AC Omonia

On 23 May 1948, the governing board of APOEL football club sent a telegram to the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics (Greek: Σ.Ε.Γ.Α.Σ.), with the opportunity of the annual Panhellenic Track and Field Competition. In its telegram, the board stated its wish for what it described as the "communist mutiny" to be ended. Club players considering this action as a specifically political comment on the Greek Civil War distanced themselves from the board and were duly expelled from APOEL.[4] On 4 June 1948, Dr. Mattheos Papapetrou organized a meeting in Nicosia that led to the creation of Omonia. Many players expelled from APOEL were present at the meeting and joined the new club. Along with other left-wing teams such as Nea Salamina, Alki Larnaca and Orfeas Nicosia, Omonia helped create the Cyprus Amateur Football Federation in December 1948. Omonia took part in the CAFF league until 1953, having won four out of five played championships and five out of five played cups. Omonia was then accepted by the Cyprus Football Association to participate in the Cypriot First Division.

After joining the Cypriot First Division in 1953, Omonia only placed seventh out of nine teams in the 1953–54 season, barely avoiding relegation. During that decade, the club's best placing came during the 1956–57 season when the club finished in the third position.

The team would make its closest push for the title during the 1959–60 season after finishing second, one point behind Anorthosis Famagusta.[5] The following year, after seven seasons in the First Division, the club would win its first title in 1960–61 season.[5] Omonia, in that season, would score 91 goals in 24 matches on their way to their first ever Cyprus First Division title. Omonia won their second title during the 1965–66 season.

Sotiris Kaiafas is not only considered one of Omonia's all-time greatest, but the best footballer in the history of Cypriot football.

Omonia won its first trophies of the decade in 1972, when the club won both the league and the cup. Led by a young Sotiris Kaiafas, Omonia won seven league titles in the 1970s, six of them were consecutive (1974–1979).[5] At the end of the decade, Omonia had a total of nine championship titles and three cups. At the end of the 1979 season, Omonia trailed its arch-rival APOEL by two championships. In 1976, Sotiris Kaiafas would go on and win the European Golden Shoe for his single-season 39-goal performance.[6] In 2003, he was awarded the UEFA Jubilee Awards for the Best Cypriot Footballer of the 20th century.

The 1980s was a successful decade for the club as it won an additional seven Cypriot League Championship titles including another five consecutive in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and in 1987 and in 1989.[5] As the 1980s came to an end, Omonia had won 14 Cypriot championship titles, becoming the most successful team on the island at the time.[5]

The 1990s would prove to be less successful than the previous two decades. During this time, Omonia only mustered one Cypriot League title during the 1992–93 season. It would be eight years before Omonia would see its next title. In 1997, Omonia signed the German Rainer Rauffmann, who would later become the second top goalscorer ever for the club. With the help of other Omonia great and then captain, Costas Malekkos, and a young Costas Kaiafas (the son of Sotiris Kaiafas), Rauffmann would become top scorer of the Cypriot First Division in 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00 and 2000–01 seasons and led Omonia to two titles.[7]

After a disappointing eight seasons, the 2000s decade began with a trophy. Omonia celebrated its 18th Cypriot league championship title in 2001. Now captained by Costas Kaiafas, Omonia would win its 19th Cypriot League Championship again in 2003. Since 2003, however, the team would stumble and be without a title for the next several years. After numerous seasons of poor signings and underachieving, Omonia's reigns would be taken over by new chairman and team president, Miltiadis Neophytou in 2008.

