Digenis Morphou
Encyclopedia
Digenis Akritas Morphou is a Cypriot
sports club
from Morphou, founded on April 23, 1931. The club takes its name from the medieval Greek hero Digenis Akritas who is depicted on the club's emblem. It currently has a football and a basketball team.
As the club did not have access to a suitable stadium, the football team was not able to play in an official league of the Cyprus Football Federation until 1968, when it joined the second division. The team was promoted to the first division after the 1969–70 season. After finishing second in the Cypriot First Division
in 1971, qualified for the UEFA Cup
competition and was knocked out by AC Milan (lost 4–0 and 3–0) UEFA Cup 1971-72
under the Management of Noel McFarlane one of the famous Busby Babies of Manchester United. The club had a great following and was ranked in the top 3 clubs in Cyprus before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and occupation of the city of Morphou in 1974.
Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
in 1974, the team was displaced to the southern part of the island, where they currently play in exile. This upheaval brought a downturn in fortunes, and the team loitered in the lower divisions until the 1999–2000 season, when they again earned promotion to the top division. 2005 also brought success in the Cypriot Cup, in which they reached the final of the competition only to lose 2–0 to Omonia Nicosia
and finishing in 4th place in the Cyprus first division.
Digenis also has an active basketball team. They won the top division championship twice, in 1967 and 1968. last year the team won the 2nd division championship with an unbeaten record and were promoted back to division 1.
Digenis Akritas Morphou is one of the oldest sport clubs in Cyprus. It was established on April 23, 1931 under the full name of "Mousikofilologikos ke Athlitikos Sillogos Digenis Akritas Morfou". The club started off with 61 members but it soon reached 400. Its first executive panel was comprised by Stavros Geroudis, Christos Koumeras,Christos Sofroniou (Chamberlaine) Christakis Yiallourides, Pantelis Tsiapparis, Melis Hatzhiloizou, and Charalambos Odisseos. In addition to its athletic activities the club was very active in organizing cultural events in the area of Morphou.
After its establishment Digenis sets up its first football team. Due to the absence of an appropriate stadium in Morphou the team cannot enter the official league of the Cyprus Football Federation. In 1968, however, Digenis (along with the other football club from Morphou, AEM) is admitted in the Second Division. From its first year in the league Digenis shows its potentials by finishing in the second place (with Enosis Neon Paralimniou being the champions that year). The dream comes true the following year. In the 1969–70 season Digenis becomes the champions and is promoted to the First Division.
With Kostas Talianos being the manager, manages a great achievement from its first year in the First Division. Digenis rises up above the big teams of that time (APOEL, Omonoia, Anorthosis, AEL etc.) to finish up in the second place of the league (with Olympiakos being the champions). The greatest moment in the history of the club is written as Digenis participates in the UEFA cup and plays in "San Siro" stadium against the mighty A.C Milan (0–3).
The golden era of Digenis soon comes to an end. The Turkish invasion of Cyprus of 1974 and the subsequent occupation of the city of Morphou leaves Digenis with no home, no financial resources, and no stadium. Its members and thousands of supporters are scattered all around Cyprus trying to start their lives from the beginning.
Kyriacos Chailis
Savvas Constantinou
Adamos Efstathiou
Georgios Eleftheriou
Loukas Stylianou
Armenia Arthur Voskanyan
Bulgaria Petar Shopov
France Vincent Laban
Gambia Jatto Ceesay
Gabon Dieudonné Londo
Germany Marcel Rath
Greece Georgios Nasiopoulos Georgios Papandreou
Savvas Poursaitidis
Nikos Katsavakis
Demetris Maris
Hungary Balázs Berdó
Norbert Farkas
Tibor Márkus
Zoltán Nagy
Gábor Vayer
Latvia Aleksejs Koļesņikovs
Macedonia Ljubodrag Milosević
Portugal Baltazar
Dossa Júnior
Romania Ştefan Apostol
Nicolae Constantin
Adrian Falub
Alin Mircea Savu
Serbia
Sinisa Dobrasinovic
Vanja Grubač
Nemanja Čorović
Slobodan Mazić
Aleksandar Todorovski
Cypriot Second Division
Champions 2009
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
sports club
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
from Morphou, founded on April 23, 1931. The club takes its name from the medieval Greek hero Digenis Akritas who is depicted on the club's emblem. It currently has a football and a basketball team.
