History AEK Larnaca FC

1 history

1.1 foundation
1.2 epa , pezoporikos
1.3 1994–1999: years
1.4 decade 2000–2010
1.5 decade 2010–

1.5.1 uefa europa league 2011–12 group stages
1.5.2 spanish larnaca

history
foundation

aek founded on 18 july 1994. came merger of 2 historic clubs, epa larnaca , pezoporikos.

epa , pezoporikos

pezoporikos had been established in 1924. in 1926, serving retired members of pezoporikos founded athletic musical larnaca club (greek: ΑΜΟΛ; Αθλητικό Μουσικό Όμιλο Λάρνακας, athlitikos mousikos omilos larnakas). in 1932 2 clubs merged founding epa larnaca (greek: Ένωσις Πεζοπορικούς ΑΜΟΛ, enosis pezoporikous amol). however, in 1937 group of members , players of epa left , refounded pezoporikos. after several decades, in 1994, 2 clubs merged , created aek larnaca.

epa had 50 participations in first division, won championship 3 times (1945, 1946, 1970), 5 times cypriot cup (1945, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1955) , once shield of cfa (1955). in addition, season 1970–71 participated in alpha ethniki of greece , had 3 appearances in european competitions.

pezoporikos had 49 participations in first division, won 2 championships (1954, 1988) , 1 cypriot cup (1970). had 3 appearances in european competitions.

apart football, 2 clubs had other athletic departments. efforts , decision merge made create in larnaca sports club starred in competitions (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.) , not have financial problems.

1994–1999: years

after merge of pezoporikos , epa, aek replaced pezoporikos in first division (epa had relegated last period of existence). in first participation in championship, in 1994–95 season, aek finished in 9th place. in 1995–96 season, won 4th place. apoel had best defense in league 21 conceded goals. in cypriot cup 1995–96 club reached final, lost apoel.

however, because apoel had won championship , participated in 1996–97 uefa cup, finalists of cypriot cup, aek represented cyprus in 1996–97 uefa cup winners cup. in preliminary round has faced armenian club kotayk abovyan. first match took place in armenia (8 august 1996), aek lost 1–0. second leg held @ new gsz stadium on 22 august 1996 aek winning 5–0 , progressing first round of tournament. in round, aek drawn face barcelona. first leg (12 september 1996) held @ barcelona olympic stadium spanish team won 2–0. second leg took place @ gsz stadium (26 september 1996) both teams stay tied 0–0 , spanish team qualified. barcelona reached final , won trophy.

in 1996, before begging of 1996–97 season because apoel had won league , cup 1995–96, aek, finalist of cypriot cup, played against league winners match shield of cfa, losing 1–0. in 1996–97 season, aek finished again 4th place , reached cypriot cup semi-finals. followed 5th place in 1997–98, return 4th place 1998–99 season.

decade 2000–2010

three seasons in row, 1999–00, 2000–01 , 2001–02, aek finished in 7th place. in 1999–00 season cypriot cup reached semi-finals , 2002–03 ranked in 8th place.

the 2003–04 season important in history of team, managed win first trophy. although in league finished in 9th place, in cyprus cup 2003–04 reached final, beat ael limassol gsp stadium score 2–1. conquest of cup gave opportunity participate second time in european competition, 2004–05 uefa cup. in second qualifying round of competition faced maccabi petah tikva. first match took place on 12 august 2004 @ gsp stadium aek won 3–0. however, first match score not enough offer qualification in cyprus team. in rematch in israel, aek lost 4–0 eliminated next round of tournament.

in 2004, cup winner, before beginning of 2004–05 season, aek faced champions apoel in match shield of cfa. match final score ended 3–3. aek lost @ time 5–4. in 2004–05 aek finished in 9th place, 3 points ahead of 12th place leads second division. following season ranked 8th. in cypriot cup 2005–06 reached final against apoel. after draw between home stadiums of 2 clubs, final took place @ home ground of aek gsz stadium. however, team failed win trophy after being defeated 3–2 @ time.

in 2006–07 season, aek finished in 7th place , reached semi-finals of 2006–07 cypriot cup. in 2007–08 season, won 4th place in league. darkest page in history of team 2008–09 season aek finished in 13th place , relegated first time in history in second division.

decade 2010–

in 2009–10 season aek finished 2nd in second division, ensuring return first division. in 2010–11 season, aek finished in 4th place winning ticket participate in 2011–12 uefa europa league.

in 2011–12 season, club ranked 5th , reached semi-finals of cypriot cup. next season 2012–13, aek reached 4th place of league , again semi-finals of cup. in 2013–14, team limited @ 8th place after moderate season.

uefa europa league 2011–12 group stages

the participation of team in europa league 2011–12 historic both club , cyprus football. aek larnaca became first cypriot team secured qualification group stages of europa league (were preceded entries of anorthosis , apoel in group stages of champions league). in second qualifying round aek faced maltese floriana won 8–0 away , 1–0 @ home. away win 8–0 largest winning range of cypriot team in european competition. in third qualifying round aek faced czech mladá boleslav. in first match @ gsz aek won 3–0, while in second leg away teams drawn 2–2 aek qualifying play-offs of uefa europa league. next opponent norwegian rosenborg. goalless draw result of first leg between 2 teams. in second leg (which held @ antonis papadopoulos stadium due fact uefa endorsed gsz stadium inappropriate @ phase of tournament), aek won 2–1 , qualified through group stages of tournament.

in group stages tournament team asked face schalke 04, maccabi haifa , steaua bucharest. stadium in cyprus host matches of group stages of european competitions new gsp, whereupon aek there gave home matches of group stages. aek finished @ bottom of group j , eliminated. club s performance @ tournament 1 win (2–1 @ home against maccabi haifa) , 2 draws (0–0 away against schalke 04 , 1–1 home against steaua), gathering 5 points. during season, aek created unbeaten record cypriot club 6 matches (four wins , 2 draws @ qualifying phase of tournament). same record hold apoel same season 3 wins , 3 draws.

aek larnaca fans @ gsz stadium


spanish larnaca

in 2014, arrival of thomas christiansen marked beginning of spanish era @ aek larnaca. under spanish coach, there have been 6 regular starters spain in lineup during 2014-15 season.

in 2014–15 season, team claimed championship trophy until last matchday. in penultimate matchday, team faced apoel whom stayed @ draw 1–1. if aek won go top of table. in last matchday, aek won anorthosis , ranked 2nd first time in history.

as in 2014-15, larnaca finished strong second place in league 2015-16 season. case in previous season, there 6 spaniards in starting eleven, time 1 player cyprus.

christiansen left league rivals apoel nicosia.

christiansen followed spaniard, imanol idiakez. under idiakez, larnaca finished second once again in 2016-17 season. 2 best scorers of aek larnaca in first division ivan trickovski 14 goals, followed spaniard acorán barrera netted 9 goals. idiakez nominated 7 spaniards regular starters, no single player cyprus.