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

Founded	1934 (Unofficial) 1953; 71 years ago (1953) (Official)
Country	Cyprus
Number of teams	16
Level on pyramid	2
Promotion to	Cypriot First Division
Relegation to	Cypriot Third Division
Domestic cup(s)	Cypriot Cup
Current champions	Omonia Aradippou (3rd title) (2023–24)
Most championships	APOP (6 titles) Evagoras (6 titles)
Website	www.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

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

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)

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

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

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

• AEZ Zakakiou
• Achyronas-Onisilos
• Akritas Chlorakas
• Anagennisi Deryneia
• ASIL Lysi
• Ayia Napa
• Chalkanoras Idaliou
• Digenis Akritas Morphou
• Doxa Katokopias
• Krasava ENY Ypsonas
• MEAP Nisou
• Olympiakos Nicosia
• Othellos Athienou
• PAEEK
• Peyia 2014
• Spartakos Kitiou

Winners (unofficial competition: 1935–1953)

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

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

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

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

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

• Football in Cyprus
• Cypriot football league system
• Cypriot First Division
• Cypriot Third Division
• STOK Elite Division
• Cypriot Cup

References

1. Στεφανιδης, Γιώργος (2013-09-23). "ΡΕΤΡΟ – Η ιστορία της Β' Κατηγορίας" (in Greek). Haravgi. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06.
2. "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. "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

• Στεφανίδης, Γιώργος (2013-09-23). "ΡΕΤΡΟ – Η ιστορία της Β' Κατηγορίας" (in Greek). Haravgi. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06.
• Στεφανίδης, Γιώργος (2013-09-23). "Η ιστορία της Β' Κατηγορίας" (PDF). Haravgi (in Greek). p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-25.
• "Cyprus – List of Second Level Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
• Gavreilides, Michalis; Papamoiseos, Stelios (2001). Ένας αιώνας Κυπριακό ποδόσφαιρο [One century Cypriot football] (in Greek). Nicosia: The writer. ISBN 9963-8720-1-8.
• Meletiou, Giorgos (2011). Κυπριακό ποδόσφαιρο 1900–1960 [Cypriot Football 1900–1960] (in Greek). Nicosia: Power Publishing. ISBN 978-9963-688-87-6.

External links

• Cyprus Football Association