AEK Larnaca F.C.

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AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca.png
Full name Αθλητική Ενωση Κίτιον
Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca
Nickname(s) Kitrinoprasinoi (Green-yellows)
Phrouroi (Guardians)
Founded 18 July 1994; 30 years ago (1994-07-18)
Ground Neo GSZ Stadium
Larnaca, Cyprus
Ground Capacity 13,032
Chairman Antreas Karapatakis
Manager Thomas Christiansen
League Cypriot First Division
2014–15 2nd
Website Club home page

AEK Larnaca FC (Greek: AEK; for short Αθλητική Έvωση Κίτιον Λάρνακας, Athletiki Enosi Kition Larnakas, "Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca") is a Cypriot professional football club from Larnaca, Cyprus. Their home ground is the GSZ stadium. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has also basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca BC and women Petrolina AEK and a volleyball section for women.

The club's name comes from the ancient Greek city-kingdom of Cyprus Kition, located on the site of today's Larnaca.[1] The colours of the club are yellow and green and their emblem is admiral Kimon, who died at the seafront defending the city of Kition (modern Larnaca) in a major battle in Cyprus at about 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.[1]

Greatest successes of the football club are the qualification to the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League group stage and the win of Cypriot Cup. The highest league performance is the 2nd place.

History

Foundation

AEK was founded in 18 July 1994. It came from the merger of two historic clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos.[2]

EPA and Pezoporikos

Pezoporikos had been established in 1924. In 1926, serving retired members of Pezoporikos founded the "Athletic Musical Larnaca Club" (Greek: ΑΜΟΛ; Αθλητικό Μουσικό Όμιλο Λάρνακας, Athlitikos Mousikos Omilos Larnakas). In 1932 the two clubs were merged by founding EPA Larnaca (Greek: Ένωσις Πεζοπορικούς ΑΜΟΛ, Enosis Pezoporikous 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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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 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.[3] 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 FC Barcelona. The first leg (12 September 1996) held at Barcelona Olympic Stadium where Spanish team won 2–0.[4] The second leg took place at the GSZ Stadium (26 September 1996) with both teams stay tied 0–0 and the Spanish team qualified.[4] Barcelona reached the final and won the trophy.

In 1996, before the begging of the 1996–97 season because APOEL had won the league and cup 1995–96, AEK, as finalist of the Cypriot Cup, played against league winners the match for shield of CFA, losing 1–0.[5] 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.

Decade 2000–2010

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 is 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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[5] In 2004–05 AEK finished in 9th place, just three points ahead of 12th place which leads to the seond 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 seond division.[8]

Decade 2010–

In 2009–10 season AEK finished 2nd in the second division, ensuring its return to the first division.[9] In 2010–11 season, AEK finished in 4th place winning ticket to participate in the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League.[10]

In 2011–12 season, the club ranked 5th[11] 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 2012–14, the team were limited at the 8th place after a moderate season.[12]

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.[13] In the last matchday, AEK won Anorthosis and ranked 2nd for first time in its history.[13][14]

UEFA Europa League 2011–12 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.[15][16] They away win 8–0 is the largest winning range of Cypriot team in European competition.[17][18] In the third qualifying round AEK faced the Czech Mladá Boleslav. In the first match at GSZ AEK won 3–0,[19] while in the second leg away the teams were drawn by 2–2 with AEK qualifying to the playoffs of the UEFA Europa League.[20] Next opponent was the Norwegian Rosenborg. A goalless draw was the result of the first leg between the two teams.[21] 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.[22][23]

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[24]) and two draws (0–0 away against Schalke and 1–1 home against Steaua[25][26]), gathering five points, the most which has won a Cypriot team in the UEFA Europa League group stages (as APOEL in 2013–14). 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.

File:Aekp.jpg
AEK Larnaca Fans at the GSZ Stadium

Stadium

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Main articles: GSZ Stadium and GSZ Stadium (1928)

The home stadium of the football team is the Neo GSZ Stadium, which was common used by EPA and Pezoporikos.[27][28] Before the construction of the stadium, the two teams used old GSZ stadium.

