Cypriot Second Division

The Cypriot Second Division (Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Β΄ Κατηγορίας) is the second highest football division of the Cypriot football league system.

Cypriot Second Division
Founded1934 (Unofficial)
1953; 71 years ago (1953) (Official)
CountryCyprus
Number of clubs16
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toCypriot First Division
Relegation toCypriot Third Division
Domestic cup(s)Cypriot Cup
Current championsOmonia Aradippou (3rd title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsAPOP (6 titles)
Evagoras (6 titles)
Websitewww.cfa.com.cy
Current: 2024–25 Cypriot Second Division

Administered by the Cyprus Football Association, it is contested by 16 teams, with the top three teams being promoted to the Cypriot First Division and the last three teams being relegated to the Cypriot Third Division.

History

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The Cypriot Second Division started unofficially the 1934–35 football season as the second level of the Cypriot football (Cyprus Football Association founded in 1934). The competition consisted of teams that didn't participate in Cypriot First Division and the reserve teams of the Cypriot First Division clubs.[1][2] In the reserve teams were allowed to participate only players that had no more than three caps with their team in First Division.[2] The reserve teams won all the titles of the unofficial period.[1][2]

The first official second division championship was held in the 1953–54 season, after the unification of Cypriot Football, without the presence of the reserve teams. From that season, the reserve teams were participate in the new Reserve Teams Championship.[1][3][4][5]

Almost every team that participated and still participate in the Cypriot First Division had also participated in the Second Division, with only exceptions to be APOEL and Omonia. Pezoporikos Larnaca and Trust were also two teams that never played to Second Division but both do not exist anymore. Çetinkaya Türk also never participated in Second Division but the team withdrew from CFA in 1954. Many teams with multiple participations in the Cypriot First Division had also played in the Second Division, like AEL Limassol, Nea Salamis Famagusta, Apollon Limassol, Olympiakos Nicosia, AEK Larnaca, Enosis Neon Paralimni and EPA Larnaca.[1]

Anorthosis Famagusta also participated in the Second Division during 1945–46 season (unofficial competition), because they withdrew from CFA eight years earlier and disbanded their football team. After their reform and their re-integration in the CFA, they were forced to play in the Second Division in order to be promoted to the First Division.[1][2][6] It was the only time from the unofficial period of the competition that a team promoted from the Second Division to the First Division.

Since 1952–53 season, the second Division teams took part in the Cypriot Cup, except of the 1963–64 season. In some seasons during the 1960s and 1970s only the leading teams of the Second Division took part (some times only the champion) in the competition. From 1975–76 season all the teams of the Cypriot Second Division take part in the Cypriot Cup. No Second Division team ever reach the final but they qualified for the semi-finals four times (Nea Salamis Famagusta in 1953–54, Orfeas Nicosia in 1983–84, PAEEK in 1984–85 and AEP Paphos in 2005–06).

Structure

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The structure of the championship was changed some times. From 1953–54 until 1967–68 the championship was split to two or three geographical groups, depending from Districts of Cyprus each participated team came from. The winners of each group were playing against each other in the final phase of the competition and the winner were the champions of the Second Division.[1]

The championship was held for the first time as a single division in the 1968–69 season. All the teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions. This is the league's current format until present time. Exceptions were:

  1. The 1974–75 season, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which forced many teams that had their headquarters to the north Cyprus to be closed temporarily or permanently, CFA decided to have a Special mixed championship of Second & Third Division. In this championship could participate all the teams of the Second and Third Division. Participation was optional. The championship had two geographical groups. The winners of each group were playing against each other in the final phase and the winners were the champions of the league. The winner was considered as the 1974–75 Cypriot Second Division champions.
  2. The 1994–95 season, the league consisted of three rounds. In the first two rounds all teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The home teams for the third round matches were determined based on their league table position after the end of the second round.
  3. The 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, each team played against each other twice, once at home and once away. After these matches, the first four teams qualified for the Promotion Group. At the Promotion Group every team played each other twice, once at home and once away. The teams with the best records were promoted to First Division. Regular season records were carried over without any modifications.
  4. The 2013–14 season, the league was split into a two tier system, Group B1 and Group B2 with 8 teams participating in each division. All the teams played (of each group) against each other four times, twice at home and twice away. The first two teams of Group B1 were promoted to the Cypriot First Division, while the first two teams of Group B2 were promoted to Group B1. The last four teams of Group B1 were relegated to Group B2, while the last four teams of Group B2 were relegated to the Cypriot Third Division. However, after the end of the season Cyprus Football Association merged the two groups, creating a unified Second Division. So all the teams that were relegated from B1 to B2 and the teams that promoted from B2 to B1 participated in the new unified Second Division. The two groups were not at the same level, as Group B1 was above Group B2. Second Division Champions of that season was considered the winner of Group B1.