As the club did not have access to a suitable stadium, the football team was not able to play in an official league of the Cyprus Football Federation until 1968, when it joined the second division. The team was promoted to the first division after the 1969–70 season. After finishing second in the Cypriot First Division
Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
in 1971, qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
competition and was knocked out by AC Milan (lost 4–0 and 3–0) UEFA Cup 1971-72
UEFA Cup 1971-72
The UEFA Cup 1971–72 was the inaugural year of the competition. It was won by English side Tottenham Hotspur over their countrymen Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 on aggregate after a two-legged final....
under the Management of Noel McFarlane one of the famous Busby Babies of Manchester United. The club had a great following and was ranked in the top 3 clubs in Cyprus before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and occupation of the city of Morphou in 1974.
Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
in 1974, the team was displaced to the southern part of the island, where they currently play in exile. This upheaval brought a downturn in fortunes, and the team loitered in the lower divisions until the 1999–2000 season, when they again earned promotion to the top division. 2005 also brought success in the Cypriot Cup, in which they reached the final of the competition only to lose 2–0 to Omonia Nicosia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
and finishing in 4th place in the Cyprus first division.
Digenis also has an active basketball team. They won the top division championship twice, in 1967 and 1968. last year the team won the 2nd division championship with an unbeaten record and were promoted back to division 1.
Digenis Akritas Morphou is one of the oldest sport clubs in Cyprus. It was established on April 23, 1931 under the full name of "Mousikofilologikos ke Athlitikos Sillogos Digenis Akritas Morfou". The club started off with 61 members but it soon reached 400. Its first executive panel was comprised by Stavros Geroudis, Christos Koumeras,Christos Sofroniou (Chamberlaine) Christakis Yiallourides, Pantelis Tsiapparis, Melis Hatzhiloizou, and Charalambos Odisseos. In addition to its athletic activities the club was very active in organizing cultural events in the area of Morphou.
After its establishment Digenis sets up its first football team. Due to the absence of an appropriate stadium in Morphou the team cannot enter the official league of the Cyprus Football Federation. In 1968, however, Digenis (along with the other football club from Morphou, AEM) is admitted in the Second Division. From its first year in the league Digenis shows its potentials by finishing in the second place (with Enosis Neon Paralimniou being the champions that year). The dream comes true the following year. In the 1969–70 season Digenis becomes the champions and is promoted to the First Division.
With Kostas Talianos being the manager, manages a great achievement from its first year in the First Division. Digenis rises up above the big teams of that time (APOEL, Omonoia, Anorthosis, AEL etc.) to finish up in the second place of the league (with Olympiakos being the champions). The greatest moment in the history of the club is written as Digenis participates in the UEFA cup and plays in "San Siro" stadium against the mighty A.C Milan (0–3).
The golden era of Digenis soon comes to an end. The Turkish invasion of Cyprus of 1974 and the subsequent occupation of the city of Morphou leaves Digenis with no home, no financial resources, and no stadium. Its members and thousands of supporters are scattered all around Cyprus trying to start their lives from the beginning.
Current squad
Notable former players
Cyprus Stelios AchilleosStelios Achilleos
Stelios Achilleos is a Cypriot midfielder who plays for MEAP Nisou. He started his career in AC Omonia.- External links :*...
Kyriacos Chailis
Kyriacos Chailis
Kyriacos Chailis is a Cypriot football striker who currently plays for Omonia Aradippou. His former teams also include Anorthosis Famagusta, Digenis Morphou and Nea Salamina.-External links:*...
Savvas Constantinou
Savvas Constantinou
Savvas Constantinou is a former international Cypriot football goalkeeper. On November 2008 he moved to Nea Salamina replacing Panikos Orphanides...
