Costas Kaiafas
Encyclopedia
Kostas Kaiafas is a retired Cypriot
midfielder of Alki
and former player of AC Omonia
. He was the captain of Omonia and the second longest servant in the history of the club, only five appearances short of becoming Omonoia's all-time record holder.
let him know that he is no longer included in his squad, and decided to announce his retirement from the team in June 2009. His final game with Omonia was a friendly match against the Lithuanian champions Ekranas
, on July 7, 2009.
Although, later he came out of retirement and signed a contract with Alki
, a team from Larnaca
, that was playing in the Cypriot Second Division
during the season 2009-10. He played a major role and captain the team to the league championship and promotion to First Division.
During 2010-11, he became the first and only member of the Kaiafas family, to play against Omonia, on September 18, 2010, despite having said that he never wishes to do so. The match was held at Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium
, and despite playing as opponent, Kaiafas was very well accepted by Omonia fans.
In the same season, Kaiafas was a key figure for Alki, but on 29 November 2010 he was involved in an infamous incident which attracted headlines and controversy in Cyprus. In a home match against Ermis Aradippou, he was sent off for pushing and swearing at the referee, after the away team scored the winning goal. Kaiafas was suspended for six months, which ruled him out of first team action, and raised questions about a possible inglorious end to his career.
.
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...
midfielder of Alki
Alki Larnaca FC
Alki Larnaca is a Cypriot football club based in the town of Larnaca. The club was founded in 1948 and the club's colours are blue and red. They reached the Cypriot Cup final on 5 occasions without a win.1979 was the best year in club's history...
and former player of AC Omonia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
. He was the captain of Omonia and the second longest servant in the history of the club, only five appearances short of becoming Omonoia's all-time record holder.
Career
Kaiafas came through the AC Omonia academies, playing at first as a right midfielder but then moving to the centre as a defensive midfielder. 2008-2009 was his last season with Omonia, as manager Takis LemonisTakis Lemonis
Takis Lemonis is a former Greek football player , former manager of Cypriot champion Omonia and current manager of Panionios.-Playing career:...
let him know that he is no longer included in his squad, and decided to announce his retirement from the team in June 2009. His final game with Omonia was a friendly match against the Lithuanian champions Ekranas
FK Ekranas
Futbolo Klubas Ekranas is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the town of Panevėžys.The club was founded in 1964.It has won Lithuanian championships in 1985 , 1993, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Lithuanian Cup in 1985 , 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2011 and the Lithuanian Super Cup in 1998, 2006, 2010...
, on July 7, 2009.
Although, later he came out of retirement and signed a contract with Alki
Alki Larnaca FC
Alki Larnaca is a Cypriot football club based in the town of Larnaca. The club was founded in 1948 and the club's colours are blue and red. They reached the Cypriot Cup final on 5 occasions without a win.1979 was the best year in club's history...
, a team from Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, that was playing 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 :...
during the season 2009-10. He played a major role and captain the team to the league championship and promotion to First Division.
During 2010-11, he became the first and only member of the Kaiafas family, to play against Omonia, on September 18, 2010, despite having said that he never wishes to do so. The match was held at Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium
Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium
Antonis Papadopoulos is an all-seater football stadium in the city of Larnaca. The first phase of the stadium was completed in 1986.The ground is the home of Anorthosis Famagusta it is currently that of the Cyprus national football team. The ground bears the name of an Anorthosis benefactor...
, and despite playing as opponent, Kaiafas was very well accepted by Omonia fans.
In the same season, Kaiafas was a key figure for Alki, but on 29 November 2010 he was involved in an infamous incident which attracted headlines and controversy in Cyprus. In a home match against Ermis Aradippou, he was sent off for pushing and swearing at the referee, after the away team scored the winning goal. Kaiafas was suspended for six months, which ruled him out of first team action, and raised questions about a possible inglorious end to his career.
Personal life
Kostas is the son of Sotiris Kaiafas, winner of 1975/76 European Golden BootEuropean Golden Boot
The European Golden Shoe, formerly known as the European Golden Boot, is an association football award presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league...
.
Omonia statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | National 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... |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AC Omonia AC Omonia Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953... |
1991–92 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 1992–93 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 1993–94 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 1994–95 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 1995–96 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 1996–97 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |||||
| 1997–98 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 3 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1998–99 | 21 | 3 | ? | ? | 4 | 0 | |||
| 1999–00 | 18 | 1 | ? | ? | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | 8 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | 22 | 2 | ? | ? | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | 23 | 10 | ? | ? | |||||
| 7 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2003–04 | 20 | 7 | ? | ? | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2004–05 | 23 | 6 | ? | ? | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 22 | 4 | ? | ? | 4 | 1 | |||
| 2006–07 | 23 | 2 | ? | ? | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 26 | 6 | ? | ? | 4 | 2 | |||
| 2008–09 | 21 | 4 | ? | ? | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 347 | 68 | ? | ? | 41 | 6 | 23 | 1 | |
- Kaiafas first league game was on 18 January 1992 against AlkiAlki Larnaca FCAlki Larnaca is a Cypriot football club based in the town of Larnaca. The club was founded in 1948 and the club's colours are blue and red. They reached the Cypriot Cup final on 5 occasions without a win.1979 was the best year in club's history...
. Omonia won 2-0 and he scored the second goal, the first of his career. His last game was on 2 May 2009 against AnorthosisAnorthosis Famagusta FCΑnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
. Omonia won 1-0 and he scored the winning goal, the last of his career.
- Kaiafas first international appearance was a friendly match against GreeceGreece national football teamThe Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
on 19 August 1997 in Heraklion. His first and only goal was scored on 2 February 1998 during a friendly match against SloveniaSlovenia national football teamThe Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
, which Cyprus won 1-0. His last game with Cyprus was on 17 November 2004 in a defeat against IsraelIsrael national football teamThe Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
.
- Kaiafas totaled 498 appearances with Omonia , only five behind the all time record owned by Andreas Kanaris with 503 appearances. He did however overtake his father, Sotiris Kaiafas, who made 476 appearances for the club.
Honours
- Cypriot Championship (3): 1993, 2001, 2003
- Cypriot Cup (4): 1991, 1994, 2000, 2005
- Cyprus FA ShieldCyprus FA ShieldThe Cyprus Football Association Shield or the LTV Super Cup is a Cypriot association football trophy, contested in an annual match between the Cypriot Champion and the winners of the Cypriot Cup. If a team wins The Double , then the Double winner plays the Cypriot Cup finalist...
(4): 1991, 1994, 2001, 2005 - Football Player of the Year : 2003 (awarded by Cyprus Sports Journalists)