Current format (Since 2018–19)

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Sixteen clubs are competing in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 30 games per team. The champion and the second place team are promoted to the Cypriot First Division and the bottom four are relegated to the Cypriot Third Division.

Points system

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The points system of the Cypriot Second Division changed three times during the years: From 1953–54 until 1959–60 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. From 1960–61 until 1969–70 season, teams were awarded three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a defeat. From 1970–71 until 1990–91 season, teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. Since 1991–92 season (until present time), teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

Teams

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The 16 teams which participate in the 2024–25 Cypriot Second Division are:[7]

Winners (unofficial competition: 1935–1953)

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The table presents the winners of the competition during the period 1935–1953, in which the competition was unofficial. During that period, the league consisted of the reserve teams of the Cypriot First Division clubs (which won all the titles) and other teams that didn't participate in the First Division.[1][8]

The period 1941–1944 the championship was not held due to World War II. Many Cypriots were volunteer enlisted in the Greek and English army, and also formed a Cypriot constitution. Most teams have undertaken national project by collecting money and clothing to be sent to Greece in order to assist the Greek people and the army. Moreover, many Greek refugees fled to Cyprus. Due to the prevailed war conditions the CFA decided to suspend all the competitions.[9][10]

Season Winner
1934–35 APOEL (reserve team)
1935–36 Trust (reserve team)
1936–37 APOEL (reserve team)
1937–38 APOEL (reserve team)
1938–39 APOEL (reserve team)
Season Winner
1939–40 APOEL (reserve team)
1944–45 EPA Larnaca (reserve team)
1945–46 APOEL (reserve team)
1946–47 APOEL (reserve team)
1947–48 APOEL (reserve team)
Season Winner
1948–49 APOEL (reserve team)
1949–50 APOEL (reserve team)
1950–51 AEL Limassol (reserve team)
1951–52 Çetinkaya Türk (reserve team)
1952–53 APOEL (reserve team)

Winners

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The table presents all the winners since the 1953–54 season, in which the competition started officially.[1][8]

Season Winner
1953–54 Aris Limassol
1954–55 Nea Salamis Famagusta
1955–56 Aris Limassol
1956–57 Apollon Limassol
1957–58 Orfeas Nicosia
1958–59 Not held1
1959–60 Alki Larnaca
1960–61 Enosis Agion Omologiton
1961–62 Panellinios Limassol
1962–63 Panellinios Limassol
1963–64 Not held2
1964–65 Orfeas Nicosia
1965–66 APOP Paphos
1966–67 ASIL Lysi
1967–68 Evagoras Paphos
1968–69 Enosis Neon Paralimni
1969–70 Digenis Akritas Morphou
1970–71 APOP Paphos
1971–72 Evagoras Paphos
1972–73 APOP Paphos
1973–74 ASIL Lysi
1974–75 APOP Paphos
1975–76 Chalkanoras Idaliou
1976–77 APOP Paphos
Season Winner
1977–78 Omonia Aradippou
1978–79 Keravnos
1979–80 Nea Salamis Famagusta
1980–81 Evagoras Paphos
1981–82 Alki Larnaca
1982–83 Ermis Aradippou
1983–84 Olympiakos Nicosia
1984–85 Ermis Aradippou
1985–86 Ethnikos Achna
1986–87 APEP
1987–88 Keravnos
1988–89 Evagoras Paphos
1989–90 EPA Larnaca
1990–91 Evagoras Paphos
1991–92 Ethnikos Achna
1992–93 Omonia Aradippou
1993–94 Aris Limassol
1994–95 Evagoras Paphos
1995–96 APOP Paphos
1996–97 AEL Limassol
1997–98 Olympiakos Nicosia
1998–99 Anagennisi Deryneia
1999–00 Digenis Akritas Morphou
2000–01 Alki Larnaca
Season Winner
2001–02 Nea Salamis Famagusta
2002–03 Anagennisi Deryneia
2003–04 Nea Salamis Famagusta
2004–05 APOP Kinyras
2005–06 AEP Paphos
2006–07 APOP Kinyras
2007–08 AEP Paphos
2008–09 Ermis Aradippou
2009–10 Alki Larnaca
2010–11 Aris Limassol
2011–12 Ayia Napa
2012–13 Aris Limassol
2013–143 Ayia Napa
2014–15 Enosis Neon Paralimni
2015–16 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion
2016–17 Alki Oroklini
2017–18 Enosis Neon Paralimni
2018–19 Ethnikos Achna
2019–20 Interrupted4
2020–21 PAEEK
2021–22 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion
2022–23 Othellos Athienou
2023–24 Omonia Aradippou
1Championship not held due to the unstable situation in Cyprus during EOKA fight.[11][12]