Adamos Efstathiou
Adamos Efstathiou
Adamos Efstathiou is a Cypriot football midfielder. He last played for Aris Limassol.Efstathiou began his career at APOEL FC. He also played for Digenis Morphou and Enosis Neon Paralimni and AEK Larnaca....
Georgios Eleftheriou
Georgios Eleftheriou
Georgios Eleftheriou is a Cypriot midfielder who plays for AEL Limassol in the Cypriot First Division.-External links:*...
Loukas Stylianou
Loukas Stylianou
Loukas Stylianou is a Cypriot football defender who played for Doxa Katokopias.Stylianou played for Thrasyvoulos F.C...
Armenia Arthur Voskanyan
Arthur Voskanyan
Arthur Voskanyan is a retired Armenian football midfielder. He last played for the Armenian Premier League club Banants Yerevan. He is also a member of the Armenia national team, and has participated in 51 international matches and scored 1 goal since his debut in a home UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying...
Bulgaria Petar Shopov
Petar Shopov
Petar Ivanov Shopov is a Bulgarian professional football player, who currently plays for Vihren in the West B PFG.- Career :...
France Vincent Laban
Vincent Laban
Vincent Laban is a French football midfielder who currently plays for Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus.-Career:He has shown good qualities at Anorthosis and looks like he will have a promising career...
Gambia Jatto Ceesay
Jatto Ceesay
Jatto Ceesay is a Gambian football striker who currently plays for Cypriot club Othellos Athienou.Ceesay has also played for Wallidan Sens , Willem II Tilburg , Al-Hilal , AEK Larnaca , FC Omniworld and AEP Paphos .-Career:Ceesay started to play football as a small boy with the Gambian...
Gabon Dieudonné Londo
Dieudonné Londo
Dieudonné Londo is a former Gabon international football forward who played for clubs in Gabon, Morocco, Belgium, Greece and Cyprus.-Career:...
Germany Marcel Rath
Marcel Rath
Marcel Rath is a German football player, he plays for FC Sylt-Haddeby.-External links:...
Greece Georgios Nasiopoulos Georgios Papandreou
Giorgos Papandreou (footballer)
Giorgos Papandreou is a retired Greek footballer who played for several teams in Greek Super League and Cypriot First Division . He also played for years in Beta Ethniki and Gamma Ethniki. He was a powerful striker.-References:...
Savvas Poursaitidis
Savvas Poursaitidis
Savvas Poursaitidis is a Greek-Cypriot footballer who currently plays for APOEL in the Cypriot First Division.-Club career:...
Nikos Katsavakis
Nikos Katsavakis
Nikolaos Katsavakis is a Greek footballer. He is currently playing as a defender for Apollon Limassol.His father Makis is a football trainer.Nikos Katsavakis has 2 caps with the Cyprus national football team-Career:...
Demetris Maris
Demetris Maris
Demetris Maris is a Greek footballer who currently playing for Omonia Aradippou as a defender. His best position is right full-back but he can be used also on the left wing...
Hungary Balázs Berdó
Balázs Berdó
Balázs Berdó is a Hungarian football player who currently plays for Pécsi MFC.- Digenis Morphou :In 2006, Balázs Berdó was recruited as right midfielder by the Cypriot team Digenis Morphou and this move was possible due to the effort input by Mr Kosta Christodoulou.- References :*****- External...
Norbert Farkas
Norbert Farkas
Norbert Farkas is a Hungarian footballer.- References :**...
Tibor Márkus
Tibor Márkus
Tibor Márkus is a Hungarian football player. He plays for Paksi SE. He also played for Rovaniemen Palloseura and Apollon Limassol.-External links:**...
Zoltán Nagy
Zoltán Nagy
Zoltán Nagy is a Hungarian footballer currently playing for Omonia Aradippou, in the Cypriot Second Division.-External links:*....
Gábor Vayer
Gábor Vayer
Gábor Vayer is a Hungarian football player who currently plays for Paksi SE.-External links: *...
