Historic moments for Pafos F.C., as they won the Championship for the first time.
Historic moments for Pafos F.C., as they won the Championship for the first time.
Historic moments for Pafos F.C. as they win the Cypriot First Division Championship for the first time in their history.
In a match for the 8th round of the second phase of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan, the Pafos team defeated Aris Limassol 4–0 and extended the gap between them to seven points — a gap that cannot be closed in the two remaining rounds.
Today marked the 25th win for Pafos F.C. in 34 matches, reaching 78 points compared to Aris’ 71
Pafos F.C. became the 12th different team to win the First Division Championship and, more broadly, the first team from the Paphos district to be crowned champions.
It should also be noted that Pafos F.C. is the 5th different First Division Champion in the last five years (2021 Omonia Nicosia, 2022 Apollon, 2023 Aris, 2024 APOEL).
The first champion was EN Trust in 1935, while titles have also been won by APOEL (29), Omonia (21), Anorthosis (13), AEL (6), Apollon (4), Olympiakos (3), EPA (3), Pezoporikos (2), Cetinkaya (1), and Aris (1).
The History of Pafos F.C.
The History of Pafos F.C.
Pafos F.C. is one of the newest, yet fastest-rising forces in Cypriot football. The club was founded in 2014, following the merger of two historic clubs from the city of Paphos: AEP Paphos and Akritas Chlorakas. The goal of this union was to create a stronger club capable of representing the city with pride at the highest level of Cypriot football.
The early years and rise
The early years and rise
Pafos F.C. began its journey in the Second Division, but quickly stood out. In the 2014–2015 season, they secured promotion to the First Division, making the dream a reality. Although their first year in the top flight was challenging and ended in relegation, the vision remained steady: to build a competitive team with a long-term plan.
The return to the First Division came in the 2016–2017 season, with a more structured profile and gradual improvement in infrastructure and squad quality. The team from Paphos began to establish itself in the division, with consistent performances and participation in the second-tier playoff rounds.
The era of Russian investors and a new philosophy
A major turning point in the history of Pafos F.C. was the takeover by Russian investors, primarily through Total Sports Investments. With the arrival of new capital, the club gained a professional structure, built new facilities, and began investing in quality, experienced foreign players.
Especially from 2021 onward, Pafos F.C. became a serious contender for every major Cypriot team. Under the tactical leadership of coaches such as Henning Berg, and with internationally known players in their squad (such as Jason Puncheon, Marc Valiente, Willy Semedo, Jairo, and others), the club entered the race for European qualification with strength.
Goals and outlook
Goals and outlook
Pafos F.C. makes no secret of its ambitions: to become established as one of Cyprus’ top clubs and to secure participation in European competitions — a goal that now seems well within reach based on recent performances.
At the same time, the club invests in youth academies, strengthening the local element and working to integrate young footballers into the squad. Its presence in Cypriot football enriches the league with a fresh and dynamic character, making Pafos F.C. one of the most exciting projects of the past decade.