2Championship not held due Bloody Christmas (1963).[13]

3The 2013–14 season the league was split into a two tier system, Group B1 and Group B2. The two groups were not at the same level, as Group B1 was above Group B2. Second Division Champions of that season was considered the winner of Group B1, Ayia Napa. Winner of Group B2 was Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion.

4The 2019–20 season the league was interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Performance By Club

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Club Winners Winning seasons
APOP Paphos 6 1966, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1996
Evagoras Paphos 6 1968, 1972, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1994
Aris Limassol 5 1954, 1956, 1993, 2011, 2013
Nea Salamis Famagusta 4 1955, 1980, 2002, 2004
Alki Larnaca 4 1960, 1982, 2001, 2010
Enosis Neon Paralimni 3 1969, 2015, 2018
Ermis Aradippou 3 1983, 1985, 2009
Ethnikos Achna 3 1986, 1992, 2019
Omonia Aradippou 3 1978, 1993, 2024
AEP Paphos 2 2006, 2008
Ayia Napa 2 2012, 2014
Anagennisi Deryneia 2 1999, 2003
APOP Kinyras 2 2005, 2007
ASIL Lysi 2 1967, 1974
Digenis Akritas Morphou 2 1970, 2000
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 2 2016, 2022
Keravnos 2 1979, 1988
Olympiakos Nicosia 2 1984, 1997
Orfeas Nicosia 2 1958, 1965
Panellinios Limassol 2 1962, 1963
AEL Limassol 1 1997
Alki Oroklini 1 2017
Apollon Limassol 1 1957
APEP 1 1987
Enosis Agion Omologiton 1 1961
EPA Larnaca 1 1990
PAEEK 1 2021
Chalkanoras Idaliou 1 1976
Othellos Athienou 1 2023

Number of participating and promoted teams per season

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The number of the participated teams and the number of the teams that were promoted to the Cypriot First Division was changed many times during the years. In some seasons no team was promoted, in other seasons only the champion was promoted and some other seasons were promoted the first two or the first three teams. In some seasons, play-offs between a First Division and a Second Division team were held with the winner participating in the next season's First Division and the losing team in the Second Division.[14]

