AEK Larnaca FC
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) |
Full name | Αθλητική Ένωση Κίτιον Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca | ||
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Nickname(s) | Kitrinoprasinoi (Green-yellows) | ||
Short name | AEK | ||
Founded | 18 July 1994 | ||
Ground | AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis Larnaca, Cyprus | ||
Capacity | 7,400[1] | ||
Chairman | Antreas Karapatakis | ||
Manager | José Luis Oltra | ||
League | First Division | ||
2023–24 | First Division, 2nd | ||
Website | http://www.aek.com.cy/ | ||
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AEK Larnaca FC (Template:Lang-el, "Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca") is a Cypriot professional football club based in Larnaca. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club also has a men's basketball team and a women's volleyball team.
The club's name comes from the ancient Greek city of Cyprus, Kition, which was located on the site of today's Larnaca. The colours of the club are yellow and green, and their emblem is admiral Kimon, who died at the seafront while defending the city of Kition circa 450 BC, in a fight against the Persians. He had told his officers to keep the news of his possible death secret. The quote "Και Νεκρος Ενικα" ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon.[2]
The club's greatest successes are qualifying to the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage and winning the Cypriot Cup in 2004 and 2018. AEK made its Champions League debut in a draw against Midtjylland on 19 July 2022.
History
Foundation
AEK was founded on 18 July 1994. It came from the merger of two historic clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos.[3]
EPA and Pezoporikos
Pezoporikos had been established in 1924. In 1926, serving retired members of Pezoporikos founded the "Athletic Educational Larnaca Club" (Greek: ΑΜΟΛ; Αθλητικός Μορφωτικος Όμιλο Λάρνακας, Athlitikos Morfotikos Omilos Larnakas). In 1932 the two clubs were merged by founding EPA Larnaca (Greek: Ένωσις Πεζοπορικού ΑΜΟΛ, Enosis Pezoporikou AMOL). However, in 1937 a group of members and players of EPA left and refounded Pezoporikos. After several decades, in 1994, the two clubs were merged and created AEK Larnaca.[3]
EPA had 50 participations in the first division, won the championship three times (1945, 1946, 1970), five times the Cypriot Cup (1945, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1955) and once the shield of CFA (1955). In addition, the season 1970–71 participated in the Alpha Ethniki of Greece and had three appearances in European competitions.[3]
Pezoporikos had 49 participations in the first division, won two championships (1954, 1988) and one Cypriot Cup (1970). It also had three appearances in European competitions.[3]
Apart from football, the two clubs had other athletic departments. The efforts and the decision to merge was made to create in Larnaca a sports club that starred in all competitions (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.) and would not have financial problems.[3]
1994–1999: The early years
After the merge of the Pezoporikos and EPA, AEK replaced Pezoporikos in the first division (EPA had relegated the last period of existence). In its first participation in the championship, in 1994–95 season, AEK finished in the 9th place. In 1995–96 season, won the 4th place. Together with APOEL had the best defense in the league with 21 conceded goals. In the Cypriot Cup 1995–96 the club reached the final, where they lost to APOEL.
However, because APOEL had won the championship and participated in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup, the finalists of the Cypriot Cup, AEK represented Cyprus in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the preliminary round has faced the Armenian club Kotayk Abovyan. The first match took place in Armenia (8 August 1996), where AEK lost 1–0.[4] The second leg was held at the New GSZ Stadium on 22 August 1996 with AEK winning 5–0 and progressing to the first round of the tournament. In this round, AEK were drawn to face Barcelona. The first leg (12 September 1996) held at Barcelona Olympic Stadium where Spanish team won 2–0.[5] The second leg took place at the GSZ Stadium (26 September 1996) with both teams stay tied 0–0 and the Spanish team qualified.[5] Barcelona reached the final and won the trophy.
In 1996, just before the beginning of the 1996–97 season, AEK as the finalist of the Cypriot Cup, played against league winners the match for shield of CFA, losing 1–0.[6] In the 1996–97 season, AEK finished again 4th place and reached to Cypriot Cup semi-finals. This was followed by 5th place in 1997–98, to return to 4th place the 1998–99 season.
