Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and possibly Chelsea have all been shown up by the Cypriot minnows, who last night clinched a place in the quarter-finals.
With a win on the night and a penalty shootout victory over the French side, becoming Cyprus’ first ever team to reach the stage of Europe’s biggest club competition. What can we tell you about them?
1) The team were first established as part of a multi-sports club back in the 1920s, with tennis and volleyball among the sports offered, and even today have a successful basketball side.
2) They are the most successful club side in Cyprus, winning the league 21 times and the cup 19 times.
3) Apoel Nicosia’s European adventure began through preliminary qualifiers on July 13 with a 2-0 away win over Albanian side Skenderbeu
4) They survived a tough group, qualifying alongside, as well as beating, Zenit St Petersburg, eliminating Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.
5)`They had never before qualified beyond the group stages of the Champions League, and had only made it through to the group phase twice previously.
6) Their arch rivals are Omonia Nicosia, who broke away from the club after an internal and political conflict in 1948.
7) Arsenal aren’t the only club side to record an unbeaten season. In 1995-96, Apoel Nicosia went the entire season unbeaten, going one better than the Gunners by winning a league and cup double.
8) The club’s 22,000 seater stadium is the biggest in Cyprus.
9) Brits to have played for the club include Terry McDermott, and Chris Bart-Williams, while other former stars include former Middlesborough striker Hamilton Ricard,
10) Former Chelsea youth team graduate Nuno Morais is among their current squad, a player who made four appearances for the club, including a FA Cup debut victory over Scunthorpe United.
How far can 66/1 shots Apoel Nicosia go?
image: © George M. Groutas
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