AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca FC is a Cypriot professional football club based in Larnaca, founded in 1994 through the merger of two historical clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club plays at the AEK Arena and competes in the Cypriot First Division. Notable achievements include winning the Cypriot Cup three times (2004, 2018, 2025), reaching the Europa League group stages twice, and becoming the first Cypriot club to reach the Europa Conference League Round of 16.
History
Overview
General information about the club
AEK Larnaca FC takes its name from the ancient Greek city of Kition, which was located on the site of today's Larnaca. The club's colors are yellow and green, and their emblem features admiral Kimon, who died defending the city of Kition circa 450 BC in a fight against the Persians. The quote "Και Νεκρος Ενικα" ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon. Beyond football, the club also operates men's basketball, women's volleyball, and men's futsal teams.
Most recent season and achievements
The club has been runner-up for the league championship six times and has achieved significant European success. Key milestones include qualifying for the 2011–12 and 2022–23 UEFA Europa League group stages, winning the Cypriot Cup in 2004, 2018, and 2025, making their Champions League debut in 2022, and becoming the second Cypriot club to reach the Round of 16 of a European competition.
History
Early years
AEK was founded on 18 July 1994 from the merger of two historic Larnaca clubs. Pezoporikos had been established in 1924, while in 1926, serving retired members founded AMOL. In 1932, these clubs merged to create EPA Larnaca, though Pezoporikos was refounded in 1937 when some members left EPA. The decision to merge again in 1994 was made to create a strong sports club in Larnaca capable of competing in all competitions without financial problems.
EPA had achieved considerable success with 50 first division participations, three championships (1945, 1946, 1970), five Cypriot Cups, and one Super Cup. Pezoporikos had 49 first division participations, two championships (1954, 1988), and one Cypriot Cup (1970).
Successful period
After the merger, AEK replaced Pezoporikos in the first division. In their debut 1994–95 season, they finished 9th, improving to 4th place in 1995–96. They reached their first Cypriot Cup final in 1996, losing to APOEL, but this qualified them for the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup where they notably defeated Kotayk Abovyan 5–0 after losing the first leg 1–0, before being eliminated by Barcelona.
The 2003–04 season marked a breakthrough as AEK won their first trophy, defeating AEL Limassol 2–1 in the Cypriot Cup final. This success was followed by reaching another cup final in 2006, though they lost to APOEL 3–2 after extra time.
Crisis and recovery
AEK's worst period came in 2008–09 when they finished 13th and were relegated to the Second Division for the first time in club history. However, they bounced back immediately, finishing 2nd in the Second Division in 2009–10 and earning promotion back to the First Division.
The 2011–12 season saw historic European success as AEK became the first Cypriot team to qualify for the Europa League group stage. They defeated Floriana 8–0 away (the largest winning margin for a Cypriot team in European competition), Mladá Boleslav, and Rosenborg to reach the group stage, where they faced Schalke 04, Maccabi Haifa, and Steaua Bucharest.
Current period
From 2014, the arrival of sporting director Xavi Roca marked the beginning of a Spanish era. Under coach Thomas Christiansen, the team featured six Spanish starters and finished 2nd in both 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons. This success continued under Imanol Idiakez, who led the team to another 2nd place finish in 2016–17 and the 2018 Cypriot Cup victory.
The 2021–22 campaign under David Catala saw AEK finish 2nd again, qualifying for Champions League football for the first time. In 2022–23, under José Luis Oltra, they made their Champions League debut against Midtjylland before dropping to the Europa League and ultimately reaching the Europa Conference League Round of 16, where they were eliminated by eventual winners West Ham United.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Cypriot Championship - Runner-up (6): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2023–24
Cypriot Cup - Winners (3): 2003–04, 2017–18, 2024–25 - Runner-up (2): 1995–96, 2005–06
Cypriot Super Cup - Winners (1): 2018 - Runner-up (2): 1996, 2004
Continental and global competitions
AEK Larnaca has participated in European competitions multiple times, with their most notable achievements being: - UEFA Europa League group stage qualification: 2011–12, 2022–23 - UEFA Champions League debut: 2022 - First Cypriot club to reach Europa Conference League Round of 16: 2022–23 - Second Cypriot club to reach Round of 16 of any European competition
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's emblem features admiral Kimon, who died at the seafront while defending the city of Kition circa 450 BC in a fight against the Persians. He had instructed his officers to keep news of his possible death secret. The quote "Και Νεκρος Ενικα" ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon and represents the club's fighting spirit.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The traditional colors of AEK Larnaca are yellow and green, which are prominently featured in their home kit design.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not provide specific information about traditional rivals.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The source material does not provide specific information about club nicknames.
Ownership and finances
The source material does not provide detailed information about current ownership and financial structure.
Traditions and culture
The club's identity is deeply rooted in the history of ancient Kition, with the emblem of admiral Kimon serving as a symbol of resilience and victory even in the face of adversity. The Spanish influence that began in 2014 has also become part of the club's modern culture.
Stadium
Since October 2016, AEK Larnaca's home ground has been the AEK Arena, which opened with a match against Aris Limassol. Previously, the club played at the New GSZ Stadium, which was commonly used by both EPA and Pezoporikos before the merger. Before the New GSZ Stadium was constructed, the predecessor clubs used the old GSZ stadium.
AEK Larnaca
Club Information
Official Name
AEK Larnaca
Founding Year
1994
Tactical Formation
4-3-3
Stadium Information
Stadium Name
AEK Arena - George Karapatakis
Capacity
8.000
Address
Larnaca, Cyprus
City
Larnaca, Síp
Surface
grass
Key Personnel
Captain
Ángel García Cabezali
Captain's Stats
184cm, 85kg
Head Coach
Mauro Germán Camoranesi
Head Coach Age
49 Age
Coach Nationality
IT
Coach Contract
01/07/2026 - 31/05/2027
Recent Honours
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | VĐQG Síp | 🏆 2 |
| 2024-2025 | Cúp Quốc Gia Síp | 🏆 1 |
| 2024-2025 | Cúp Quốc Gia Síp | 🏆 2 |
| 2023-2024 | VĐQG Síp | 🏆 2 |
| 2022-2023 | VĐQG Síp | 🏆 2 |
Current Season Stats
| Competition | Rank | Matches | W-D-L | Points |
|---|
Goal Statistics
Europa Conference League (UEFA)
7 Scored - 1 Conceded
1. Division (CYP)
13 Scored - 11 Conceded
1. Division (CYP)
49 Scored - 22 Conceded
1. Division (CYP)
58 Scored - 30 Conceded
1. Division (CYP)
45 Scored - 21 Conceded