Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot First Division, commercially branded as the Cyprus League by Stoiximan, is the premier professional association football league in Cyprus, featuring 14 clubs under the governance of the Cyprus Football Association and running from August to May each year.[1][2] In its structure, teams play a double round-robin regular season of 26 matches, after which the league splits into a top group of six for the championship playoff (adding 10 matches) and a bottom group of eight for the relegation playoff (adding 14 matches), with points carried over; the champion advances to the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, while second and third place secure spots in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, and the three lowest finishers are relegated to the Second Division.[3] Established in 1934, the competition has been characterized by dominance from a select group of clubs, particularly APOEL Nicosia with a record 29 titles as of recent seasons, reflecting entrenched competitive advantages in Cypriot football.[1][3] A landmark achievement occurred in the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, when APOEL progressed to the quarter-finals—the deepest run by any Cypriot side in major European tournaments—after topping a group with Porto, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Shakhtar Donetsk, before elimination by Real Madrid. The league's early development was disrupted by ethnic political tensions, culminating in the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriot teams in 1955, which has contributed to its ongoing operation within the Greek Cypriot community amid Cyprus's divided status.[3]History
Founding and early years (1934–1960)
The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was founded on 23 September 1934 by eight clubs—AEL Limassol, Anorthosis Famagusta, APOEL, Aris Limassol, EPA Larnaca, Olympiakos Nicosia, Orfeas Nicosia, and Lefkoşa Türk Spor Kulübü—to formalize and govern organized football amid growing popularity from school and friendly matches since the early 20th century.[4][5] The association immediately established the Cypriot Championship, recognized as the First Division, with the inaugural season commencing on 2 December 1934 alongside a cup competition.[6] Initial participation involved six to eight teams, reflecting the founding clubs' base, competing in a single round-robin format under British colonial administration, which imposed logistical constraints like limited travel infrastructure.[6] The early league awarded two points for a victory and one for a draw, a system maintained through the 1959–60 season, emphasizing competitive balance in an era of amateur play dominated by Nicosia and Limassol-based teams.[5] APOEL secured multiple titles in the 1930s and 1940s, underscoring the concentration of talent in urban centers, while disruptions from World War II suspended competitions intermittently between 1940 and 1945.[4] Ethnic representation included the Turkish Cypriot founding club, which participated until broader withdrawals amid rising intercommunal tensions; by 1955, Çetinkaya Türk S.K., the sole remaining Turkish Cypriot entrant since the league's inception, exited the championship, reducing ethnic diversity in the division.[7] Postwar resumption saw steady expansion, with the CFA gaining FIFA membership in 1948, enabling the Cypriot national team's debut international match in 1949 against Greece.[4] By 1960, coinciding with Cyprus's independence from Britain, the First Division had solidified as the island's premier competition, featuring 10–12 teams annually and fostering rivalries that mirrored societal divisions, though without professional structures or significant foreign influence until later decades.[5][6]Post-independence expansion (1960–1990)
Following Cyprus's independence on 16 August 1960, the First Division experienced initial structural growth, expanding to 13 participating teams for the 1960–61 season from 10 teams in 1957–58, reflecting increased club participation amid national stabilization. AC Omonia won the championship that year, defeating APOEL 3–1 in a playoff after finishing level on points. The Cyprus Football Association's admission as a full UEFA member on 4 May 1962 enabled Cypriot champions to enter continental competitions, with APOEL representing the league in the 1963–64 European Cup preliminary round, marking the start of regular European exposure that elevated domestic standards and attracted greater investment in player development.[8][4] The league format during the 1960s stabilized around 12–13 teams in a double round-robin system awarding two points per win, fostering competitive balance among established clubs like APOEL, Omonia, Anorthosis Famagusta, and AEL Limassol. Omonia dominated with titles in 1960–61, 1964–65, 1965–66, and 1966–67, while APOEL secured back-to-back wins in 1962–63 and 1963–64; this era saw average match attendances rise to several thousand, driven by growing fan bases and improved organization under CFA oversight. By the early 1970s, the division featured 12 teams, as in the 1969–70 season won by EPA Larnaca.