Mediterranean team Pafos FC prepare for their historic UEFA Champions League debut this Wednesday – just a decade plus following the organization’s establishment.
Over the past few years, the club has created a stir by competing in Europe for the first time last term, reaching the Conference League knockout phase and securing their inaugural domestic championship.
In the current campaign, they have attained yet a further huge feat by coming through three rounds of Champions League play-offs to enter the group stage – among just two clubs, besides from Kazakhstan club Kairat Almaty, to make their debut.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Ukraine’s Dynamo and Red Star Belgrade were all defeated by Pafos during the qualifying phase.
Their reward is eight matches in the group stage, featuring a match at home against German champions Bayern and an journey to London club Chelsea, but they begin with a fixture in Hellenic soil against Piraeus-based club this midweek.
"The whole team celebrated wildly," said ex- Brazilian and Blues centre-back David Luiz, who arrived at the club in the summer, regarding the moment Pafos secured entry.
"Everybody was totally happy because we achieved something remarkable. Nobody anticipated us to be in the UCL this term."
"I’m delighted to be here because I can witness this feeling, with everyone’s desire, to achieve something special."
Formed in 2014: The Backstory
Pafos were formed in eleven years back when two entities from the area joined forces – AEK and AEP Paphos – who also had been formed in a merger in 2000 of another two clubs in the region.
They started in the lower league and bounced around between top flight until the 2017 takeover by a Russian entrepreneur, a investor with UK passport who was once as Portsmouth chairman in 2011.
"The aim was clear – we aimed to establish something new, something competitive, something long-lasting – not just a sports team but one that could give back to the local area," he stated in a recent interview.
"The island is a country with a profound affection for football and, in Pafos, we felt that we had an chance to develop something from the ground up."
There was no overnight achievement, however.
"Owners have revolutionized the organization, without a doubt. It was a club that had difficulty to stay in the first tier."
"In Mediterranean countries, the passion is intense. So, if the side goes well, everybody will attend the ground. If the squad doesn't go well, few supporters will come. You won’t find in the middle."
"They made some errors, investment that failed to bring them results. They have been spending since that year. It involved learning from mistakes to reach this day today."
UK Gaffers Have a Crack
Scotland's Steven Pressley, now Dundee manager, had a short stint in charge in 2018.
From Wales Toshack had 21 games in 2019-20.
England's the experienced manager coached the team for eighteen matches in three years ago.
Several ex-Blackburn stars tried, too – one-time Manchester United defender the Norwegian and ex-Real Madrid player the Spaniard, who was technical director but also had two interim periods.
And as a player, once in the EPL star Jason Puncheon was at Pafos from 2019 until 2022.
Progress Arrives Under Ex-Arsenal Coach
Things changed with the arrival of Spaniard Juan Carlos Carcedo in last year. He had been Emery’s right-hand man at several clubs, such as Arsenal.
He led UD Ibiza and Real Zaragoza before transitioning to Cyprus.
Carcedo's first season in control ended with the squad’s maiden honor – the last season’s domestic cup, with a comprehensive win over AC Omonia, who were in their home stadium for the game.
In his second season Pafos came through three stages of Europa Conference League preliminaries, placing 12th in the group stage and then winning in the knockout phase before losing to Djurgårdens IF in the knockout stage.
They finished the campaign as champions of Cyprus for the maiden time – claiming the title by a comfortable gap and creating a path to the elite competition.
Jaja stoppage-time finish in Pafos' home game against Red Star Belgrade to equalize for a draw (three-two) confirmed their spot in the league phase.
"Cyprus’ leader of Cyprus the official is a massive Pafos FC supporter who goes to the ground."
"He attended the fixture. He watched it with anxiety. At the conclusion he was jubilant like a youngster. He was overjoyed. There was a popular clip of him rejoicing like a kid."
"It feels like winning the championship in Cyprus, it's that big a deal."
"It is a milestone you place next to your legacy – a league title, one trophy and one league phase presence. It's a very big issue here."
'In My View There’s a Chance Do Something Special'
This summer, Pafos secured the unexpected capture of defender Luiz, who at the 38 years old had been playing for {Fortaleza|Fort
