Football in Cyprus
Encyclopedia
Football in Cyprus is by far the most popular sport.
Short of some sporadic surprise wins versus higher-ranked countries
, mostly on home soil, the national team
has not enjoyed any success of note. On the other hand, Cypriot clubs have reached the Champions League
Group Stage three times in recent years; that has made Cyprus the smallest sovereign state
(in both terms of area
and population
) to have been represented in the main phase of Europe
's most prestigious club tournament, since the introduction of the current format in 1992.
Moreover, the national association
has gained an excellent reputation by organising various FIFA
and UEFA
events (tournaments, courses, meetings).
, founder of The English School, Nicosia). Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed. Football clubs played friendly games only and the first unofficial island-wide league was organised on 1932.
(CFA) was formed and matches were soon being played on an official basis. The association became a FIFA
member in 1948 and an UEFA
member in 1962.
paid minuscule wages and were forced to have other jobs in order to support themselves and their families. On December 12, 1987 the Pancyprian Footballers Association was created. On February 25, 1997, the PFA became a FIFPro
member.
There are 52,403 (19,203 registered) players and 108 football clubs in Cyprus.
. The first official league was organised in 1934. The Cyprus Football Association
oversees the organization of:
or UEFA
competition, but it has been improving in recent qualifying tournaments.
Cyprus' highest FIFA ranking (43rd) came in October 2010. Cyprus is currently ranked 89th (April 2011 list).
Short of some sporadic surprise wins versus higher-ranked countries
FIFA World Rankings
The FIFA World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, currently led by Spain. The teams of the member nations of FIFA , football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
, mostly on home soil, the national team
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
has not enjoyed any success of note. On the other hand, Cypriot clubs have reached the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Group Stage three times in recent years; that has made Cyprus the smallest sovereign state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
(in both terms of area
Area
Area is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
and population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
) to have been represented in the main phase of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's most prestigious club tournament, since the introduction of the current format in 1992.
Moreover, the national association
Cyprus Football Association
The Cyprus Football Association is the governing body of football in Cyprus. It organizes the football league, whose top league is Cypriot First Division, Cypriot Cup, Cyprus FA Shield and the Cypriot national football team. It is based in Nicosia. It Football was introduced to Cyprus early in...
has gained an excellent reputation by organising various FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
events (tournaments, courses, meetings).
History
Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British (Canon Frank Darvall NewhamFrank Darvall Newham
Canon Frank Darvall Newham was an Anglican priest and educator who spent most of his career in Cyprus. He was the Director of Education of Cyprus under the colonial administration and founded The English School in Nicosia. He also served as the island's Boy Scouts commissioner, and was an honorary...
, founder of The English School, Nicosia). Initially played in the island's schools, it proved hugely popular and a number of clubs were duly formed. Football clubs played friendly games only and the first unofficial island-wide league was organised on 1932.
Cyprus Football Association
As football became established, the clubs were united in agreeing that an official body was needed to regulate the sport. In September 1934, the Cyprus Football AssociationCyprus Football Association
The Cyprus Football Association is the governing body of football in Cyprus. It organizes the football league, whose top league is Cypriot First Division, Cypriot Cup, Cyprus FA Shield and the Cypriot national football team. It is based in Nicosia. It Football was introduced to Cyprus early in...
(CFA) was formed and matches were soon being played on an official basis. The association became a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
member in 1948 and an UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
member in 1962.
Pancyprian Footballers Association
Until the mid 80's, footballers in Cyprus did not have any organisation or union that promoted their interests. Players were usuallypaid minuscule wages and were forced to have other jobs in order to support themselves and their families. On December 12, 1987 the Pancyprian Footballers Association was created. On February 25, 1997, the PFA became a FIFPro
FIFPro
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels , usually known by the abbreviation FIFPro, is a worldwide representative organization for professional football players. At the moment there are 43 national players associations who are members of FIFPro...
member.
There are 52,403 (19,203 registered) players and 108 football clubs in Cyprus.
League System
The governing body of football in Cyprus is the Cyprus Football AssociationCyprus Football Association
The Cyprus Football Association is the governing body of football in Cyprus. It organizes the football league, whose top league is Cypriot First Division, Cypriot Cup, Cyprus FA Shield and the Cypriot national football team. It is based in Nicosia. It Football was introduced to Cyprus early in...
. The first official league was organised in 1934. The Cyprus Football Association
Cyprus Football Association
The Cyprus Football Association is the governing body of football in Cyprus. It organizes the football league, whose top league is Cypriot First Division, Cypriot Cup, Cyprus FA Shield and the Cypriot national football team. It is based in Nicosia. It Football was introduced to Cyprus early in...
oversees the organization of:
- Leagues:
- 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:...
- 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 :...
- Cypriot Third DivisionCypriot Third DivisionCyprus Third Division is a semi-professional league of Cyprus. It's the third major league of the island.- 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...
- Cypriot Fourth DivisionCypriot Fourth DivisionCyprus Fourth Division is a semi-professional league of Cyprus. It's the fourth major league of the island.- Structure :Fifteen clubs compete in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 28 games per team...
- Cypriot First Division
- Cup tournaments:
- Cypriot Cup
- LTV Super Cup
- Cypriot Cup for lower divisionsCypriot Cup for lower divisions-Format:Cypriot Cup for lower divisions is a domestic cup for the teams who participate in the Third and Fourth division in Cyprus.It was created in season 2008-2009 by the Cypriot FA.Participation in this cup is not compulsory, so the number of the clubs that participate is different each year.The...
- National teams:
- Cyprus national football teamCyprus national football teamThe Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
- Cyprus national under-21 football teamCyprus national under-21 football teamThe Cyprus national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Cyprus and like the senior team, is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association....
- Cyprus national football team
National team
The Cypriot national team has yet to qualify for any major FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
or UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competition, but it has been improving in recent qualifying tournaments.
Cyprus' highest FIFA ranking (43rd) came in October 2010. Cyprus is currently ranked 89th (April 2011 list).