2000s
Three seasons in a row, 1999–00, 2000–01 and 2001–02, AEK finished in 7th place. In 1999–00 season the Cypriot Cup reached the semi-finals and the 2002–03 ranked in 8th place.[citation needed]
The 2003–04 season was very important in the history of the team, where managed to win the first trophy. Although in the league finished in 9th place, in the Cyprus Cup 2003–04 reached the final, where beat AEL Limassol the GSP stadium with score 2–1. The conquest of the cup gave the opportunity to participate the second time in European competition, the 2004–05 UEFA Cup. In the second qualifying round of the competition faced Maccabi Petah Tikva. The first match took place on 12 August 2004 at GSP stadium where AEK won 3–0.[7] However, the first match score was not enough to offer the qualification in the Cyprus team. In the rematch in Israel, AEK lost 4–0 thus eliminated from the next round of the tournament.[8]
In 2004, as a cup winner, before the beginning of the 2004–05 season, AEK faced champions APOEL in the match for the shield of CFA. Match final score ended 3–3. AEK lost at extra time 5–4.[6] In 2004–05 AEK finished in 9th place, just three points ahead of 12th place which leads to the second division. The following season ranked 8th. In Cypriot Cup 2005–06 reached the final against APOEL. After the draw between the home stadiums of the two clubs, the final took place at the home ground of AEK GSZ Stadium. However, the team failed to win the trophy after being defeated 3–2 at extra time.[citation needed]
In 2006–07 season, AEK finished in 7th place and reached the semi-finals of the 2006–07 Cypriot Cup. In the 2007–08 season, won the 4th place in the league. The darkest page in the history of team was the 2008–09 season where AEK finished in 13th place and were relegated for the first time in its history in the second division.[9]
2010s
In 2009–10 season AEK finished 2nd in the second division, ensuring its return to the first division.[10] In 2010–11 season, AEK finished in 4th place winning ticket to participate in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.[11]
In 2011–12 season, the club ranked 5th[12] and also reached the semi-finals of the Cypriot Cup. The next season 2012–13, AEK reached the 4th place of the league and again to the semi-finals of the cup. In the 2013–14, the team were limited at the 8th place after a moderate season.[13]
UEFA Europa League 2011–2012 Group Stages
The participation of the team in Europa League 2011–12 was historic for both the club and for Cyprus football. AEK Larnaca became the first Cypriot team which secured its qualification to the group stages of the Europa League (were preceded the entries of Anorthosis and APOEL in the group stages of the Champions League). In the second qualifying round AEK faced Maltese Floriana which won by 8–0 away and 1–0 at home.[14][15] They away win 8–0 is the largest winning range of Cypriot team in European competition.[16][17] In the third qualifying round AEK faced the Czech Mladá Boleslav. In the first match at GSZ AEK won 3–0,[18] while in the second leg away the teams were drawn by 2–2 with AEK qualifying to the play-offs of the UEFA Europa League.[19] Next opponent was the Norwegian Rosenborg. A goalless draw was the result of the first leg between the two teams.[20] In the second leg (which held at Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium due to the fact that UEFA endorsed GSZ Stadium inappropriate at that phase of the tournament), AEK won 2–1 and qualified through to the group stages of the tournament.[21][22]
In group stages the tournament the team was asked to face Schalke 04, Maccabi Haifa and Steaua Bucharest. The only stadium in Cyprus which could host matches of group stages of European competitions was new GSP, whereupon AEK there gave its home matches of group stages. AEK finished at the bottom of Group J and eliminated. The club's performance at the tournament was one win (2–1 at home against Maccabi Haifa[23]) and two draws (0–0 away against Schalke 04 and 1–1 home against Steaua[24][25]), gathering five points. During that season, AEK created an unbeaten record for Cypriot club with six matches (four wins and two draws at the qualifying phase of the tournament). The same record is also hold by APOEL the same season but with three wins and three draws.
Spanish Larnaca
In 2014, the arrival of Thomas Christiansen marked the beginning of a Spanish era at AEK Larnaca. Under the Danish coach, there have been six regular starters from Spain in the lineup during the 2014–15 season.
In the 2014–15 season, the team claimed the championship trophy until the last matchday. In the penultimate matchday, the team faced APOEL with whom stayed at draw 1–1. If AEK won it would go to the top of the table.[26] In the last matchday, AEK won Anorthosis and ranked 2nd for first time in its history.[26][27]
As in 2014–15, Larnaca finished a strong second place in the League for the 2015–16 season. As it was the case in the previous season, there were six Spaniards in the starting eleven, but this time just one player from Cyprus.
Christiansen then left to League rivals APOEL Nicosia. Christiansen was followed by a Spaniard, Imanol Idiakez. Under Idiakez, Larnaca finished second once again in the 2016–17 season. The two best scorers of AEK Larnaca in the First Division where Ivan Trickovski with 14 goals, followed by the Spaniard Acorán Barrera who netted 9 goals. Idiakez nominated even seven Spaniards as regular starters, but no single player from Cyprus. 2017–18 season saw AEK Larnaca finishing in 4th place but winning the Cyprus Cup after 14 years. The French Striker Florian Taulemesse scored a staggering 22 goals in the championship and was nominated player of the year and player of the Cyprus Cup Final for the season. Imanol Idiakez completed 100 games in AEK Larnaca bench and in the final game he won the Cyprus Cup Final. He is replaced as from 23 May by another Spaniard Andoni Iraola.
