APOLLON LIMASSOL FC
CLUB PROFILE / 2023-2024
CLUB PROFILE / 2023-2024
Name of the Team: APOLLON LIMASSOL F.C.
Country: Cyprus
Foundation of the Club: 1954
Foundation of the Company: 1998
Official name of the Company: Apollon Football (Public) Ltd
Emblem: The Greek God of Music “Apollon”
Colours: Blue and White
Championships: 1991, 1994, 2006, 2022
Second Positions: 1984, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2018, 2021
Cups: 1966, 1967, 1986, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017
Super Cups: 2006, 2016, 2017, 2022
Cup Finalist: 1965, 1982, 1987, 1993, 1992, 1998, 2011, 2018
Best European presence: Group Stage of UEFA Europa League (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Group stage of UEFA Europa Conference League 2022-2023
Football Ground: Alphamega Stadium
The team’ s emblem represents the Olympian God Apollonas from the Greek mythology. Apollon was considered the God of sun and music.
The colours of the team are blue and white.
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Apollon Football (Public) Ltd (Company) is a registered limited company in the Cyprus Registar of Companies which was founded in 1998 in order to run and operate the football department of Apollon Limassol Club, Apollon Limassol FC.
OTHER SPORTS (VOLLEYBALL & BASKET WHEELCHAIR)
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Nicos Kirzis President Business Man
Marinos Efstathiou Vice President Business Man
Antonis Glykis Vice President Lawyer / Partner
Fanos Kinnis Vice President Business Man
Charalambos Antoniou Member of the committee Architect
Evros Evripidou Member of the committee Business Man
Nicos Ioannou Member of the committee Business Man
Panagiotis Georgakis Member of the committee Business Man
Socratis Ellinas Member of the committee Lawyer / Partner
George Athinis Member of the committee Business Man
Moshe (Hiko) Rajczyk Member of the committee Business Man
Petros Demosthenous Member of the committee Financial Consultant/Partner
Vassilios Demetriades Member of the committee Business Man
The main strategic plan of Apollon FC includes:
- Creating and supporting a strategy which provides financial sustainability.
- Promoting and establishing the Apollon FC brand, by utilizing the team’s domestic and European success, promoting the brand through the appropriate marketing streams and by procuring partnerships with prestigious organizations and companies.
- Procuring partnerships with prestigious organizations and companies.
- Investing in the development of innovative CSR campaigns, which aim at battling various societal problems.
The aim of Apollon Football (Public) Ltd is:
To establish Apollon FC as the biggest football club in Cyprus while also establishing the brand across the globe. In parallel, to offer high level of football within the best sports environment, through new and modern facilities that will enhance the development of football department.
At the end of 1953, a team of young men placed as a dream and objective, the foundation of an association with national and athletic aims based on promoting the education and social skills of its young members. On April 14th 1954, the general assembly of these members with leader Mr Christakis Pavlides proposes the foundation of an athletic association called “APOLLON LIMASSOL”.
The assembly approved the proposal and thus from that date “APOLLON was born”. The first administrative council of the team included: Charalambos Lymbourides (Secretary), Andreas Psyllides (Cashier), Antonakis Fourlas (Adviser), Melis Charalampous (Adviser), Andreas Theoharous (Adviser) Andreas Aggelopoulos (Adviser) and Kostas Panayiotou (Adviser).
The first football team was created under the directives of Antonakis Fourlas, playing against district teams. This had a result of it becoming continuously more expensive to run and thus the registration of new members was increased with fast rhythms. For this reason it was decided to send a letter to the C.F.A (Cyprus Football Association) on March 23rd 1955 for the integration of Apollon into the association. On 16 October 1955, the Cypriot Football Association (C.F.A) included in its orders Apollon in the 2nd division.
In its first year, Apollon had 8 defeats in 8 matches in the second division. Just before the next season (1956–57), Apollon won the regional group in the second division and subsequently the play-offs and then was promoted to the first division. This took place in 1957 and ever since Apollon has been competing in the first division.
Through his history, Apollon won four Championships (1991, 1994, 2006, 2022), nine Cups (1966, 1967, 1986, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017), four Super Cups (2006, 2016, 2017, 2022) and also had some very successful participations in European competitions, winning several important games and at the same time, the respect of many European football clubs.
Further to the sports presence of APOLLON Football team, the Company gives great importance in the promotion of messages with social content.
Taking into consideration the character of sports and especially of football as a social phenomenon that attracts all social groups, the promotion and concentration on problems that society faces today is achievable.