[8] The 1974 Turkish invasion profoundly disrupted operations, displacing clubs from northern cities like Famagusta—Anorthosis and Nea Salamis relocated to Larnaca and Aradippou, respectively—leading to withdrawals and a reduced 1974–75 season with only 11 teams after several northern-based sides ceased participation. This effectively consolidated competition in government-controlled areas, preserving league continuity while integrating relocated teams, which bolstered southern club depth without formal expansion. The format reverted to a full schedule by 1975–76, with Omonia reclaiming dominance through nine titles from 1970–71 to 1989–90.[9][8] Into the 1980s, the division expanded to a consistent 14 teams, as seen in the 1980–81 season won by Omonia, incorporating promoted sides from the Second Division amid infrastructure upgrades like the GSP Stadium's completion in 1997 precursors and enhanced youth academies. European campaigns yielded modest results—Omonia's 1983–84 Cup Winners' Cup run to the second round against Porto represented a high point—but spurred tactical modernization and foreign scouting, with average goals per match hovering around 2.5–3.0. This period solidified the "Big Four" (APOEL, Omonia, Anorthosis, AEK Larnaca) as perennial contenders, winning 24 of 30 titles from 1960–61 to 1989–90.[8]Modern era and professionalization (1990–present)
The 1990s marked a period of consolidation for the Cypriot First Division, with the league maintaining 14 teams and witnessing titles shared among established clubs such as Apollon Limassol (1990–91, 1993–94), APOEL (1991–92, 1995–96), Omonia (1992–93), and Anorthosis Famagusta (1994–95, 1996–97).[10] This era saw the adoption of the three-points-for-a-win system starting in the 1991–92 season, replacing the prior two-points model to promote more dynamic gameplay in line with broader European trends.[11] Professionalization began accelerating through greater reliance on international transfers, enabling clubs to bolster squads with experienced foreign players amid rising UEFA competition revenues. Into the 2000s and 2010s, European campaigns elevated the league's profile, exemplified by APOEL's unprecedented 2011–12 UEFA Champions League run to the quarter-finals, where they defeated Olympique Lyonnais 1–0 in the round of 16 second leg and advanced past FC Porto on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate.[12][13] Such achievements generated financial inflows via prize money and TV rights, funding infrastructure upgrades and full-time professional contracts for top clubs. The league format evolved with a split system post-regular season—typically after 26 matches, dividing into a six-team championship group and an eight-team relegation group—to intensify late-season stakes and address concerns over competitiveness and match-fixing, as proposed in Cyprus Football Association (CFA) reforms around 2013.[14] A 2022 CFA benchmarking report highlighted gains in attendance and income, alongside debuts of five new top-tier clubs since 2008, signaling expanded participation despite persistent financial disparities among teams.[15] The 2020s have reflected further professional maturation, with the influx of foreign talent reaching 70.8% of players (foreign-born) in the 2022–23 season—the highest rate globally—allowing clubs to compete at higher intensities but raising questions about domestic development.[16] Title diversity increased, as Aris Limassol claimed their first championship in 57 years in 2022–23, followed by Pafos FC's inaugural win in 2024–25, qualifying them for the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League group stage.[10][17] Ongoing CFA efforts, including pushes for privately owned stadiums and structural reforms, aim to mitigate corruption and instability, fostering sustainable growth amid UEFA coefficient improvements.[18]Governance and Organization
Cyprus Football Association oversight
The Cyprus Football Association (CFA), founded in September 1934, acts as the national governing body for association football in Cyprus and exercises direct oversight over the Cypriot First Division, the premier professional league comprising 14 teams that operates from August to May each season.[4] The CFA structures the competition across four divisions, each with 14 clubs, while managing fixtures, match scheduling, and qualification pathways for European tournaments through its affiliations with FIFA (joined 1948) and UEFA (joined 1962).[4][19] Club licensing falls under CFA authority, enforced via the CFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, which mandate compliance in areas such as sporting, infrastructure, personnel, administrative, legal, and financial criteria to ensure league stability and eligibility for UEFA competitions.