Season N. Promoted
1953–54 9 (2 groups) Aris Limassol
1954–55 11 (3 groups) Nea Salamis Famagusta
1955–56 8 (2 groups) Aris Limassol
1956–57 9 (2 groups) Apollon Limassol
1957–58 9 (2 groups) Orfeas Nicosia
1959–60 8 (2 groups) Alki Larnaca, A.Y.M.A.
1960–61 9 (2 groups) No promotion1
1961–62 10 (3 groups) No promotion2
1962–63 9 (2 groups) No promotion2
1964–65 8 (2 groups) No promotion1
1965–66 11 (2 groups) APOP Paphos
1966–67 12 (2 groups) ASIL Lysi
1967–68 10 (2 groups) Evagoras Paphos
1968–69 13 Enosis Neon Paralimni
1969–70 17 Digenis Akritas Morphou
1970–71 12 APOP Paphos
1971–72 12 Evagoras Paphos, ASIL Lysi, Aris Limassol
1972–73 14 APOP Paphos
1973–74 14 ASIL Lysi
1974–75 19 (2 groups) No promotion3
1975–76 13 Chalkanoras Idaliou
1976–77 14 APOP Paphos
1977–78 14 Omonia Aradippou
1978–79 14 Keravnos
1979–80 14 Nea Salamis Famagusta
1980–81 14 Evagoras Paphos, APOP Paphos
1981–82 14 Alki Larnaca, Aris Limassol
1982–83 14 Ermis Aradippou, Ethnikos Achna
1983–84 14 Olympiakos Nicosia, Evagoras Paphos
1984–85 14 Ermis Aradippou, APOP Paphos
1985–86 14 Ethnikos Achna, Omonia Aradippou
Season N. Promoted
1986–87 15 APEP, Anagennisi Deryneia
1987–88 15 Keravnos, Omonia Aradippou
1988–89 15 Evagoras Paphos, Alki Larnaca
1989–90 15 EPA Larnaca, APEP
1990–914 14 Evagoras Paphos, Omonia Aradippou
1991–924 14 Ethnikos Achna, APOP Paphos
1992–934 14 Omonia Aradippou, APEP
1993–945 14 Aris Limassol
1994–95 11 Evagoras Paphos, Alki Larnaca
1995–96 14 APOP Paphos, APEP F.C., Anagennisi Deryneia
1996–97 14 AEL Limassol, Evagoras Paphos, Ethnikos Assia
1997–98 14 Olympiakos Nicosia, Doxa Katokopias, Aris Limassol
1998–99 14 Anagennisi Deryneia, Ethnikos Assia, APOP Paphos
1999–2000 14 Digenis Akritas Morphou, Aris Limassol, Doxa Katokopias
2000–01 14 Alki Larnaca, Ethnikos Assia, Ermis Aradippou
2001–02 14 Nea Salamis Famagusta, Digenis Akritas Morphou, Aris Limassol
2002–03 14 Anagennisi Deryneia, Doxa Katokopias, Onisilos Sotira
2003–04 14 Nea Salamis Famagusta, Aris Limassol, Alki Larnaca
2004–05 14 APOP Kinyras, APEP, THOI Lakatamia
2005–06 14 AEP Paphos, Aris Limassol, Ayia Napa
2006–07 14 APOP Kinyras, Alki Larnaca, Doxa Katokopias
2007–08 14 AEP Paphos, APEP, Atromitos Yeroskipou
2008–09 14 Ermis Aradippou, Aris Limassol, Nea Salamis Famagusta
2009–10 14 Alki Larnaca, AEK Larnaca, Olympiakos Nicosia
2010–11 14 Aris Limassol, Nea Salamis Famagusta, Anagennisi Deryneia
2011–12 14 Ayia Napa, Doxa Katokopias, AEP Paphos
2012–136 14 Aris Limassol, AEK Kouklia, Ermis Aradippou
2013–147 8 Ayia Napa, Othellos Athienou
2014–15 14 Enosis Neon Paralimni, Pafos FC, Aris Limassol
2015–16 14 Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion, AEZ Zakakiou, Anagennisi Deryneia
2016–17 14 Alki Oroklini, Pafos FC, Olympiakos Nicosia
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24 16 Omonia Aradippou, Omonia 29M, Enosis Neon Paralimni
Note: The promoted teams are listed in order according to their final place in the league.

1CFA decided that would not be a promotion or play-off matches with the last team or teams of the First Division those seasons.

2The champion team played play-off matches with the last team or teams of the First Division, with the winner to participate in the next season's First Division and the looser to the Second Division. The Cypriot First Division teams won all the play-offs against the Second Division teams.

3The 1974–75 season, due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which forced many teams that had their headquarters to the north Cyprus to be closed temporarily or permanently, CFA decide to have a Special mixed championship of Second & Third Division. In this championship could participate all the teams of the Second and Third Division. Participation was optional.

4The 3rd placed team played playoff matches against the 12th team of First Division. In all cases the Second Division team lost.

5The 2nd placed team played playoff matches against the 11th team of First Division. The Second Division team lost.

6The 4th placed team played playoff matches against the 11th team of First Division. The Second Division team lost.

7The 2013–14 season the league was split into a two tier system, Group B1 and Group B2 with 8 teams participating in each division. The two groups were not at the same level, as Group B1 was above Group B2. Only the two first teams of B1 Group were promoted to the First Division.

Participations per club

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So far, 87 teams participated in the Cypriot Second Division since 1953–54 (including the 2017–18 season).[15]