Some of these campaigns are:
• Against racism, violence and drugs
• School’s visits
• Fair play
• Donation of human organs / Blood donations
• Participation in the annual Radiomarathon event
• Visits in various foundations for the people with special abilities
• Co-operation with International Organization “Hope for Children”
In 2000, Apollon Limassol FC spotted some racism problems, which could be seen in both the Cyprus society and in the stadiums between the fans. That is why we decides to face it. Emphasis is given on the prevention, to pass on the right message to the children and the new generation , in order to combat the phenomenon of any form of racism from childhood.
Apollon Limassol has been a leading club in Cyprus in social campaigns, especially on anti - racism campaigns. We are trying doing this by visiting different primary schools in Limassol and in the region twice a month. While visiting the schools , our players speak and play with the students. This shows the children that even through our team consists of football players of different nationalities and different religions, they always behave as one, with no exceptions.
Apollon Limassol will be participating in this year’s “Welcome through Football” project developed by EFDN. The Welcome through Football programme funded by UEFA Foundation for Children started on the 1st of July and will run through until November 2022, which includes 5 delivery phases.
The Welcome through Football methodology fosters the social inclusion and employability of young newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Therefore, our activities are promoting the quality of youth work, the intercultural dialogue and strengthen knowledge and acceptance of diversity in society.
Moreover, the project assists football coaches and youth workers in the development and sharing of effective methods in reaching out to the marginalised target group, in preventing racism and intolerance.
1. Socialisation to sports - providing different football offerings for young refugees of both genders related to their specific requirements such as language skills or the possibility of trauma.
2. Socialisation in sports - working on team structure, giving more responsibility to the participants and offering additional steps out with the sports training sessions.
3. Socialisation through sports - Focusing on the skills the participants learn from taking part in the available offers so that they qualify for further education in and outside of sports.
A big honor to Apollon Limassol, after participating for three years in the European Competitions became a member of European Club Association (Ordinary Member) for two football seasons, 2015-2017 together with the biggest football teams in Europe.
The European Club Association (ECA) is the sole, independent body directly representing football clubs at European level. It replaces the G-14 Group and the European Club Forum, both dissolved at the beginning of 2008. ECA was fully recognized by UEFA and FIFA in a formal memorandum of understanding, which was first signed in January 2008.
Apollon Limassol FC has been shortlisted for the ECA Best Community & Social Responsibility Programme (CSR) Award 2018.
Apollon Limassol FC has been shortlisted for the ECA Corporate Partnership Award for the partnership with SOCIOS.com
Apollon Limassol is a member of the EFDN (European Football for Development Network) since 2015. The European Football for Development Network is a network for professional football clubs and/or their associated NGO’s that use football as a tool for social development programs. EFDN aims to realize a strong network between clubs that collaborate on a wide level to exchange knowledge and create opportunities for participants to tackle issues on education, social inclusion, health and (youth) employment. The network currently consists of 65 clubs from 26 European countries who directly benefit from EFDN’s strategic partnerships with the UEFA Foundation for Children, the ECA, Football Against Racism Europe (FARE), Centre for Access in Football Europe (CAFE), the European Union and numerous Football Associations and national governing bodies across Europe.
Apollon Limassol F.C. support the ECA campaign “Be Active”, as ECA (European Club Association) is an official partner of the European Week of Sport. This initiative was launched with the aim of promoting sport and physical activity across Europe for all regardless of age, background or fitness level. As part of the campaign, each year a week is dedicated to activities around sports and physical activity at all levels including EU, national, regional and local level.
The #MorethanFootball Action Week is a new European event for Professional European Football Clubs, Foundations, Community Trusts and their delivery organisations to showcase the impact of their investment in Community & Social Responsibility Activities and Programmes on a local, national and international stage. This initiative, powered by EFDN (European Football for Development Network) and Apollon is being part of it since 2015.
Apollon Limassol FC is a partner of The Football Business Academy, a Swiss-based high level international educational institution whose goal is to professionalize the management of the football industry and facilitate the insertion of qualified professionals and future leaders in the game. Its flagship program, a Professional Master in Football Business, was codeveloped with international football industry experts from around the world around one foremost objective: to provide Candidates with all the necessary tools and an optimal learning environment in order to succeed in this passionate and dynamic industry.
Apollon Limassol FC is the first and only club from Cyprus & Greece to partner with Socios.com and Chiliz Exchange. Apollon Limassol FC, in partnership with Chiliz (Binance: $CHZ), have launched their $APL Fan Token on August 25th, 2020. The $APL Fan Token is sold exclusively on the fan voting & rewards app Socios.com and the Chiliz Exchange – the world’s first tokenised sports exchange.
