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.cfa.com.cy
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 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 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, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was formed and the Cypriot Championship and Cup began to take place annually. 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.

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.

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.

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.
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. 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. Since the 1991–92 season, teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

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.

2024–25 Clubs

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

Tournament Season	Winners (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
2023–24	APOEL (29)	AEK Larnaca

Performance by club

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 (%)

  APOEL - 29 (34.5%)

  Omonia – 21 (25.0%)

  Anorthosis - 13 (15.5%)

  AEL Limassol – 6 (7.1%)

  Apollon Limassol - 4 (4.8%)

  Other Teams - 11 (13.1%)

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 2023/24 season.

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

Teams in bold are participating in the 2024-25 Cypriot First Division.

Team Participations APOEL Nicosia 83 AEL Limassol 83 Anorthosis Famagusta 78 Olympiakos Nicosia 71 Omonia Nicosia 68 Apollon Limassol 65 Nea Salamina Famagusta 61 Aris Limassol 56 EPA Larnaca 50 Enosis Neon Paralimni 50 Pezoporikos Larnaca 49

Team Participations Alki Larnaca 43 Ethnikos Achna 35 AEK Larnaca 29 APOP Paphos 19 Doxa Katokopias 20 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 8 APOP Kinyras Pegeia 5 Ayia Napa 4 Keravnos Strovolou 4 Orfeas Nicosia 4 Trast AC 4 Ethnikos Assia 3

Team Participations Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia 4 AEZ Zakakiou 3 Alki Oroklini 2 Chalkanoras Idaliou 2 AEK Kouklia 1 Akritas Chlorakas 1 Atromitos Yeroskipou 1 Onisilos Sotira 1 Othellos Athienou 2 PAEEK 1 THOI Lakatamia 1 PAC Omonia 29M 0

• 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. 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

• Cypriot First Division top goalscorers
• List of foreign football players in Cypriot First Division

Bibliography

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

External links

• Official website
• Top Scorers per season
• Cypriot First Division summary – Soccerway