Cypriot First Division

The Cypriot First Division (Greek: 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]

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

Cyta Championship
Founded1934 (1934)
CountryCyprus
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams14
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
Current: 2023–24

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 championship 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.[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
ClubLocation2022–23 season
AEK LarnacaLarnaca3rd
AEL LimassolLimassol9th
AEZLimassolPromoted from 2nd Div.
AnorthosisFamagusta7th
APOELNicosia2nd Apollon LimassolLimassol5th
Aris LimassolLimassol1st
Doxa KatokopiasKatokopia, Nicosia14th
Ethnikos AchnasAchna, FamagustaPromoted from 2nd Div.
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia, Limassol 10 th
Nea Salamina Famagusta 8th
OthellosAthienou, LarnacaPromoted from 2nd Div.
OmoniaNicosia6th
Pafos FCPaphos4th

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 Nicosia82
AEL Limassol82
Anorthosis Famagusta77
Olympiakos Nicosia71
Omonia Nicosia67
Apollon Limassol64
Nea Salamina Famagusta60
Aris Limassol55
EPA Larnaca50
Enosis Neon Paralimni50
Pezoporikos Larnaca49
Team Participations
Alki Larnaca43
Ethnikos Achna34
AEK Larnaca28
APOP Paphos19
Doxa Katokopias19
Çetinkaya Türk18
Evagoras Paphos18
Digenis Akritas Morphou15
Ermis Aradippou14
Omonia Aradippou13
AYMA11
Team Participations
AEP Paphos10
ASIL Lysi8
Anagennisi Dherynia7
APEP Pitsilia7
Pafos7
APOP Kinyras Pegeia5
Ayia Napa4
Keravnos Strovolou4
Orfeas Nicosia4
Trast AC4
Ethnikos Assia3
Team Participations
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia3
Alki Oroklini2
Chalkanoras Idaliou2
AEK Kouklia1
AEZ Zakakiou1
Akritas Chlorakas 1
Atromitos Yeroskipou1
Onisilos Sotira1
Othellos Athienou1
PAEEK1
THOI Lakatamia1
  • 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
1APOEL FC77322717851072382331400117872072
2AC Omonia62302116281005331292353615521984
3Anorthosis Famagusta FC7229101777896447434321820441175
4Apollon Limassol592468158972241545226911946745
5AEL Limassol772435179174044061129222486436
6Nea Salamis Famagusta FC561790146749038159620262224-198
7Olympiakos Nicosia671688150149636064522432775-532
8Enosis Neon Paralimni FC461459125342636546216631699-36
9Pezoporikos Larnaca FC491432106244431830017191326393
10Aris Limassol FC531287131132932465816682648-980
11EPA Larnaca FC501222105236227741315701641-71
12Alki Larnaca FC431202112830928453514001986-586
13Ethnikos Achna FC31107889529621938012011370-169
14AEK Larnaca FC2310396752951542261100876224
15Doxa Katokopias FC1441943410895231503848-345
16APOP Paphos FC194065021051262715011007-506
17Evagoras Paphos1837148090136254431906-475
18Ermis Aradippou FC123533749475205402767-365
19Digenis Akritas Morphou FC1533939694110192397690-293
20AEP Paphos FC103152788172125376478-102
21Omonia Aradippou132323576492201315686-371
22Çetinkaya Türk S.K.18189209773597393503-110
23ASIL Lysi81801983740121169430-261
24APOP Kinyras FC5161148442975201275-74
25Orfeas Nicosia413490241650110180-70
26Anagennisi Deryneia FC71231863135120163409-247
27Armenian Young Men's Association111211762327126256593-337
28APEP FC71011922534133158460-302
29Keravnos Strovolou FC484108282852111167-56
30Pafos FC2787219213277109-32
31Enosis Neon Trust4684430861295475
32Ayia Napa FC46411012287090218-128
33Ethnikos Assia FC3607817952102184-82
34Chalkanoras Idaliou2436016113359116-57
35Alki Oroklini13936116194873-25
36Karmiotissa FC13736107194771-24
37Othellos Athienou FC12532510172642-16
38AEK Kouklia FC1233665253494-60
39Onisilos Sotira1132634192263-41
40AEZ Zakakiou1112618172063-43
41Atromitos Yeroskipou172614211969-50
42Enosis Neon THOI Lakatamia172614211575-60

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. 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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