$APL holders are be able to influence club decisions, voting in many polls each season on Socios.com and earning rewards linked to the club, including innovative digital experiences and real-life activations, such as meeting players and watching games as a VIP when fans return to the stadiums.
Partnership Results:
- Over €200k net profit in 1.5 years
- Thousands of new monetized Apollon FC followers
- Global praise by famous sports media outlets and industry professionals, as well as the support of football fans from around the world.
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MAJOR SPONSOR
STOIXIMAN
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
COLUMBIA RESTAURANTS | CONERCON | DIMCO
GVD MARKETS | LAMBERTS | PETROLINA | PUMA
OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS
CYPCANA | DIESEL | KPN | OSHEE | PIZZA HUT
PROPERTY GALLERY | UNOTEL | VITTEL | ZITA
Apollon is one of the most popular football teams in Cyprus. The fans are very demanding and loyal to the Club. PAN.SY.FI (Pan Hellenic Supporters Association of Apollon) Apollon Gate 1 is the name of the supporters fan club has been established in 1982.
The tables below show the season ticket sales throughout the previous seasons and the total fan attendance for Apollon FC Home games. The relocation to the new stadium had already prompt the Apollon fans to surpass the 6.000 mark in season ticket sales, almost tripling the previous season ticket sales record.
* Implementation of Fan Card
** Season interrupted due to Covid-19
*** Covid-19 restrictions applied after 5 home games
**** Season is not yet completed
> Apollon Web-TV
> Apollon Social Media
Match Day
The Cypriot First Division football season, will begin on the weekend of 18-19 August 2023 and will come to an end the weekend of 18-19
May 2024. The 14 teams of the first division will face each other twice, in home and away matches and then according to their final table positions, the B Phase of the competition will commence by dividing the table in two groups of six and eight teams respectively. The top six teams fight for the championship and European competition places, and the bottom eight fight to avoid relegation.
The domestic cup, known as Coca-Cola Cup, starts in December 2023 and after several phases of knock-out games, the final two teams will play at the Cup final which is scheduled to take place in May 2024.
CFA Profile Football began in Cyprus in the early part of the 20th Century. At first, it was played in schools but soon after, football became more popular as a result of the formation of various football clubs that started engaging in friendly matches between them.
The growth of football continued and as a result, the idea of establishing an Association was promoted and in September 1934 the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was established where upon football began to be played on an official basis with the CFA organizing various championships for its member clubs.
In 1948, the Cyprus Football Association became a member of FIFA and in 1962 a member of UEFA. The first international game of the Cypriot National Team was played in 1949, at a time when Cyprus was yet to be pronounced as an independent State but in 1960, when the Cypriot independence was established, and the First Cypriot National Team appeared on the scene. Through the years, the CFA developed and so did the its club members and today, the National team participates in the World Cup Competitions, the Olympic Tournaments and all the UEFA competitions for National Teams (Senior, Under-21, Under-19, Under-17, Futsal and Women’s), whilst Cypriot clubs participate in the UEFA Club Competitions.
The CFA currently comprises of 57 directly affiliated clubs and approximately 290 indirectly affiliated clubs through local Amateur Associations. The CFA organizes League Championships of various levels and a Cup Competition. There are 4 divisions comprising of 14 teams in each division. The football season begins in August each year and runs up to May. The CFA also organizes Women’s and Futsal Championships. The CFA is constantly upgrading itself and its Championships and has targeted the growth of Cypriot Football as its main ambition having as its motto that: “Through football we make friends”.
CFA follows the regulations and laws of the game as implied by FIFA and UEFA. However, there are some regulations that apply only in the domestic Competitions as:
1. Each team is allowed to have a maximum of 27 players registered as professionals in List A. From the 27 players the 10 players must be Cypriots or trained in Cyprus from the age 15 to 21 and the rest EU or Foreigners.
2. Each team is allowed to have an unlimited number of EU or non-EU players in List B under 23 years old.
3. Maximum number of Foreign (non-EU) players including Lists A and B is 7.
4. Each Club must include in the starting 11 two players trained in Cyprus from the age of 15, otherwise the Club is monetary fined.
5. Each Club must include in the squad of each game 3 players trained in Cyprus from the age of 15 ( total number of squad is 23), otherwise the maximum number of 23 must be decreased.
The Cyprus football championship has made a great progress during the last years and this is mainly because of the great achievements of the six great clubs of our island that have their fair share when it comes to winning titles.
