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Anorthosis Famagusta FC (Greek: Ανόρθωση Αμμοχώστου = Anorthosi Ammochostou) is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which was originally based in Famagusta, but is now based temporarily in Larnaca. Anorthosis won 13 championship titles, their last in season 2007-2008. They have won the Cypriot Cup 10 times (1949, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1971, 1975, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2007). Additionally, they have won the Super Cup trophy 6 times. The current president of the team is Andreas Panteli and the current coach is former Georgian International Timur Ketsbaia, who was also a player in the team. On August 27, 2008, they became the first and only Cypriot football club to reach the group stages of the Champions League, defeating Olympiacos FC of Greece in the third qualifying round. For more details on this topic, see History of Anorthosis Famagusta FC The club was founded in Famagusta in January 30 1911. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, Anorthosis became based in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. Anorthosis Home Stadium in occupied Famagusta is G.S.E. (Gymnastic Club Evagoras) which has been abandoned and in a bad condition since 1974. Ammochostos, or better Barosi, around 1910 was a small town of about 4.000 inhabitants, garden workers, fishermen and a very few shop-keepers. The only place of recreation was the coffee shop. It was in those times, that a very few, but chosen in the spirit and enthousiastic men of that small community of Ammochostos, had put an aim and managed to create a club of "reading" in the hospitable rooms where they could gather and educate nationally and in the spirit of Christianity, evrything good they had: the teenagers. So, in January of 1911 they established the "ANORTHOSIS", with temporary board and in March of the same year it takes the form of an organised assosication "Anagnostirion i Anorthosis" (Anorthosis reading Club). The first comitee was consisted of Charalambos Ekonomides, Michalakis Michaelides, George Evangelou, Loizou, Nicolaos Patrakas, Kanaris, Svtiriou, Panayiotis Ioannou, Dimitrios Saveriadis and Gavrielides. The history of Anorthosis can be divided into four periods, during which there have been done important facts, mostly national, athletic, cultural, musical and comminical content and interest. First Period 1911-1928 From 1911 until 1928, can be characterised as the first period of Anorthosis History. In this first period Anorthosis is mostly an ethnic battlement and a pneumatic "lighthouse" of with blaze not only in Cyprus but also in Greece. Ethnic speeches, national commemoratiums, ethnic gladnesses and sadnessesand everything that aimed to the ethnic chasteness of Ammochostos were organised in the building of ANORTHOSIS. But the sector where Anorthosis had created a tradition, unique in the history of Clubs of which the reputation and activity was spread all over Cyprus, was in the sector of Music. Under the control of Demetris Demetriades, started with great success the one and only madolinade and band of Anorthosis. The actions taken at that time were many, and we refer to only some of them: (From Anorthosis Practicles) 1913: In a collection that has been done in the building of Anorthosis the extravagant -for that time- amount of 84 pounds was gathered in just one hour, which was given for the needs of the country (which was under British command). 1922: Anorthosis establishes a depository for the relief of the refugees from the Asia Minor destruction. For that action Anorthosis gets congratulations from the whole of Hellinism. Second Period: 1929-1955 The second period in the history of Anorthosis starts with an important changeover in the aims and actions of the club. The "Anorthosis Reading Club" renames to "Musical Philological and Philanthropical Club" and as an emblem of the club is now the mythical bird Phoenix. During this period the mantolinade and band of Anorthosis are better organised and stipendiary teachers are being appointed for the better presentation of the two groups. In the philological sector the bright tradition of the past continues. Anorthosis creates a first class library with a lending section. We specifically refer to the fact that in 1936 1.500 volumes of books were lended to Anorthosis members. In the second period a great importance is being given to the athletical sector. Under the wise control of the proffesor of Gymnastics Mr. Anastasis Oikonomides are now running football and volleyball teams, sea sports and teams of classical athletism, that gave Anorthosis many first wins, much renown and filled the rooms of the club with many cups and metals. Anorthosis in association with Gymnastic Club Evagoras (GSE), which is its own child, organised district and pancyprian games and athletes got their first wins, not only in PanCyprian games. Of course, for a small time period, there was almost nothing to show. For example, in 1929 with a letter of POEB of which members are in Anorthosis, sais that is ready to break up and its members to be merged in the football team of Anorthosis. Then, it is decided that a second football team should be funded, and the responsibility is on Mr. An. Oikonomidis and S. Mathaiou. In the 11th of February in 1932 after a command of Ammochostos Commander (we are still under British column) the club of Anorthosis closes for a small time period. In October the 29th the president, the general secretary and the boufι