Cypriot First Division Explained

Cypriot First Division should not be confused with Cypriot First Division (women).

Cyta Championship
Pixels:250px
Country:Cyprus
Confed:UEFA
Teams:14
Relegation:Cypriot Second Division
Levels:1
Confed Cup:UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
Champions:APOEL (29th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Successful Club:APOEL
(29 titles)
Top Goalscorer: Sotiris Kaiafas (1967–1984)
(261 goals)
Tv:Cytavision
PrimeTel
Cablenet
Current:2024–25 Cypriot First Division

The Cypriot First Division (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας), 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 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.[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.

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 LarnacaLarnaca2nd
AEL LimassolLimassol8th
AnorthosisFamagusta6th
APOELNicosia1st
Apollon LimassolLimassol7th
Aris LimassolLimassol4th
Enosis Neon ParalimniParalimni, FamagustaPromoted from 2nd Div.
Ethnikos AchnasAchna, Famagusta10th
KarmiotissaPano Polemidia, Limassol11th
Nea SalaminaFamagusta9th
Omonia AradippouAradippou,LarnacaPromoted from 2nd Div.
OmoniaNicosia3rd
PAC Omonia 29MNicosiaPromoted from 2nd Div.
Pafos FCPaphos5th

Champions

1934–35Trust (1)Çetinkaya Türk
1935–36APOEL (1)Trust
1936–37APOEL (2)Trust
1937–38APOEL (3)Trust
1938–39APOEL (4)EPA Larnaca
1939–40APOEL (5)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1940–41AEL Limassol (1)APOEL
1941–44Suspended due to World War II
1944–45EPA Larnaca (1)APOEL
1945–46EPA Larnaca (2)APOEL
1946–47APOEL (6)EPA Larnaca
1947–48APOEL (7)AEL Limassol
1948–49APOEL (8)Anorthosis Famagusta
1949–50Anorthosis Famagusta (1)EPA Larnaca
1950–51Çetinkaya Türk (1)APOEL
1951–52APOEL (9)EPA Larnaca
1952–53AEL Limassol (2)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1953–54Pezoporikos Larnaca (1)APOEL
1954–55AEL Limassol (3)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1955–56AEL Limassol (4)APOEL
1956–57Anorthosis Famagusta (2)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1957–58Anorthosis Famagusta (3)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1958–59Not Held
1959–60Anorthosis Famagusta (4)Omonia
1960–61Omonia (1)Anorthosis Famagusta
1961–62Anorthosis Famagusta (5)Omonia
1962–63Anorthosis Famagusta (6)APOEL
1963–64Championship Abandoned
1964–65APOEL (10)Olympiakos Nicosia
1965–66Omonia (2)Olympiakos Nicosia
1966–67Olympiakos Nicosia (1)APOEL
1967–68AEL Limassol (5)Omonia
1968–69Olympiakos Nicosia (2)Omonia
1969–70EPA Larnaca (3)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1970–71Olympiakos Nicosia (3)Digenis Morphou
1971–72Omonia (3)EPA Larnaca
1972–73APOEL (11)Olympiakos Nicosia
1973–74Omonia (4)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1974–75Omonia (5)Enosis Neon Paralimni
1975–76Omonia (6)APOEL
1976–77Omonia (7)APOEL
1977–78Omonia (8)APOEL
1978–79Omonia (9)APOEL
1979–80APOEL (12)Omonia
1980–81Omonia (10)APOEL
1981–82Omonia (11)Pezoporikos Larnaca
1982–83Omonia (12)Anorthosis Famagusta
1983–84Omonia (13)Apollon Limassol
1984–85Omonia (14)APOEL
1985–86APOEL (13)Omonia
1986–87Omonia (15)APOEL
1987–88Pezoporikos Larnaca (2)APOEL
1988–89Omonia (16)Apollon Limassol
1989–90APOEL (14)Omonia
1990–91Apollon Limassol (1)Anorthosis Famagusta
1991–92APOEL (15)Anorthosis Famagusta
1992–93Omonia (17)Apollon Limassol
1993–94Apollon Limassol (2)Anorthosis Famagusta
1994–95Anorthosis Famagusta (7)Omonia
1995–96APOEL (16)Anorthosis Famagusta
1996–97Anorthosis Famagusta (8)Apollon Limassol
1997–98Anorthosis Famagusta (9)Omonia
1998–99Anorthosis Famagusta (10)Omonia
1999–2000Anorthosis Famagusta (11)Omonia
2000–01Omonia (18)Olympiakos Nicosia
2001–02APOEL (17)Anorthosis Famagusta
2002–03Omonia (19)Anorthosis Famagusta
2003–04APOEL (18)Omonia
2004–05Anorthosis Famagusta (12)APOEL
2005–06Apollon Limassol (3)Omonia
2006–07APOEL (19)Omonia
2007–08Anorthosis Famagusta (13)APOEL
2008–09APOEL (20)Omonia
2009–10Omonia (20)APOEL
2010–11APOEL (21)Omonia
2011–12AEL Limassol (6)APOEL
2012–13APOEL (22)Anorthosis Famagusta
2013–14APOEL (23)AEL Limassol
2014–15APOEL (24)AEK Larnaca
2015–16APOEL (25)AEK Larnaca
2016–17APOEL (26)AEK Larnaca
2017–18APOEL (27)Apollon Limassol
2018–19APOEL (28)AEK Larnaca
2019–20Championship Cancelled
2020–21Omonia (21)Apollon Limassol
2021–22Apollon Limassol (4)AEK Larnaca
2022–23Aris Limassol (1)APOEL
2023–24APOEL (29)AEK Larnaca