On 7 September 2015, works of the creation of a privately owned new stadium were launched, next to new GSZ stadium.[29][30][31]

Current squad

As of 29 December 2015 [32]

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

No. Position Player
1 Poland GK Mateusz Taudul
3 Poland DF Adam Marciniak
4 Spain DF Albert Serrán
5 Cyprus DF Constantinos Mintikkis
6 Spain DF David Català (captain)
7 Spain MF Jorge Larena
8 Spain MF Juanma Ortiz
9 Brazil FW André Alves
10 Spain MF Joan Tomàs (vice-captain)
11 Spain MF Tete
13 Spain GK Mikel Saizar
14 Montenegro MF Vladimir Boljević
15 Cyprus DF Constantinos Kastanas
16 Romania DF Emil Ninu
17 Cyprus FW Vassilis Chatzigiannakou
No. Position Player
18 Spain DF Ander Murillo (3rd captain)
19 Cyprus FW Nestoras Mitidis
20 Cyprus MF Vincent Laban
21 Cyprus DF Nikos Englezou
23 Cyprus FW Demetris Kyprianou
25 Spain GK Toño
26 Cyprus DF Andreas Kakoullis
27 Cyprus MF Michalis Music
28 Cyprus MF Christoforos Kourtis
30 Cyprus GK Ioakim Toumpas
32 Cyprus FW Constantinos Anthimou
33 Cyprus DF Elias Charalambous (4th captain)
40 Cyprus GK Ioannis Michael
70 Brazil MF Farley Rosa
77 Portugal MF Monteiro

For recent transfers, see List of Cypriot football transfers winter 2015–16

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
24 Cyprus FW Paraskevas Choutris (on loan at ASIL Lysi)

Loan deals expire at the end of 2015–16 season

International Players

Foreign players

EU Nationals

EU Nationals (Dual citizenship)

Non-EU Nationals

Club officials

Board of directors

Position Staff
Chairman Cyprus Antreas Karapatakis
Members Cyprus Andreas Lefkaritis
Cyprus Joseph Frangos
Cyprus Giorgos Savva
Cyprus Evmeos Efthymiades

Source: aek.com.cy

Technical and medical staff

Position Staff
Technical director Spain Xavi Roca
Team manager Cyprus Christoforos Petrouis
Head coach Denmark Spain Thomas Christiansen
Assistant coach Spain Julio Banuelos
Fitness coach Spain Ivan Torres Abad
Assistant fitness coach / Rehabilitation Cyprus Panayiotis Michael
Goalkeeper coach Cyprus Giorgos Papasavvas
Medical staff
Team doctor (orthopaedist) Cyprus Dr Giannis Efstathiadis
Team doctor (pathologists) Cyprus Dr Adamantinos Kyriacou
Cyprus Dr Kyriacos Economides
Physiotherapist Cyprus Michalis Athanasiou
Masseur Bulgaria Mytco Iordanov
Caregivers Cyprus Panayiotis Hadjipantelis
Romania Florin Jucan

Source: aek.com.cy

Other staff

Position Staff
Communication director Cyprus Demetris Georgiades
Press Officer Cyprus Kyriacos Demetriou

Sponsorship

  • Major Sponsor – CytaVision
  • TV Sponsor – CytaVision
  • Official Sponsors:
    • Petrolina
    • Plus One Construct Furniture
    • Kapnos Airport Shuttle
    • Top Kinisis Travel
    • MEGABET PLUS LTD
    • K. Treppides & CO Certified Public Accountants

Supporters

Former players

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See also: Category:AEK Larnaca F.C. players

Managerial history

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See also: Category:AEK Larnaca F.C. managers

Last Update: 1 June 2014

Honours

Domestic

Runner-up (1): 2014–15
Winners (1): 2003–04
Runner-up (2): 1995–96, 2005–06
Runner-up (2): 1996, 2004

European competitions record

Last update: August 6, 2015[33]

UEFA competitions
Competition Played Won Drawn Lost Goals For Goals Against Last season played
UEFA Champions League 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup 16 6 4 6 23 22 2015–16
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 4 1 1 2 5 3 1996–97
Total 20 7 5 8 28 25

Matches

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Qualifying round Armenia Kotayk Abovian 5–0 0–1 5–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
First round Spain Barcelona 0–0 0–2 0–2 Symbol delete vote.svg
2004–05 UEFA Cup Second qualifying round Israel Maccabi Petah Tikva 3–0 0–4 3–4 Symbol delete vote.svg
2011–12 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round Malta Floriana 1–0 8–0 9–0 Symbol keep vote.svg
Third qualifying round Czech Republic Mladá Boleslav 3–0 2–2 5–2 Symbol keep vote.svg
Play-off round Norway Rosenborg 2–1 0–0 2–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
Group stage (J) Israel Maccabi Haifa 2–1 0–1 4th place Symbol delete vote.svg
Romania Steaua Bucureşti 1–1 1–3
Germany Schalke 04 0–5 0–0
2015–16 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round France Bordeaux 0–1 0–3 0–4 Symbol delete vote.svg

UEFA and IFFHS rankings

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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