Ayia Napa FC
Encyclopedia
AO Ayia Napa is a Cypriot
football club from the town of Ayia Napa
. Club's official name is Athlitikos Omilos Ayias Napas (Athletic Club of Ayia Napa). The club was founded in 1990 after the merger of two clubs: APEAN (Athlitiki Podosfairiki Enosis Ayias Napas; Athletic Football Union of Ayia Napa) and ENAN (Enosis Neon Ayias Napas;Youth Union Ayia Napa).
to the Cypriot First Division
.
Despite their virgin presence in the First Division, Ayia Napa proved tough rival for every Cypriot team and has good presence in the 2006-07 season
. From their first match they achieved the surprise by an away draw against Anorthosis Famagusta and that followed two more draws, the one of them against Omonia Nicosia. In the first 12 matches they achieved several draws, including another home draw against APOEL. However the first victory came in the 13th matchday, when the team beat Aris Limassol 4-1 and at the end of the first half of the season, the team was defeated only in 5 matches. Their most historical victory came on January 14, 2007, when the team beat one of the greatest clubs of the island Omonia Nicosia 2-1. After that victory, few more successful results came but however, the team lost the last seven First Division matches of the and relegated again.
while the team was in the Cypriot Second Division
. That season was the only team from Cypriot Second Division
that qualified to quarter-finals. The club finished third in the group stages with wins against APOEL and Aris Limassol.
, when Ayia Napa plays in First Division, the team is using for home the Tasos Markou Stadium
in Paralimni
.
The UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
was hosted in Cyprus in 1998 and the UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship
in 1992 and the Ayia Napa Stadium was used for two matches of Republic of Ireland
in each competition; on June 19, 1998 their 5-2 victory against Croatia
and four days later, their 3-0 Cyprus U-19 national team
and qualified to the final where they went on to win the trophy. In 1992, the Irish were beaten by the Netherlands U-16
0-2 and tied by Spain
1-1.
Severino Jefferson
Evandro Russo Nicos Panayiotou
Hamid Rhanem
Tiberiu Lung Giorgos Giannakou
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...
football club from the town of Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is a resort at the far eastern end of the southern coast of Cyprus, famous for its sandy beaches. In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a 'party capital' together with Ibiza, Rimini and Mykonos...
. Club's official name is Athlitikos Omilos Ayias Napas (Athletic Club of Ayia Napa). The club was founded in 1990 after the merger of two clubs: APEAN (Athlitiki Podosfairiki Enosis Ayias Napas; Athletic Football Union of Ayia Napa) and ENAN (Enosis Neon Ayias Napas;Youth Union Ayia Napa).
History
The club started in the 3rd Division (1990-91). They were promoted to 2nd Division in season 2000/01 after finishing 2nd in 3rd division. The team once played against Omonia Nicosia in Cup tournament. It lost 4-0 in the first match but came 2-2 in the 2nd match.Promotion to First Division
The biggest achievement of Ayia Napa FC's history was in season 2005/06 after it finished 3rd in Cyprus 2nd division and was promotedPromotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to 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:...
.
Despite their virgin presence in the First Division, Ayia Napa proved tough rival for every Cypriot team and has good presence in the 2006-07 season
Cypriot First Division 2006-07
- Final standings :Updated as of May 16, 2007Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points...
. From their first match they achieved the surprise by an away draw against Anorthosis Famagusta and that followed two more draws, the one of them against Omonia Nicosia. In the first 12 matches they achieved several draws, including another home draw against APOEL. However the first victory came in the 13th matchday, when the team beat Aris Limassol 4-1 and at the end of the first half of the season, the team was defeated only in 5 matches. Their most historical victory came on January 14, 2007, when the team beat one of the greatest clubs of the island Omonia Nicosia 2-1. After that victory, few more successful results came but however, the team lost the last seven First Division matches of the and relegated again.
Cup qualification to the Quarter-finals
Another big achievement of Ayia Napa FC is the qualification to the cup's quarter-finals group stage in the 2007-08 seasonCypriot Cup 2007-08
The Cypriot Cup 2007–08 was the 66th edition of The Cypriot Football Cup, or Cypriot Cup for short. 16 clubs' entries were accepted for the competition.The competition culminated with the Cup Final, held at GSP Stadium, Nicosia on 17 May 2008...
while the team was in the Cypriot Second Division
Cypriot 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 :...
. That season was the only team from Cypriot Second Division
Cypriot 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 :...
that qualified to quarter-finals. The club finished third in the group stages with wins against APOEL and Aris Limassol.
Stadium
The team's stadium is Municipal Stadium of Ayia Napa, which is a multi-use stadium in Ayia Napa. It is currently used mostly for football matches and holds 2,000 people. However the stadium was not suitable for first division matches, so for the season 2006-07Cypriot First Division 2006-07
- Final standings :Updated as of May 16, 2007Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points...
, when Ayia Napa plays in First Division, the team is using for home the Tasos Markou Stadium
Paralimni Stadium
Paralimni Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Paralimni, Cyprus. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Enosis Neon Paralimni. The stadium holds 5,800 people....
in Paralimni
Paralimni
Paralimni is a town situated in the South East of Cyprus, a little way inland, within the Famagusta District. Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North...
.
The UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
was hosted in Cyprus in 1998 and the UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
The UEFA U-17 Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. From 1982 to 2001 it was an Under-16 event.This meeting serves as a preliminary competition for the FIFA U-17 World Cup every other year....
in 1992 and the Ayia Napa Stadium was used for two matches of Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in each competition; on June 19, 1998 their 5-2 victory against Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
and four days later, their 3-0 Cyprus U-19 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...
and qualified to the final where they went on to win the trophy. In 1992, the Irish were beaten by the Netherlands U-16
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...
0-2 and tied by Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
1-1.
Current squad
Notable former players
Arjan ShetaArjan Sheta
Arjan Enuer Sheta is an Albanian football player who currently plays for Teuta. He is a defender and has previously played for Kallithea FC in Greece, Ayia Napa FC in Cyprus and KS Elbasani in Albania.-External links:*...
Severino Jefferson
Severino Jefferson
Severino Jefferson is a Brazilian professional footballer who last played in Canada for the Montreal Impact.- Career :...
Evandro Russo Nicos Panayiotou
Nicos Panayiotou
Nicos Panayiotou is a former international Cypriot football goalkeeper and the youth coach of Anorthosis Famagusta.He started his career from Anorthosis. He played there for seventeen years. He was the captain of Anorthosis...
Hamid Rhanem
Hamid Rhanem
Hamid Rhanem is a French football midfielder who played for APOP Kinyras Peyias. His former teams are AEK Larnaca, Enosis Neon Paralimni, Ayia Napa FC, Associação Naval 1º de Maio, Sport Club Salgueiros, C.D. Aves and NEA Salamina.-External links:* *...
Tiberiu Lung Giorgos Giannakou