manager of Anorthosis are arrested by the police because on the balcony of the club's building was hanging the Greek flag. Third Period: 1955-present On 26 July 2005 they achieved one of the greatest results in Cypriot football history when they beat the Turkish team Trabzonspor 3-1 in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifying match. They lost the second leg 1-0 in Turkey, but progressed 3-2 on aggregate. In the third-round qualifying tie against the Scottish team Rangers, Anorthosis lost the first leg 2-1, and the second leg 2-0, so dropped into the first round of the UEFA Cup. They were then defeated 6-1 on aggregate by the Italian team Palermo. Anorthosis qualifed for the 2007-08 UEFA Cup by way of their Cypriot Cup win. They entered the competition at the First Qualifying round stage. Aggregate victories over Vardar and CFR 1907 Cluj saw them move through to the First Round proper. Anorthosis were drawn against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The first leg was played at White Hart Lane on 20th September 2007 which Tottenham Hotspur won 6-1. On October 4th 2007 the second leg resulted in a 1-1 draw when Keane equalised for Tottenham after Fabinho had put Anorthosis ahead. After winning the domestic league 2007-2008 Anorthosis qualified for the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League, being seeded against the Armenian Champions FC Pyunik in the first qualifying round, winning 3-0 on aggregate (1-0 in Cyprus, 2-0 in Armenia). In the second qualifying round Anorthosis beat Austrian Champions Rapid Wien (Rapid Vienna) 4-3 on aggregate(3-0 in Cyprus, 1-3 in Austria). In the third qualifying round, Anorthosis defeated the Greek Champions Olympiacos FC 3-1 on aggregate (3-0 in Cyprus, 0-1 in Greece). This allowed the team to qualify for the Group Stage of the Champions League, the first time for a Cypriot team. The volleyball team won their first trophy in 1972-73, and since that time, the Cypriot Championship was organized by Greek Volleyball Federation, as Champions they gained the right to compete in the Greek National First Division. However, they withdrew from the Championship, when five matches before the end of the competition because of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Since then they have dominated Cypriot Volleyball, having been crowned Champions and Cup winners more times than any other team. They have won the Championship 16 times, the Cup 14 times, and the Super Cup 5 times Stadium Main article: Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium is the home of Anorthosis Famagusta and it was built in 1986 in the city of Larnaca. The ground was given the name of great person who helped Anorthosis in various ways through the years. The initial capacity of the ground was about 6,000 but gradually increased during the years to 13,000. After a major recondition in 1997, capacity reduced to 9,319 (all seated). In 2005 the east stand was named "Quality Stand" after the club's main sponsor. "Quality Stand" is a two story stand which holds the newly-build VIP Boxes (upper story), Press Room, Dressing Rooms, Bar etc. In 2006 the stadium went through another recondition including the build of VIP Boxes in the upper section of west stand, the launching of the automatic ticketing issue and entrance system, the replacing of metal front fence with clear acrylic glass for security reasons and for maximized field view. Also some other facilities are offered in the west stand such as new restrooms, bar, fan's shop etc. The stadium also is approved by UEFA for European games. It has hosted some matches of the Cyprus national football team. In that stadium, Cyprus achieved its greatest success against Spain by a score 3-2. On May 16, 1992, the stadium hosted the 1992 UEFA European Under-16 Football ChampionshipThird position final between Italy and Portugal, where Italy won 1-0. [edit] Current squad Transfers 2008/09 In No. Position Player Out No. Position Player Club officials Board of Directors * President: Andreas Panteli Coaching Staff * Manager: Temuri Ketsbaia Georgia (country) Team Staff * Team Manager: Ioulios Konnaris Cyprus Medical Staff * Club Doctor: Dr Sergios Sergiou Cyprus Sponsorship * Official Shirt Sponsor - Quality Group Other Sponsors * Cucina & Cucina Ltd
* Marfin Laiki Notable Former Managers * Greece Ioannis Matzourakis Notable Former Players * Cyprus Ioannis Okkas
* Cyprus Pambis Andreou
* Ghana Kofi Mensah
* Serbia Cyprus Siniša Gogić see also Anorthosis Famagusta players Achievements Football * Cypriot Championship: 13 1950, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963,1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008 * Cypriot Cup: 10 1949, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1971, 1975, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007 * LTV Super Cup: 7 1962, 1964, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007 Anorthosis Famagusta FC Official Website Men's Volleyball * Cypriot Championship (17 in total): 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2007, 2008 * www.anorthosisvolley.com (The official site of Anorthosis Famagusta Volleyball) Women's Volleyball * Cypriot Championship (3 in total): 2002, 2004, 2005. Women's Handball * Cypriot Championship (3 in total): 1999, 2000, 2001 European Record Last Update: 28 August 2008[5] Shirt sponsors and manufacturers References 1. ^ "Cyprus hails Anorthosis' achievement". www.fifa.com (2008-08-28). Retrieved on 2008-08-29. External links
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