2020s
AEK Larnaca finished 2nd in the 2021–22 campaign. Cyprus' ranking in the UEFA coefficients at the time, meant that AEK had qualified for Champions League football, for the first time in the club's history.[28] They made their Champions League debut against Midtjylland, but lost on penalties following two 1-1 draws, and dropped into the Europa League.[29]
Stadium
Since October 2016, AEK Larnaca's home ground is the AEK Arena which opened its doors hosting the very first match of AEK Larnaka against Aris Limassol.[30]
The previous home stadium of the football team was the Neo GSZ Stadium, which was common used by EPA and Pezoporikos.[31][32] Before the construction of the stadium, the two teams used old GSZ stadium.
Honours
Domestic
European competitions record
Last update: 25 August 2022[33]
UEFA competitions | |||||||
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Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Last season played |
UEFA Champions League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2022–23 |
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup | 54 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 94 | 58 | 2022–23 |
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1996–97 |
Total | 58 | 28 | 15 | 15 | 97 | 61 |
Matches
Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate | |
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1996–97 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Qualifying round | Kotayk Abovian | 5–0 | 0–1 | 5–1 | |
First round | Barcelona | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | |||
2004–05 | UEFA Cup | Second qualifying round | Maccabi Petah Tikva | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–4 | |
2011–12 | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round | Floriana | 1–0 | 8–0 | 9–0 | |
Third qualifying round | Mladá Boleslav | 3–0 | 2–2 | 5–2 | |||
Play-off round | Rosenborg | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | |||
Group stage (J) | Maccabi Haifa | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4th place | |||
Steaua București | 1–1 | 1–3 | |||||
Schalke 04 | 0–5 | 0–0 | |||||
2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round | Bordeaux | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–4 | |
2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Folgore | 3–0 | 3–1 | 6–1 | |
Second qualifying round | Cliftonville | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–2 | |||
Third qualifying round | Spartak Moscow | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |||
Play-off round | Slovan Liberec | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–4 | |||
2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Lincoln Red Imps | 5–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | |
Second qualifying round | Cork City | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |||
Third qualifying round | Dinamo Minsk | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |||
Play-off round | Viktoria Plzeň | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | |||
2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round | Dundalk | 4–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | |
Third qualifying round | Sturm Graz | 5–0 | 2–0 | 7–0 | |||
Play-off round | AS Trenčín | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | |||
Group stage (A) | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3rd place | |||
Ludogorets Razgrad | 1–1 | 0–0 | |||||
Zürich | 0–1 | 2–1 | |||||
2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | Petrocub Hîncești | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
Second qualifying round | Levski Sofia | 3–0 | 4–0 | 7–0 | |||
Third qualifying round | Gent | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–4 | |||
2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round | Midtjylland | 1−1 (a.e.t.) | 1–1 | 2–2 (3–4 p) | |
UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round | Partizan | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | ||
Play-off round | Dnipro-1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 5–1 | |||
Group stage (B) | Dynamo Kyiv | ||||||
Rennes | |||||||
Fenerbahçe |
Players
Current squad
- As of 31 August 2022[34]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy players with professional contracts
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Active International players
International Cypriot Players |
International Foreign Players |
International Youth Cypriot Players |
International Youth Foreign Players |
Foreign players
EU Nationals |
Dual citizenship players |
Non-EU Nationals |
Under-23 Foreign Players
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Club officials
Board of directors
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Chairman | Antros Karapatakis |
Members | Andreas Lefkaritis |
Joseph Frangos | |
Giorgos Savva | |
Evmeos Efthymiades |
Source: ΔΙΟΙΚΗΤΙΚΟ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ
Technical and medical staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Team manager | Christoforos Petrouis |
Technical director | Xavi Roca |
Head coach | José Luis Oltra |
Assistant coach | Francisco Gonzalez Blasco |
Goalkeeper coach | Pablo Donate Reina |
Analyst | Daniel Perez del Campo |
Fitness coaches | Marcos Chena Sinovas |
Norbert Callau | |
Assistant fitness coach / Rehabilitation | Panayiotis Michael |
Medical staff | |
Team doctor (orthopaedist) | Dr Giannis Efstathiades |
Team doctor (Pathologist) | Dr Kyriacos Economides |
Physiotherapists | Elias Hadjiioannou |
Tasos Kyriacou | |
Costas Gavrielides | |
Nutritionist | Antri Panteli |
Massuers | Dimitar Yordanov |
Constantinos Theodorou | |
Ilias Christoforides | |
Caregiver | Florin Jucan |
Source: ΤΕΧΝΙΚΗ ΗΓΕΣΙΑ
Other staff
Academy organisation
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Academy President | Joseph Frangos |
Academy Director | Anastasis Stylianou |
Officer of Programms,Development and Coach training | Kyriakos Kyriakou |
Technical Director | Panayiotis Giannou |
Scaouter | Giorgos Konstantinou |
Head of Grassroots | Sotos Ioulianos |
Grssroots coaches | Antonis Stefanou |
Pavel Toskov | |
Valentinos Sofou | |
Loukas Michailovic | |
Demetris Yiakoumis | |
Roberto Famiglietti | |
Velelin Toskov | |
U13 coach | Konstantinos Andreou |
U14 coach | Giorgos Pedonomos |
U15 coach | Charalambos Christophorou |
U16 coach | Konstantinos Konstantinou |
U17 coach | Stavros Raounas |
U17 Assistant Coach | Tasos Porfyriou |
U19 coach | Dimitris Dimitriou |
U19 Assistant Coach | Kyriakos Petrou |
U19 Goalkeeping Coach | Giorgos Papasavva |
U19 Fitness Coach | Rafael Georgiou |
Fitness coaches | Demetris Demetriou |
Petros Anastasiades | |
Theodoros Pieri | |
Goalkeeper coaches | Makis Mama |
Panayiotis Kythreotis | |
Michalis Georgiou | |
Medical staff and other staff | |
Team doctor (orthopaedist) | Dr Giannis Efstathiades |
Physiotherapists | Michalis Papettas |
Marios Frangos | |
Nutritionist | Giannis Koutras |
Sport Psychologist | Thalia Panagi |
Grounds Manager | Kikis Vasiliou |
Source: ΟΡΓΑΝΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ
Sponsorship
- Major Sponsor – Meridian Bet
- TV Sponsor – PrimeTel PLC
- Clothing Sponsor – Puma
- Website Sponsor – Ideaseven Creative Solutions
- Official Sponsors:
- AJK Wealth Management Limited
- Petrolina
- K. Treppides & CO Certified Public Accountants
- C & C Londou Bros
- SunnySeeker Hotels
- ZEMCO Group
- McDonald's
- UCLan Cyprus
- METRO Supermarkets
- Kapnos Airport Shuttle
- Top Kinisis Travel
Supporters
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Source: aek.com.cy
Former players
Managerial history
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UEFA and IFFHS rankings
UEFA Club ranking
Last update: 27 August 2020 |
IFFHS Club World ranking
Last update: 16 January 2018 |
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References
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- ^ "Ιστορική νίκη με σκορ ρεκόρ για ΑΕΚ Λάρνακας!". sentragoal.gr. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Βάζει ακόμη (0–8) η ΑΕΚ στην Ευρώπη! (ΦΩΤΟ)". sigmalive.com. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
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- ^ "Rosenborg-AEK Larnaca". UEFA. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "AEK Larnaca-Rosenorg". UEFA. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "ΑΕΚάρα Ευρωπαία: Πέρασε στους ομίλους (2–1) !!!!!!!!!!". sigmalive.com. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "AEK Larnaca-Maccabi Haifa". UEFA. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "AEK Larnaca-Steaua". UEFA. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Schalke-AEK Larnaca". UEFA. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ a b "ΑΠΟΕΛ – ΑΕΚ 1–1 (video)" (in Greek). CFA. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Η τελική κατάταξη" (in Greek). CFA. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "«Αυτοκτόνησε» στην Πάφο ο ΑΠΟΕΛ, πήρε το... δώρο και πάει Champions League η ΑΕΚ" [APOEL commits "suicide" in Paphos, AEK takes the... gift and is going to the Champions League]. AlphaNews.Live (in Greek). 22 May 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Chira, Andria (26 July 2022). "Και τώρα η συνέχεια στο Europa!" [And now they continue in the Europa!]. Sportime (in Greek). Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "ΑΕΚ Larnacas". aek.com.cy. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Α.Ε.Κ.ΛΑΡΝΑΚΑΣ". CFA. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
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- ^ "AEK Larnaca FC – History". UEFA. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Ροστερ Α΄Ομαδας". AEK Larnaca FC. aek.com.cy. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "BALLA SPECIAL: Τι βρίσκεται πίσω από μια επιτυχημένη… ΑΕΚ; (pics&vids)". balla.com.cy. Retrieved 13 September 2018.