[20] For the 2025–26 season, all First Division participants, including AEK Larnaca, AEL Limassol, Anorthosis Famagusta, and others, passed the CFA's review process and secured licenses by May 2025, averting potential sanctions.[21] Disciplinary governance is handled by CFA committees, including the Disciplinary Committee for initial sanctions on violations like match-fixing, player misconduct, and fan violence, and the Appeals Committee for reviews.[22] In 2023, the Appeals Committee overturned life bans imposed on two players accused of match-fixing involvement, following union advocacy for due process.[23] To combat racism, the CFA integrated UEFA's three-step protocol into its rules in August 2025, requiring referees to pause matches for announcements, abandon if necessary, and impose automatic forfeits or fines for persistent offenses.[24] The CFA's Executive Committee and Board of Directors oversee these bodies, with recent leadership changes including the election of Haris Loizides as chairman on June 24, 2025.[25][22] Integrity efforts have included responses to match-fixing allegations; in 2015, the CFA president publicly acknowledged potential widespread issues in the First Division following a UEFA probe, prompting internal investigations and sanctions.[26] Despite persistent claims of corruption from clubs and politicians, the CFA maintains arbitration for contract disputes and collaborates with police on security, as reiterated in August 2024 ahead of the season.[27][28]Sponsorship, licensing, and financial structure
The Cypriot First Division operates under a sponsorship model where the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) secures naming rights and other commercial partnerships for the league as a whole, while individual clubs pursue their own sponsorship deals. Since the 2024–25 season, the league has been officially known as the Cyprus League by Stoiximan following a three-year naming rights agreement with Stoiximan, a brand of Kaizen Gaming, which extends the CFA's existing sponsorship ties with the betting operator. This deal builds on prior CFA collaborations with Stoiximan, emphasizing commercial revenue generation amid the league's reliance on such partnerships to supplement limited matchday and broadcasting income. Club-level sponsorships vary, with prominent examples including Meridianbet's record deal with AEL Limassol in 2024 and IC Markets' extension as AEL's gold sponsor through 2027, often focusing on shirt and stadium branding to offset operational costs.[29][30][31] Club licensing is administered by the CFA in alignment with UEFA standards, requiring all First Division participants to obtain an annual license demonstrating compliance across sporting, infrastructure, personnel, legal, and financial criteria to ensure eligibility for domestic and European competitions. Financial requirements mandate the submission of audited financial statements, proof of no overdue payables to employees, social/tax authorities, or UEFA clubs (with thresholds such as €500,000 for tax debts), and adherence to financial fair play principles to prevent insolvency risks. For the 2025–26 season, all 14 First Division clubs successfully met these criteria by May 23, 2025, despite ongoing scrutiny over outstanding state debts, highlighting enforcement flexibility where clubs provided repayment plans rather than full clearance. The CFA's Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations, updated periodically (e.g., 2023 edition), integrate UEFA benchmarks, including solvency assessments and future financial projections, to promote stability, though critics note persistent vulnerabilities due to lax debt tolerances.[20][21][32] The league's financial structure centers on centralized revenue distribution by the CFA, with clubs deriving primary income from pooled television rights, sponsorships, and gate receipts, supplemented by UEFA prize money for qualifiers and solidarity payments from betting levies. Television deals have historically generated €12 million annually as of 2017, constituting 20–25% of clubs' budgets and enabling growth from earlier modest figures, though exact recent distributions remain opaque and unevenly allocated based on performance and historical shares. Overall club finances reveal structural fragility, with First Division teams collectively owing €35.6 million to the state in tax and social insurance arrears as of September 2024—predominantly pre-2021 debts—prompting government repayment schedules amid licensing approvals that prioritize plans over immediate liquidation. The CFA derives income from management fees (e.g., €100,000 per club annually) and commercial rights, but the absence of a fully independent league entity limits revenue optimization, as evidenced by proposals for devolved TV and sponsorship control to enhance bargaining power. This model sustains operations but perpetuates cycles of debt, with average club revenues skewed toward media and sponsors rather than diversified commercial streams.[33][34][35]Competition Format
Current format and regulations (since 2015)