Michalis Konstantinou, mostly credited for helping the team reach its 20th championship title.[8]

The team would soon be put back on track starting in 2006, beginning with the signing of Cyprus international goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides. Omonia would continue its star-studded signings by acquiring Cypriot stars that had been playing abroad, such as Elias Charalambous and Stathis Aloneftis. Omonia would then make headlines with the shocking signing of all-time leading scorer for Cyprus, Michalis Konstantinou. In 2009, Omonia would also sign another Cypriot star, Konstantinos Makrides. En route, Omonia would also acquire young Cypriot hopefuls, 21-year-old Dimitris Christofi and 20-year-old Georgios Efrem. Efrem, who had been playing on the youth team of Arsenal and later Scottish side Rangers, would be the final piece to the puzzle needed to win its 20th Cypriot league championship. After putting the proper pieces in place, Omonia did just that. During the 2009–10 season, led by the new captain, Elias Charalambous, Omonia would not lose a single derby, including play-off matches against APOEL, Anorthosis and Apollon.

Head coach Takis Lemonis left the club after disappointing results and Dušan Bajević became the new coach in October 2010,[9] but was fired in April 2011.[10] He was replaced by Neophytos Larkou. Omonia would not be able to repeat as Champion during the 2010–11 regular season, and instead had to settle with finishing second,[11] despite the addition of yet another young Cypriot rising star, Andreas Avraam. The club, however, was able to finish the season on a positive note: under Larkou, Omonia defeated Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot Cup final to win their 13th cup title.[12]

The following season, Omonia won their 14th cup starring André Alves, who scored the winning goal against AEL Limassol in the final.[13] Under the guidance of newly appointed director of football Nickolas Danskalou, Omonia finished third in the league, all but assuring they would qualify for the second round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.[14]

Head coach Neophytos Larkou left the club in September 2012[15] and Toni Savevski was then appointed as coach. The team began the season with a great win but found its second success after several games. A disappointing first round proved enough to exclude the club from contesting for the championship or the cup. The team managed better results in the second round, finishing the season in third place.[16] Thousands of fans answered the president's call to donate as much as they could and the financial issues of the club improved. Omonia was knocked out in the semi-finals of the cup by AEL Limassol.

In 2013, Omonia began the new season with Savevski as manager, but he was sacked halfway beside positive results. Miguel Ángel Lotina was hired as the replacer,[17] but was sacked just 37 days later.[18] Kostas Kaiafas, ex-player was then appointed as the new coach.[19] The club's financial difficulties returned despite the massive fundraiser organized the previous season. Omonia finished fifth in the league,[20] making it its worst season in 56 years.[5]

In August 2014, Omonia was knocked out of the Europa League by Dynamo Moscow, in the play-off round. The club issued a complaint to UEFA regarding the refereeing of the match by Alexandru Tudor.[21] In early September, the club stopped supplying the fans' group Gate 9 with tickets resulting in the group's abstention from matches.[22] Two weeks later, after a meeting between the president and the coach, it was decided that tickets were to be supplied again to Gate 9.[23] Omonia finished fourth in the league. The team was eliminated from the Cypriot Cup in the semi-finals by APOEL.[24]

The team ended the 2015–16 campaign in 4th place.[25] During this season, Omonia reached the final of the Cypriot Cup but lost to Apollon Limassol.[26] The 2016–17 season saw the club finish 5th. This meant that for the first time in 15 years the club had failed to qualify for European football.[27] Following a general assembly at the end of the season, Antonis Tzionis was elected as the new club president.[28] While the 2017–18 campaign began with high expectations, Omonia finished the season in 6th place. This season was the worst in the club's history, in terms of defeats and goals conceded.[29] Despite this, the club sold a total of 95,222 tickets during the season, more than any other team in the league.[30]

The decline of the club's football department and the financial difficulties it faced convinced many that a change in the way the club was being run was needed. In May 2018, a general assembly was called and members voted to hand the football department over to Stavros Papastavrou, an American-based Cypriot businessman.[31][32] He has stated that he will provide funds for the development of the club's academies and training grounds, and that the potential creation of a new stadium will be considered.[33] The agreement, initially set for 10 years, was extended indefinitely in 2023.[34] In the club's first season under Papastavrou's ownership, Omonia finished the 2018–19 campaign in 6th place. Manager Yannis Anastasiou was replaced by Henning Berg in June 2019.[35]

The 2019–20 Cypriot season was abandoned in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of its abandonment, Omonia was tied with Anorthosis Famagusta on points, but was ranked first due to a better head-to-head record and thus qualified for the first qualifying round of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League.[36]

Fabiano

Lüftner

Lang

Hubočan

Kiko

Kousoulos

Gomes

Loizou

Tzionis

Sène

Kakoullis

AC Omonoia's 2020–21 UEFA Europa League starting line-up in the club's first ever winning game at a group stage level against PAOK with final score 2-1.

