AEK Larnaca

AEK Larnaca FC (Greek: AEK; for short Αθλητική Έvωση Κίτιον Λάρνακας, romanized: Athletiki Enosi Kition Larnakas, "Athletic Union Kition of Larnaca") is a Cypriot professional football club from Larnaca, Cyprus. Their home ground as from the 2016–2017 season is the brand new AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis stadium with a capacity of 7,400 spectators. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has also basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca BC and a volleyball section for women.

The club's name comes from the ancient Greek city-kingdom of Cyprus Kition, located on the site of today's Larnaca. The colours of the club are yellow and green and their emblem is admiral Kimon, who died at the seafront defending the city of Kition (modern Larnaca) in a major battle in Cyprus at about 450 BC, in a fight against the Persians. He had told his officers to keep the news of his possible death secret. The quote "Και Νεκρος Ενικα" ("Even in death he was victorious") refers to Kimon.

Greatest successes of the football club is the qualification to the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage and the win of Cypriot Cup in 2004 and 2018. The highest league performance is the 2nd place in three consecutive years.

In 2019 AEK signed their biggest ever shirt sponsorship with Cypriot-based betting company Bet on Alfa Ltd. in a three-year deal. It was also the first time Bet on Alfa became a major sponsor of a Cypriot professional football club.

History

Foundation

AEK was founded on 18 July 1994. It came from the merger of two historic clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos.

EPA and Pezoporikos

Pezoporikos had been established in 1924. In 1926, serving retired members of Pezoporikos founded the "Athletic Educational Larnaca Club" (Greek: ΑΜΟΛ; Αθλητικός Μορφωτικος Όμιλο Λάρνακας, Athlitikos Morfotikos Omilos Larnakas). In 1932 the two clubs were merged by founding EPA Larnaca (Greek: Ένωσις Πεζο

This page also has a version in other languages :  АЕК Ларнака (russian)