Since the 2015–16 season, the Cypriot First Division has featured 14 teams in a split format overseen by the Cyprus Football Association, with the season spanning from August to May.[36][37] The initial league phase consists of a double round-robin among all 14 clubs, with each team playing 26 matches (13 home, 13 away).[38] Points from this phase—three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss—carry forward to the playoffs, with tiebreakers determined first by goal difference, then goals scored, head-to-head results, and away goals if necessary.[38] After the 26-match league phase, teams are divided based on standings: the top six enter the Championship Group, while the bottom eight form the Relegation Group.[38][37] In the Championship Group, the six teams play each other twice (home and away), adding 10 matches per club; the highest-point total at the conclusion crowns the season's champion, who qualifies for UEFA Champions League preliminaries, with runners-up and third place advancing to UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers subject to coefficient rankings.[38] The Relegation Group sees its eight teams contest a double round-robin (14 additional matches each), with carried-over points deciding final positions.[38] The three lowest finishers are directly relegated to the Second Division, while promotion from the Second Division supplies three teams (two direct, one via playoff) to maintain the 14-team structure.[38] All matches adhere to standard FIFA Laws of the Game, with the association enforcing licensing criteria for participation, including financial stability and infrastructure standards.Evolution of formats and rule changes
The points system of the Cypriot First Division initially awarded two points for a win and one for a draw from the league's inception in the 1934–35 season until 1959–60.[39] This was replaced by the modern three-points-for-a-win system starting in the 1992–93 season, aligning with broader European trends to incentivize attacking play and reduce draws.[40] A phased format was introduced in the 2007–08 season, featuring a regular double round-robin among all teams followed by a second round where the top 12 were split into three groups of four based on regular-season standings, with group winners contesting playoffs for the title.[40] This evolved into a split-season structure by the 2010s, typically involving a first phase of double round-robin matches, then division into championship and relegation groups for the remaining fixtures, aiming to heighten competition intensity and reduce fixture congestion.[15] The league's structure has shown instability in recent years, with the format changing five times and the number of teams fluctuating four times between the 2011–12 and 2020–21 seasons—alternating between 12 teams (e.g., 2014–15, 2018–19) and 14 teams (e.g., 2011–12 to 2013–14, 2015–16 to 2017–18).[15] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted exceptional rules, including no relegation in 2019–20 due to early termination and four relegation spots in 2020–21 to address disruptions and expand the second division.[15] Since the 2021–22 season, the standard format has stabilized at 14 teams, with a 26-match double round-robin first phase followed by splits into a six-team championship group (for title and European qualification contention) and an eight-team relegation group, where the bottom two teams typically face direct relegation and playoffs against second-division sides.[15][37] These adjustments reflect efforts by the Cyprus Football Association to balance competitiveness, financial sustainability, and alignment with UEFA guidelines amid varying club capacities.[15]Relegation, promotion, and qualification criteria
The Cypriot First Division employs a split-season format with 14 participating teams. Each team plays a double round-robin schedule over 26 matches in the initial phase. Standings after this phase determine the division into a championship group (top six teams) and a relegation group (bottom eight teams), with points carried forward. In the championship group, teams play each other twice for an additional 10 matches, deciding the league title. In the relegation group, teams play each other once for seven additional matches, primarily to determine survival.[3][38] Relegation is determined by the final positions in the relegation group: the bottom three teams descend directly to the Cypriot Second Division, which operates as the second tier with 16 teams. There are no promotion-relegation playoffs between the divisions. Promotion to the First Division is awarded directly to the top three finishers in the Second Division's standings at season's end.[3] For European qualification, the league champion earns entry to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. The winner of the Cypriot Cup qualifies for the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. The league runners-up secure a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round, while the third-placed team enters the Conference League first qualifying round. If the cup winner has already qualified via league position, the Europa League spot passes to the highest-ranked league team not otherwise qualified, with subsequent adjustments for Conference League allocations per UEFA's access list for Cyprus's coefficient ranking.[41][38]Points allocation and dispute resolution