The following season, Omonia would beat Red Star Belgrade to qualify for the group stage of a European Competition for the first time in the club's history.[37] Omonia finished fourth in Group E of the 2020–21 Europa League.[38] In the home game against PSV Eindhoven, Omonia captain Jordi Gómez scored from a distance of 56 metres, breaking the record for the furthest distance ever for a goal scored in the Europa League.[39] In May 2021, Omonia ended the season by winning the Cypriot League for the 21st time, and for the first time since 2010.[40]

Omonia started the 2021–22 season by winning the Super Cup, and qualifying for the group stage of the Europa Conference League.[41][42] However, a disastrous first half of the league campaign saw the club out of the top 6 for the first time since the 1953–54 season.[43] Heavy criticism led to the release of head coach Henning Berg in February 2022.[44] He was replaced by Neil Lennon,[45] who was able to salvage the season by winning the 2021–22 Cypriot Cup, Omonia's first in 12 years.[46]

In August 2022, Omonia shocked Belgian cup winners Gent 4–0 on aggregate to enter the 2022–23 Europa League group stage.[47] There, Omonia would fail to earn a single point in their group, despite respectable showings against the likes of Manchester United and Real Sociedad.[48] The league campaign was also unsuccessful, with the club finishing in sixth. Under new coach Sofronis Avgousti, they were able to win the Cup for the second year in a row, beating AEL Limassol 1–0 in the final.[49] In the Europa Conference League, Omonia have managed to beat Gabala FK 3–7 on aggregate in the second round, and despite winning against FC Midtjylland 1–0 in the 1st leg of the 3rd qualifying round, Omonia have lost 5–1 in the second leg, which meant that they would be kicked out of any European group stage since the 2020–21 season.

"Omonia" (Ομόνοια) is the Greek language word for harmony, unity, or concord.[50]

Omonia's club colours are green and white. The green color indicates hope while white indicates happiness.[50]

Omonia's badge has a green shamrock in a white circle.[51]

Omonia tends to use a red alternative kit.

Omonia's official anthem was written by Costas Melides in 1971, and recorded by Giannis Avraamides in 1972, in Athens. The lyrics of the anthem reference Omonia's competitive spirit ("Lions in defense, cannons in attack", Greek: "Στην άμυνα λιοντάρια, επίθεση κανόνια"), the club's left-wing roots ("the people's team", Greek: "Του λαού ομάδα"), and the loyalty of the team's supporters, regardless of its results ("In every match, thousands of your loyal fans", Greek: "Σε κάθε σου αγώνα, χιλιάδες οι πιστοί σου οπαδοί").[52]

Omonia has never owned its own stadium. The idea was discussed and attempted several times, but it has yet to come to fruition. The club had initiated the creation of a stadium in Mia Milia in 1971, but plans were abandoned after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. In 2003, the club purchased a piece of land in Nicosia with the aim of building a stadium, however the property was given to the Bank of Cyprus due to debts of the owner company.[53]

The current owner of Omonia FC, Stavros Papastavrou, has spoken about wanting to build a new stadium for the team. His 2023 agreement with the Club's board of directors will allow him to proceed with the plan. He has stated that Omonia's new stadium could be ready in five years, and has described the matter as a "priority".[54]

By the end of February 2013, Omonia was struggling to meet the UEFA criteria due to the economic crisis that had engulfed the club. The club's president then decided to start a fundraiser and called for the supporters of the club to donate as much as they could. Hundreds of events were organised island wide with the motto; "ΕΙΜΑΙ ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ ΔΗΛΩΝΩ ΠΑΡΩΝ" meaning, "I'M WITH OMONIA, I DECLARE MYSELF PRESENT."[58] Current and former players contributed by signing autographs and selling club merchandise. Although the situation at the beginning was described as grim, money poured in from all over the island and from abroad including England and the United States. In about a month and a half, €3.5 million was collected from the club's supporters.