Team Par.
PAEEK 471
Chalkanoras Idaliou 35
Orfeas Nicosia 32
Omonia Aradippou 32
Akritas Chlorakas 30
Anagennisi Deryneia 28
Othellos Athienou 28
Onisilos Sotira 27
APOP Paphos 26
Ermis Aradippou 24
Ethnikos Assia 24
Doxa Katokopias 22
Keravnos 222
APEP 213
ASIL Lysi 21
Digenis Akritas Morphou 20
Evagoras Paphos 18
THOI Lakatamia 18
AEM Morphou 16
Ethnikos Achna 16
Alki Larnaca 15
Aris Limassol 15
Team Par.
AEZ Zakakiou 14
Adonis Idaliou 12
AEK Ammochostos 12
ENAD Ayiou Dometiou 12
Ayia Napa 12
Ethnikos Asteras Limassol 10
Iraklis Gerolakkou 10
Anagennisi Larnacas 9
Panellinios Limassol 9
Olympiakos Nicosia 8
Apollon Lympion 7
Elpida Xylofagou 7
EPAL 7
Nea Salamis Famagusta 7
Parthenon Zodeia 7
Enosis Neon Paralimni 7
Amathus Limassol 6
Digenis Akritas Ipsona 6
MEAP Nisou 6
Neos Aionas Trikomou 6
Anagennisi Germasogeias 5
Arion Lemesou 5
Team Par.
Enosis Neon Parekklisia 5
Othellos Famagusta 5
AEK/Achilleas Ayiou Theraponta 4
AEP Paphos 4
Antaeus Limassol 4
APEP Pelendriou 4
Atromitos Yeroskipou 4
Achilleas Kaimakli 4
Ethnikos Defteras 4
Nikos & Sokratis Erimis 4
Digenis Oroklinis 4
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion 4
APOP Kinyras 3
Armenian Young Men's Association 3
ENAD Polis Chrysochous 3
Enosis Agion Omologiton 3
Enosis Kokkinotrimithia 3
Kentro Neotitas Maroniton 3
Rotsidis Mammari 3
SEK Agiou Athanasiou 3
Apollon Athienou 2
Apollon Limassol 2
Team Par.
Gaydzak Nicosia 2
Gençlik Gücü 2
LALL Lysi 2
Demi Spor Larnaca 2
Doğan Türk Birliği 2
Orfeas Athienou 2
Pafos FC 2
Mağusa Türk Gücü 2
AEK Kakopetrias 1
AEK Kouklia 1
AEK Larnaca 1
AEL Limassol 1
AEM Mesogis 1
Alki Oroklini 1
Achyronas Liopetriou 1
EPA Larnaca 1
Ethnikos Latsion 1
Kinyras Empas 1
Olympos Xylofagou 1
Frenaros FC 1
P.O. Xylotymbou 1

1The team has 15 participations as PAEK, 3 participations as PAEK/AEK and 28 participations as PAEEK.
2The team has some participations as Enosis-Keravnos.
3The team has 3 participations as APEP Limassol and 18 participations as APEP Pitsilias.

League or status at 2017–18:

2017–18 Cypriot First Division (11)
2017–18 Cypriot Second Division (14)
2017–18 Cypriot Third Division (7)
2017–18 STOK Elite Division (4)
No longer affiliated with CFA (14)
Clubs that no longer exist (36)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Στεφανιδης, Γιώργος (2013-09-23). "ΡΕΤΡΟ – Η ιστορία της Β' Κατηγορίας" (in Greek). Haravgi. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06.
  2. ^ a b c d "Το παγκύπριο πρωτάθλημα Β΄ κατηγορίας". Ethnos (in Greek). 1953-11-14. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Πρωταθλήτριαι Κύπρου από της ιδρύσεως της ΚΟΠ". Filathlos (in Greek). 1967-07-03. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Οι αποφάσεις της τελευταίας συνεδρίας της ΚΟΠ". Athlitiki (in Greek). 1953-11-23. p. 2.
  5. ^ "Πώς θα διεξαχθή εφέτος το πρωτάθλημα Β΄ κατηγορίας". Eleftheria (in Greek). 1954-01-09. p. 1.
  6. ^ Meletiou 2011, p. 112
  7. ^ "Cyprus Football Association - Official Website".
  8. ^ a b "Cyprus – List of Second Level Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  9. ^ Meletiou 2011, pp. 55–56
  10. ^ Gavreilides & Papamoiseos 2001, p. 41
  11. ^ Gavreilides & Papamoiseos 2001, p. 69
  12. ^ Meletiou 2011, p. 270
  13. ^ Cyprus Football Association (February 2014). "ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΑΡΧΕΙΟ ΜΑΣ" (PDF). Το περιοδικό της ΚΟΠ. No. 7. Λευκωσία: Cyprus Football Association. pp. 75–76. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-09.
  14. ^ "Cypriot Second Division – Participating and promoted teams per season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  15. ^ "Cyprus – Participations per club at Cypriot Second Division". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-24.

Sources

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