In the Cypriot First Division, teams receive three points for a league victory, one point for a draw, and zero points for a defeat. This scoring system has been standard since the 1992–93 season, aligning with UEFA-influenced reforms to incentivize attacking play over draws.[40][39] Prior to 1992–93, the league used a two-points-for-a-win model without awarding points for draws (from 1960–61 to 1991–92), and earlier (1934–35 to 1959–60), it granted two points for wins and one for draws. These changes reflect broader European trends toward maximizing competitive balance and goal output.[39] For resolving ties in final standings, the primary criterion is the head-to-head record among tied teams, with priority given to points earned in those mutual fixtures. If head-to-head points remain equal, further tiebreakers such as goal difference in head-to-head matches or overall season goal difference are applied sequentially, as overseen by the Cyprus Football Association to ensure objective ranking determination.[42][43]Participating Clubs
Clubs in the 2025–26 season
The 2025–26 Cypriot First Division, officially titled the Cyprus League by Stoiximan for sponsorship purposes, comprises 14 clubs competing in a double round-robin format during the initial phase.[37] The Cyprus Football Association announced the participants on June 14, 2025, with the season commencing on August 23–24, 2025, and concluding on May 23–24, 2026.[37] The clubs, listed in alphabetical order, are:- AEK Larnaca
- AEL Limassol
- Akritas Chlorakas
- Anorthosis Famagusta
- APOEL Nicosia
- Apollon Limassol
- Aris Limassol
- EN Paralimni
- Ethnikos Achna
- Freedom24 Enosis Neon Ypsona
- Omonia Aradippou
- Omonia Nicosia
- Olympiakos Nicosia
- Pafos FC
Historical clubs, mergers, and dissolutions
AEK Larnaca FC was established on May 24, 1994, through the merger of EPA Larnaca FC, founded in 1930 and a three-time league champion, and Pezoporikos Larnaca FC, founded in 1927 and a two-time champion, both of which ceased independent operations following the amalgamation to form a unified club capable of competing more effectively in domestic and European competitions.[44][45] In Paphos, APOP Paphos FC and Evagoras Paphos FC, both long-standing local rivals with histories dating to the mid-20th century, merged prior to the 2000–01 season to create AEP Paphos FC, allowing the new entity to secure a place in the First Division amid financial pressures and inconsistent top-flight presence for the predecessor clubs.[46][47] This merged club, however, faced ongoing viability challenges and combined with AEK Kouklia FC on June 9, 2014, to establish Pafos FC, which assumed AEP's Second Division spot and has since risen to prominence, including winning the 2024–25 First Division title.[48][49] Dissolutions have primarily stemmed from chronic financial mismanagement and insolvency, as seen with Alki Larnaca FC, a club founded in 1948 that reached the First Division and competed until relegation, but declared bankruptcy on May 6, 2014, after accumulating unsustainable debts, effectively ending its operations despite a dedicated fanbase.[50] Earlier clubs like Trast AC, one of the original participants in the league's formative years post-1932, also faded due to organizational failures, though records of such pre-independence dissolutions are less documented amid the league's amateur origins. Mergers and closures reflect broader patterns in Cypriot football, where smaller or debt-laden teams consolidate to survive amid limited revenue streams, UEFA licensing demands, and economic constraints in a small market.[46]Records and Achievements
Championship titles and multiple winners
APOEL Nicosia holds the record for the most Cypriot First Division championships with 29 titles, spanning from 1935–36 to 2023–24.[8] Omonia Nicosia ranks second with 21 titles, achieved between 1960–61 and 2020–21.[8] Anorthosis Famagusta has secured 13 championships, its last in 2007–08.[8] Several other clubs have won multiple titles, though none exceed six. AEL Limassol claimed six, most recently in 2011–12, while Apollon Limassol has four, including 2021–22.[8] Olympiakos Nicosia and EPA Larnaca each hold three titles, and Pezoporikos Larnaca has two, one of which was shared in 1987–88.[8] The distribution reflects the historical dominance of clubs from Nicosia, home to the league's two most successful teams, which together account for over half of all championships since 1934–35.[8]| Club | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| APOEL Nicosia | 29 |
| Omonia Nicosia | 21 |
| Anorthosis Famagusta | 13 |
| AEL Limassol | 6 |
| Apollon Limassol | 4 |
| EPA Larnaca | 3 |
| Olympiakos Nicosia | 3 |
