Ivan Trichkovski (127)
A merger of Cypriot clubs EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos founded AEK Larnaca FC in 1994. EPA and Pezoporikos had both won multiple league championships throughout their history. The AEK in AEK Larnaca stands for Athletiki Enosi Kition or Athletic Union Kition. Kition was an ancient Greek city which was located in present-day Larnaca.
In AEK Larnaca’s first season, in 1994-95, they managed to finish in ninth place in the Cypriot A Division. The 1995-96 season proved to be much better as they finished fourth and reached the Cypriot Cup final. Because APOEL won both the league and the Cypriot Cup, AEK Larnaca qualified for the Cup Winners’ Cup. It was the first European qualification in the AEK Larnaca stats.
AEK managed to defeat Armenian side Kotayk Abovyan in the preliminary round, but lost 2-0 to Barcelona in the first round on aggregate. However, AEK Larnaca did hold Barcelona to a scoreless draw in Cyprus. The first trophy in the AEK Larnaca team stats was a 2003-04 Cypriot Cup win. Center back Makis Papaioannou scored both of Larnaca’s goals as they beat AEL Limassol, 2-1.
With the win, they were placed in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. In their first appearance in the competition, they lost to Maccabi Petah Tikva. AEK were relegated for the first time in their history in 2009 but returned to the top division one year later. In their first season back in the top flight, AEK Larnaca finished in fourth place and qualified for the Europa League for the first time.
They became the first Cypriot club to participate in the FC Midtjylland on penalties, but progressed to the Europa League group stage.
The Europa League odds priced AEK Larnaca as +425 underdogs for their opening group game vs. Rennes. In a group with Rennes, Fenerbahce, betting advice usually dissuades punters from picking Larnaca to make the knockout stage.
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