Performance by club

ClubWinners
APOEL29211935–36, 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
Omonia21161960–61, 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
Anorthosis13101949–50, 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 Limassol621940–41, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1967–68, 2011–12
46
EPA Larnaca351944–45, 1945–46, 1969–70
Olympiakos Nicosia341966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71
281953–54, 1987–88
Trust131934–35
Çetinkaya Türk111950–51
Aris Limassol12022–23
AEK Larnaca6
Digenis Morphou1
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.[3]

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

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

TeamParticipations
APOEL Nicosia83
AEL Limassol83
Anorthosis Famagusta78
Olympiakos Nicosia71
Omonia Nicosia68
Apollon Limassol65
Nea Salamina Famagusta61
Aris Limassol56
EPA Larnaca50
Enosis Neon Paralimni50
Pezoporikos Larnaca49
TeamParticipations
Alki Larnaca43
Ethnikos Achna35
AEK Larnaca29
APOP Paphos19
Doxa Katokopias20
Çetinkaya Türk18
Evagoras Paphos18
Digenis Akritas Morphou15
Ermis Aradippou14
Omonia Aradippou13
AYMA11
TeamParticipations
AEP Paphos10
ASIL Lysi8
Anagennisi Dherynia7
APEP Pitsilia7
Pafos8
APOP Kinyras Pegeia5
Ayia Napa4
Keravnos Strovolou4
Orfeas Nicosia4
Trast AC4
Ethnikos Assia3
TeamParticipations
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia4
AEZ Zakakiou3
Alki Oroklini2
Chalkanoras Idaliou2
AEK Kouklia1
Akritas Chlorakas1
Atromitos Yeroskipou1
Onisilos Sotira1
Othellos Athienou2
PAEEK1
THOI Lakatamia1
PAC Omonia 29M0

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.[4] 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.

Rankwidth=160Club Ssnwidth=40PointsGPWDLGFGAGD
1 77 3227 1785 1072 382 331 4001 1787 2072
2 62 3021 1628 1005 331 292 3536 1552 1984
3 72 2910 1777 896 447 434 3218 2044 1175
4 59 2468 1589 722 415 452 2691 1946 745
5 77 2435 1791 740 440 611 2922 2486 436
6 56 1790 1467 490 381 596 2026 2224 -198
7 67 1688 1501 496 360 645 2243 2775 -532
8 46 1459 1253 426 365 462 1663 1699 -36
9 49 1432 1062 444 318 300 1719 1326 393
10 53 1287 1311 329 324 658 1668 2648 -980
11 50 1222 1052 362 277 413 1570 1641 -71
12 43 1202 1128 309 284 535 1400 1986 -586
13 31 1078 895 296 219 380 1201 1370 -169
14 23 1039 675 295 154 226 1100 876 224
15 14 419 434 108 95 231 503 848 -345
16 19 406 502 105 126 271 501 1007 -506
17 18 371 480 90 136 254 431 906 -475
18 12 353 374 94 75 205 402 767 -365
19 15 339 396 94 110 192 397 690 -293
20 10 315 278 81 72 125 376 478 -102
21 13 232 357 64 92 201 315 686 -371
22 18 189 209 77 35 97 393 503 -110
23 8 180 198 37 40 121 169 430 -261
24 5 161 148 44 29 75 201 275 -74
25 4 134 90 24 16 50 110 180 -70
26 7 123 186 31 35 120 163 409 -247
27 11 121 176 23 27 126 256 593 -337
28 7 101 192 25 34 133 158 460 -302
29 4 84 108 28 28 52 111 167 -56
30 2 78 72 19 21 32 77 109 -32
31 4 68 44 30 8 6 129 54 75
32 4 64 110 12 28 70 90 218 -128
33 3 60 78 17 9 52 102 184 -82
34 2 43 60 16 11 33 59 116 -57
35 1 39 36 11 6 19 48 73 -25
36 1 37 36 10 7 19 47 71 -24
37 1 25 32 5 10 17 26 42 -16
38 1 23 36 6 5 25 34 94 -60
39 1 13 26 3 4 19 22 63 -41
40 1 11 26 1 8 17 20 63 -43
41 1 7 26 1 4 21 19 69 -50
42 1 7 26 1 4 21 15 75 -60

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/25262. el:"Πρωτάθλημα Cyta" μέχρι το 2019 (συμφωνία ΚΟΠ – Cyta). "Cyta Championship until 2019. cfa.com.cy. el. 3 February 2016. 3 February 2016. 4 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211204231800/https://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/25262. live.
  2. Web site: HISTORY OF CFA. CFA. 31 March 2015. 31 March 2015. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202311/http://www.cfa.com.cy/En/page/131. live.
  3. Web site: Cyprus - Participations per club at Cypriot First Division. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 22 June 2017. 17 January 2018. 9 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220709203903/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cyp1part.html. live.
  4. Web site: Cyprus - All-Time Table. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 22 June 2016. 8 August 2017. 27 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220727150945/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/cypalltime.html. live.