| Pezoporikos Larnaca | 2 |
All-time performance rankings
The all-time performance rankings in the Cypriot First Division aggregate points earned by clubs since the league's founding in the 1934–35 season, encompassing 84 completed competitions through the 2021–22 season. Points reflect the era-specific systems: 2 points per win until the 1991–92 season, transitioning to 3 points per win thereafter, with no retroactive adjustments applied; draws consistently yield 1 point, and seasons interrupted by external factors (such as 1963–64 due to intercommunal violence and 2019–20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) are included proportionally.[51] This methodology favors longevity and consistency, as teams with more seasons played accumulate higher totals despite varying competition structures, including periods of 8- to 16-team formats and playoff systems introduced in later years.[51] APOEL Nicosia holds the top position with 3,467 points from 82 seasons, underscoring its sustained dominance through superior win rates and goal differentials.[51] Omonia Nicosia follows closely, benefiting from high participation (67 seasons) and offensive output, while Anorthosis Famagusta ranks third on balanced records across 77 seasons.[51] Lower-ranked clubs like Aris Limassol reflect challenges with relegations and fewer top finishes, highlighting disparities in resource access and historical stability among Cypriot teams.[51] Subsequent seasons (2022–23 onward) have not altered the top hierarchy, as confirmed by ongoing league data aggregators.[52]| Rank | Club | Seasons | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For:Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APOEL Nicosia | 82 | 1,919 | 1,140 | 416 | 363 | 4,075:1,913 | +2,162 | 3,467 |
| 2 | Omonia Nicosia | 67 | 1,757 | 1,071 | 362 | 324 | 3,716:1,667 | +2,049 | 3,250 |
| 3 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 77 | 1,907 | 954 | 482 | 471 | 3,403:2,191 | +1,212 | 3,123 |
| 4 | Apollon Limassol | 64 | 1,720 | 791 | 449 | 480 | 2,917:2,078 | +839 | 2,714 |
| 5 | AEL Limassol | 82 | 1,921 | 803 | 461 | 657 | 3,111:2,650 | +461 | 2,649 |
| 6 | Nea Salamis | 60 | 1,569 | 524 | 406 | 639 | 2,158:2,380 | -222 | 1,920 |
| 7 | Olympiakos Nicosia | 71 | 1,599 | 526 | 389 | 684 | 2,351:2,905 | -554 | 1,813 |
| 8 | Enosis Neon Paralimni | 49 | 1,348 | 448 | 391 | 509 | 1,762:1,854 | -92 | 1,551 |
| 9 | Pezoporikos Larnaca | 50 | 1,068 | 444 | 322 | 302 | 1,732:1,341 | +391 | 1,442 |
| 10 | Aris Limassol | 55 | 1,350 | 343 | 336 | 671 | 1,707:2,690 | -983 | 1,347 |
European competition successes and statistics
APOEL achieved the greatest success for a Cypriot club by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, the only instance of a Cypriot team advancing beyond the group stage in that competition.[53] After topping Group G with five points from encounters against Porto, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Shakhtar Donetsk, APOEL eliminated Olympique Lyonnais 1–0 on aggregate in the round of 16 via a 4–3 penalty shootout following extra time.[54] They were then defeated 5–2 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, with scores of 0–3 away and 2–2 at home.[55] Anorthosis Famagusta became the first Cypriot club to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2008–09, finishing fourth in Group B behind Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, and Panathinaikos after securing four points from six matches, including a 3–1 home victory over Panathinaikos on 9 December 2008.[56] In the 2025–26 season, Pafos FC marked the third Cypriot entry into the Champions League league phase (the modern equivalent of the group stage) by defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 2–1 on aggregate in the play-offs, a historic debut for the club.[57] Other notable performances include multiple Europa League group stage qualifications by clubs such as Omonia Nicosia (e.g., 2022–23 alongside Manchester United and Real Sociedad) and AEK Larnaca (2018–19 and 2011–12), with AEK also reaching the round of 16 in the 2016–17 Europa League before elimination by Villarreal.[58] In the UEFA Conference League, AEK Larnaca secured a 1–0 upset victory over Crystal Palace on 23 October 2025, ending the hosts' 13-match unbeaten home streak across all competitions.[59] APOEL has recorded additional Europa League round-of-16 appearances, including against Athletic Bilbao in 2016–17, contributing to Cyprus's UEFA association coefficient peaking at 14th place by the end of the 2012–13 season due to these results.[60]| Club | Best European Achievement | Season |
|---|---|---|
| APOEL | Champions League quarter-finals | 2011–12[61] |
| Anorthosis Famagusta | Champions League group stage (4th in group) | 2008–09[56] |
| Pafos FC | Champions League league phase | 2025–26[57] |
| AEK Larnaca | Europa League round of 16; Conference League league phase wins (e.g., vs. Crystal Palace) | 2016–17; 2025–26[58][59] |
| Omonia Nicosia | Europa League group stage | 2022–23[62] |