Latvia Aleksejs Koļesņikovs
Macedonia Ljubodrag Milosević
Ljubodrag Milošević
Ljubodrag Milošević is a retired Macedonian international football player.-Club career:...
Portugal Baltazar
Bruno Miguel Nunes Baltazar
Bruno Miguel Nunes Baltazar is a Portuguese footballer, playing as a central defender.Baltazar started his career in his hometown club SU Sintrense. He played in several Portuguese teams from the second and third divisions such as Odivelas FC, Barreirense FC, CD Fatima, Imortal DC and Real SC...
Dossa Júnior
Romania Ştefan Apostol
Stefan Apostol
Ştefan Apostol is a Romanian football player, who currently plays for FCM Bacău.-External links:*...
Nicolae Constantin
Nicolae Constantin
Nicolae Constantin is a retired Romanian footballer. He spent most of his playing career with his heart club, Petrolul Ploiesti, and FC Rapid Bucuresti. He played mainly as a central defender, but could also go as a center forward...
Adrian Falub
Adrian Falub
Adrian Falub is a former football player. He is one of the most loved footballers that played for U Cluj because of his attachment to the colors of this club.-Club career:...
Alin Mircea Savu
Alin Mircea Savu
Alin Mircea Savu is a Romanian football player, formerly under contract at U Cluj.-External links:*...
Serbia
Sinisa DobrasinovicSiniša Dobrasinovic
Siniša Dobrašinović is a Montenegrin-born Cypriot football player.-Club career:He played for FK Rudar Pljevlja, K.S.C. Lokeren and Apollon Limassol, Digenis Morphou, AC Omonia and Anorthosis in Cyprus. He is currently playing for AO Kavala...
Vanja Grubač
Vanja Grubac
Vanja Grubač is a Montenegrin former football player.He began his career with FK Sutjeska and played for OFK Beograd, Le Havre AC, S.C...
Nemanja Čorović
Nemanja Corovic
Nemanja Čorović is a retired Serbian footballer.-Career:Čorović started his career in Montenegrin clubs FK Mogren and FK Budućnost Podgorica, before moving to Belgrade to play with FK Čukarički...
Slobodan Mazić
Slobodan Mazić
Slobodan Mazić is a Serbian footballer playing with FK Budućnost Podgorica in Montenegrin First League.-Career:...
Aleksandar Todorovski
Aleksandar Todorovski
Aleksandar Todorovski is a Serbian-born Macedonian defender currently playing for Polonia Warsaw in the Ekstraklasa.-Club:...
Former managers
- Giorgos SavvidisGiorgos SavvidisGiorgos Savvidis is a former international Cypriot football midfielderand football manager.During his playing days he was regarded one of the best players in the country and was voted in the best 11 Cypriot...
(1999–01) - Marios ConstantinouMarios ConstantinouMarios Constantinou is a former international Cypriot football midfielder and current manager of Doxa Katokopias. In the past he was footballer of Pezoporikos and AEK Larnaca under the instructions of the first coach of AEK Larnaca Andreas Mouskallis...
(2001–05) - Savvas ConstantinouSavvas ConstantinouSavvas Constantinou is a former international Cypriot football goalkeeper. On November 2008 he moved to Nea Salamina replacing Panikos Orphanides...
(2005–07) - Apostolos Makrides (2009–2010)
Football
- Cypriot First DivisionCypriot First DivisionThe Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
- Runner-up (1):1971
- Cypriot Cup:
- Runner-up (1):2005
- Cypriot Second DivisionCypriot Second Division- Structure :Fourteen clubs compete in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 26 games per team. The topthree clubs are promoted to the first division and the bottom three are relegated to the third division.- Teams :...
:- Champions (2):1970, 2000
Basketball
- Cypriot ChampionshipCyprus Basketball Division 1The Cypriot First Division A of the Men’s Basketball League is currently the top competition on the Cyprus Basketball calendar. It is run and governed by the Cyprus Basketball Federation...
- Winners (2) 1966–67, 1967–68
Cypriot Second Division
Champions 2009