The team's ultras group, Gate 9, was established in 1992. The group would occupy the GSP Stadium's north stand during Omonia's home games.[59] Gate 9 has established relations with other left wing supporters such as those of Hapoel Tel Aviv and Standard Liège.

On 29 May 2018, the club agreed to turn its football department into a for-profit company, under the ownership of Stavros Papastavrou.[60] Gate 9 had previously condemned the idea and published several statements criticising it.[61][62] On the same day, Gate 9 declared they would no longer support the team, and announced they would create their own football club, which would "respect the principles and history of Omonia".[63][64] People's Athletic Club Omonia 29M was founded on 23 July 2018 and currently plays in the Cypriot Second Division.

Last updated: 19 July 2023

Rank Country Team Points 140 Spartak Trnava 10.500 141 Flora Tallinn 10.500 142 AEK Larnaca 10.000 143 Omonia 10.000 144 Zurich 10.000 145 Diddeleng 10.000 146 Riga 10.000

Source: [65]

As of 15 September 2023[66]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  CYP Paris Psaltis 3 DF  WAL Adam Matthews 5 DF  MLI Senou Coulibaly 6 DF  BRA Marquinhos Cipriano 7 FW  CPV Willy Semedo 8 MF  GNB Moreto Cassamá 9 FW  CYP Andronikos Kakoullis 10 FW  CYP Loizos Loizou 11 FW  CMR Saidou Alioum (on loan from Hammarby IF) 16 MF  SWE Alexander Fransson 17 DF  CZE Jan Lecjaks 18 FW  IRN Karim Ansarifard 19 MF  COM Fouad Bachirou 20 FW  CYP Panagiotis Zachariou 21 FW  SRB Veljko Simić

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 DF  HUN Ádám Lang 23 GK  NGA Francis Uzoho 24 MF  MNE Novica Eraković 30 DF  CYP Nikolas Panayiotou 31 MF  CYP Ioannis Kousoulos (captain) 40 GK  BRA Fabiano 73 DF  SRB Nemanja Miletić 74 MF  CYP Panayiotis Andreou 76 MF  CYP Charalampos Charalampous 87 DF  CYP Constantinos Panteli 88 FW  NGA Akinkunmi Amoo 90 MF  UKR Roman Bezus 98 GK  CYP Charalambos Kyriakides 99 MF  CYP Titos Prokopiou

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  CYP Constantinos Panagi (at Ethnikos Achna until 31 May 2024) — DF  CYP Alexandros Kaiafas (at MEAP Nisou until 31 May 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  CYP Nikolas Kyriakides (at MEAP Nisou until 31 May 2024) — MF  CYP Andreas Asimenos (at Olympiakos Nicosia until 31 May 2024)

For details of former players, see Category:AC Omonia players

12 – The club's supporters (the 12th man)

Team Manager	Isavella Panaretou
Team Officer	Takis Kofteros
Doctor	Andreas Petrou
Physiotherapists	Evaggelos Nicolaou
	Marios Paraskeva
	Costas Piponas
Chiropractor	Giorgos Oxinos
Νutritionist	Elina Grigoriou
Masseur	Nicolai Temelkov
Scouters	Rainer Rauffmann
	Nicolas Theodosiou
Plant Administrator	Andreas Papastavrou
Caregiver	Giorgos Karagiannis
	Giorgos Hadjievaggelou
	Thanasis Risvanis

Source: omonoiafc.com.cy