APOEL and OMONOIA are the teams with the most titles and fans and have GSP in Nicosia as their home ground. Limassol has also other major teams, APOLLON and AEL while the remaining city, Larnaka, temporarily hosts the refugee team of ANORTHOSIS and AEK LARNAKA.
However, in the last decade Apollon Limassol FC was established as an elite club of Cyprus football. Since 2012/2013 and every year Apollon Limassol FC participates in the European competitions and in five occasions entered the group stage of European Competitions. Apollon Limassol FC is the only team from Cyprus that participated in UEFA competitions for 10 years in a row.
Apollon has played 117 European matches in total and the 73 of those were from the last 10 years!
Since 2013-2014 Apollon is described as a team that starts every year aiming the Championship and Cup and has won one Championship, three Cups and three Super Cups! Apollon is one of the most successful clubs in Cyprus in the recent years.
The season 2021-2022 was been one of the most successful for Apollon FC as the club achieved to win the Cyta Championship after 16 years. The much-coveted championship trophy, the fourth in the club’s history, was finally lifted by the blue and white club of Limassol.Apollon FC further established itself as one of the most competitive clubs in Cypriot League by bringing the championship trophy to Limassol completed the success of the past years in domestic cups and European group stage participation.
The championship season provided one of the most dramatic season finale as the team despite been ahead by 8 points at the beginning of the playoffs round, a series of last minutes draws brought the top 6 teams in breathing distance between them. In what has been described as one of the most competitive championships in Cypriot football history, found the team crowned as champions second to last game of the season with an emphatic win over the rivals Aris Limassol by 4-1. Apollon was the most consistent club in the league and won the league by earning 58 points coming from 16 wins and 10 draws out of 32 games. Furthermore, Apollon was the highest scoring club with 50 goals.
Apollon Limassol F.C. returns to European Competitions after three years and achieves the greatest achievement in the Club’s 60 years of existence. Apollon with Mr. Christakis Christoforou, as the head coach, fulfilled the greatest dream of the fans, by qualifying for the group stage of UEFA Europa League after two sensational games against French team, OGC Nice, at 22 and 29 of August 2013. Our team won the first game by 2-0 at GSP Stadium (Nicosia) and despite losing the second game by 1-0 at Nice,
qualified for the group stage.
On our team’s first appearance in European competition groups, Trabzonspor, SS Lazio and Legia Warsaw were drawn as our opponents in group 10. Teams like these, had big expectations and objectives, with inconceivable budgets for the Cypriot standards.
Apollon finished the group with 4 points after one win, one draw and four defeats. The victory against Legia Warsaw was the first away win for a Cypriot club in a European group stage game ever.
Apollon Limassol achieved qualification to the UEFA Europa League group stage for the second year in a row.
Our team managed to eliminate Lokomotiv Moscow in the play-off round with an aggregate score of 2-5. Despite the 1-1 draw in the first game at GSP, Apollon completed the shock after a great performance, by winning 1-4 in Moscow.
In Group A, Apollon was drawn against the German giants Borussia Mönchengladbach, the famous Spanish side Villarreal and Swiss cup winners, Zürich.
In the end, Apollon finished last by collecting three points after a win in the premiere clash against Zurich.
Apollon Limassol qualified for the UEFA Europa League Group Stage for the 3rd time in the recent 5 years, by overcoming Zaria Balti (5-1 aggregate score), Aberdeen (3-2 aggregate score) and Midtjylland (4-3 aggregate score) with a total of 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat.
Apollon participated in group E and faced European giants Lyon, Everton and Atalanta, continuing the team’s recent run of positive results in Europe by securing draws against Lyon and Atalanta at GSP Stadium and Everton at the famous Goodison Park. Despite this, the team finished last in the group.
The 2018-2019 season Apollon was arguably the best European run in the club’s history.
Apollon qualified in the group stage for the 4th time in six years, having started from the first qualifying round, overcoming the difficult barriers of FC Stumbras (2-1 aggregate score), FK Zeljeznicar (5-2 aggregate score), FC Dynamo Brest (4-1 aggregate score), and FC Basel [3-3 (away goal) aggregate score], with a total of 5 wins and 3 losses.
In group H, Apollon faced Eintracht Frankfurt, S.S. Lazio and Olympique de Marseille and managed to finish in third place amassing a total of 7 points.
Perhaps, the most significant performance was at Velodrome where the club beat Marseille by 1-3.
Apollon Limassol FC begun the season 2022-2023, as a champion and entered the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round, but failed to overcome Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa.
Following the disqualification from Champions League, the club faced Greek Champions, Olympiacos Peiraeus, for the UEFA Europa League Playoffs round, where the two matches ended as 1-1. Apollon unfortunately eliminated in the penalty shootout.
As a result, Apollon Limassol FC entered the UEFA Europa Conference League at the group stage and was drawn in group E with AZ Alkmaar, Vaduz and Dnipro-1.
Apollon ended the European journey with 7 points after two wins, one draw and three defeats.
This season’s game against Vaduz was the 117th for European competitions since 1966, which was the first time Apollon FC participated in an official UEFA competition. The Limassol “Blues” have a record of 39 wins, 22 draws and 56 defeats in 117 games.
73 out of the 117 games were played in the last 10 years.
The club qualified for the UEFA Europa League Group Stage for the first time in 2013 by eliminating OG Nice and went on to finish 3rd in their group while also winning the first away game ever for a Cypriot club, against Legia Warsaw in Poland. The 2nd time Apollon qualified for the UEFA Europa League Groups, was against Lokomotiv Moscow with a 1-4 score (2-5) in the Russian capital (2014-15) . The other group stage qualifications (2017-18, 2018-19, 2022-23) were more challenging since Apollon had to eliminate multiple opponents, starting either from the 1st or 2nd qualifying rounds.
The brand new football project in Cyprus, “Alphamega Stadium”, is the new football stadium in Kolossi at the Limassol District and the home ground of the 3 clubs of Limassol AEL, Apollon and Aris. With an all-seater capacity of 10,700, it is the second largest football stadium in Cyprus. Its design was based on the requirements of UEFA and belongs to the 4* stadium category. There are 9.266 standard seats, 855 executive seats and 475 for suites, within the VIP hospitality areas in the 3rd and 4th floors of the west/ vip Stand along with 1050 parking seats.
The official inauguration of the Alphamega Stadium took place on 25 November 2022 and the first match was played on 15 December 2022 between Apollon and Doxa Katokopias for the 15th matchday of the 2022–23 Cypriot First Division. The building of the new modern stadium has led to an increase in the team’s season tickets and tickets sales, increased advertising and commercial sponsorships opportunities thus leading to an increase to the overall revenue of the club.
Apollon trains at the Columbia Training Center, a fully equipped modern training ground, situated right next to the new Limassol stadium. The training center, which is owned by the club, houses the first team and the technical staff, providing all the necessary amenities the team needs, including 2 football pitches, a gym, a spa room with a sauna and a jacuzzi, physio rooms, offices and a large lounge area where players and staff can unwind and eat together.
The Apollon Limassol FC headquarters, provide the optimal environment and work space to the Apollon staff, giving them the necessary tools needed to create and manage the appropriate services of today’s demanding football industry.
The football sections of the Company APOLLON FOOTBALL (PUBLIC) LTD are the following:
1. Professional Men’s Football team of the First Division
2. Football team under the age of 19
3. Football team under the age of 17
4. Football team under the age of 16
5. Football team under the age of 15
6. Football team under the age of 14
7. Grassroots
Apollon Limassol FC Youth Academy is one of the most successful in Cyprus with more than 350 kids from 6 years old to 17 years old. Ages 6 to 13 play in the Grassroots tournaments and ages 14 to 17 in the Cyprus Championships.
The main strategic plan of Youth Academy includes:
- Attracting children and integrating them into the academy
- Promoting and establishing the Apollon FC brand, by utilizing the team’s domestic success
- Investing in the development of the young players
- To promote the values of: respect, effort, ambition, teamwork and humility
- Promote players to the first team
Makis Papaioannou Sports Director
Giorgos Vasileiou Football Director
Socratis Socratous Team Manager
Vladan Milojevic Head Coach
Nebojsa Milosevic Assistant Coach
George Nicolaou Goalkeeping Coach
Petros Hadjinikolaou Head of Scouting
Bojan Ofenbeher Analyst
Vasilis Kyriakou Analyst
Ivan Vucetic Head of Fitness
Dimitris Thomas Assistant Fitness Coach
Dr. Kyriakos Kakavelakis Head of Medical
Christos Emmanouel Rehabilitation Coach
Alexandros Solomonides Physiotherapist
Georgios Gagalis Physiotherapist
Andreas Theofanous Physiotherapist
Costas Nikolaou Nutritionist
Panayiotis Theofanous Kit man
Nektarios Stavrou Kit man
Giannis Lazarou Kit man
APOLLON FOOTBALL (PUBLIC) LTD
ADDRESS: 204, Agiou Andreou Str. 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 53206, CY 3031, Limassol, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25 746805
Fax: +357 25 746808
E-Mail: apollon@apollon.com.cy
Website: www.apollon.com.cy