| Season | 2015–16 |
|---|---|
| Champions | APOEL 25th title |
| Relegated | Enosis Ayia Napa Pafos |
| Champions League | APOEL |
| Europa League | AEK Apollon Omonia |
| Matches | 242 |
| Goals | 669 (2.76 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Fernando Cavenaghi André Alves Dimitar Makriev (19 goals) |
| Biggest home win | APOEL 6–0AEL (17 October 2015) Omonia 6–0Pafos (24 October 2015) |
| Biggest away win | Salamina 0–9APOEL (26 October 2015) |
| Highest scoring | Salamina 0–9APOEL (26 October 2015) |
| Longest winning run | 12 matches APOEL |
| Longest unbeaten run | 17 matches APOEL |
| Longest winless run | 26 matches Ayia Napa |
| Longest losing run | 10 matches Ayia Napa |
| Highest attendance | 14,379[1] APOEL 2–0AEK (28 April 2016) |
| Lowest attendance | 4[2] Doxa 2–0Ayia Napa (25 January 2016) |
| Total attendance | 460,105[1] |
| Average attendance | 1,901[1] |
2016–17 → All statistics correct as of 15 May 2016. | |
The2015–16Cypriot First Division was the 77th season of the Cypriot top-levelfootball league. It began on 22 August 2015[3] and ended on 15 May 2016.[4]APOEL were the defending champions.
The league expanded from 12 to 14 teams this season, comprised eleven teams from the2014–15 season and three promoted teams from the2014–15 Second Division.APOEL were crowned champions for the 25th time and a fourth time in a row, securing the title after beating title rivalsAEK Larnaca 2–0 at home on 28 April 2016.[5][6]
Othellos Athienou was relegated at the end of the second-phase of the2014–15 season after finishing in the last place of the relegation group table.
The relegated team was replaced by2014–15 Second Division championsEnosis Neon Paralimni, runners-upPafos FC and third-placed teamAris Limassol.
| Team | Location | Stadium[7][8] | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEK | Larnaca | GSZ Stadium | 13,032 |
| AEL | Limassol | Tsirion Stadium | 13,331 |
| Anorthosis | Larnaca | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium | 10,230 |
| APOEL | Nicosia | GSP Stadium | 22,859 |
| Apollon | Limassol | Tsirion Stadium | 13,331 |
| Aris | Limassol | Tsirion Stadium | 13,331 |
| Ayia Napa | Ayia Napa | Tasos Markou Stadium | 5,800 |
| Doxa | Peristerona | Makario Stadium | 16,000 |
| Enosis | Paralimni | Tasos Markou Stadium | 5,800 |
| Ermis | Aradippou | Ammochostos Stadium | 5,500 |
| Ethnikos | Achna,Famagusta | Dasaki Stadium | 7,000 |
| Nea Salamina | Larnaca | Ammochostos Stadium | 5,500 |
| Omonia | Nicosia | GSP Stadium | 22,859 |
| Pafos | Paphos | Pafiako Stadium | 9,394 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEK | Puma | Cytavision | ||
| AEL | Nike | Cytavision | ||
| Anorthosis | Macron | Cytamobile-Vodafone | ||
| APOEL | Puma | Mora Thavmata | ||
| Apollon | Puma | Cyta | ||
| Aris | Legea | Cytanet | ||
| Ayia Napa | Eldera | Cyta | ||
| Doxa | Joma | Cytanet | ||
| Enosis | Nike | Cyta | ||
| Ermis | Legea | Cyta | ||
| Ethnikos | Nike | Cyta | ||
| Nea Salamina | GEMS | Cytamobile-Vodafone | ||
| Omonia | Nike | Cytamobile-Vodafone | ||
| Pafos | Pafos FC | Cyta |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APOEL | End of tenure as caretaker | End of 2014–15 season | Pre-season | 21 May 2015[9] | ||
| Aris | End of contract | End of 2014–15 season | 3 June 2015[10] | |||
| Doxa | End of contract | End of 2014–15 season | 3 June 2015[11] | |||
| Nea Salamina | End of tenure as caretaker | End of 2014–15 season | 9 June 2015[12] | |||
| Apollon | End of contract | End of 2014–15 season | 9 June 2015[13] | |||
| Ermis | End of tenure as caretaker | End of 2014–15 season | 12 June 2015[14] | |||
| Aris | Resigned | 18 July 2015[15] | 21 July 2015[16] | |||
| APOEL | Sacked | 28 August 2015[17] | 1st | 28 August 2015[18] | ||
| Ermis | Sacked | 3 September 2015[19] | 11th | 3 September 2015[20] | ||
| Aris | Mutual consent | 14 September 2015[21] | 13th | 15 September 2015[22] | ||
| AEL | Mutual consent | 19 October 2015[23] | 10th | 27 October 2015[24] | ||
| Ermis | Resigned | 22 October 2015[25] | 12th | 22 October 2015[26] | ||
| Omonia | Resigned | 2 November 2015[27] | 5th | 11 November 2015[28] | ||
| Enosis | Mutual consent | 5 November 2015[29] | 9th | 10 November 2015[30] | ||
| Pafos | Sacked | 9 November 2015[31] | 9th | 17 November 2015[32] | ||
| Ethnikos | Resigned | 23 November 2015[33] | 13th | 24 November 2015[34] | ||
| Pafos | Mutual consent | 14 December 2015[35] | 12th | 16 December 2015[36] | ||
| Ayia Napa | Mutual consent | 28 January 2016[37] | 14th | 28 January 2016[37] | ||
| Aris | Mutual consent | 4 February 2016[38] | 8th | 8 February 2016[39] | ||
| AEL | Sacked | 7 February 2016[40] | 10th | 8 February 2016[41] | ||
| Ayia Napa | Resigned | 14 February 2016[42] | 14th | 16 February 2016[43] | ||
| Anorthosis | Sacked | 18 February 2016[44] | 3rd | 18 February 2016[45] | ||
| Anorthosis | Sacked | 23 March 2016[46] | 5th | 23 March 2016[47] | ||
| APOEL | Mutual consent | 21 April 2016[48] | 1st | 21 April 2016[48] | ||
| Nea Salamina | Mutual consent | 22 April 2016[49] | 6th | 22 April 2016[49] | ||
| AEK | Sacked | 29 April 2016[50] | 2nd | 30 April 2016[51] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APOEL | 26 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 72 | 18 | +54 | 62 | Qualification for thechampionship round |
| 2 | AEK Larnaca | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 47 | 17 | +30 | 61 | |
| 3 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 22 | +26 | 52 | |
| 4 | Omonia | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 49[a] | |
| 5 | Apollon Limassol | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 41 | 24 | +17 | 49[a] | |
| 6 | Nea Salamis Famagusta | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 37 | 52 | −15 | 33 | |
| 7 | Aris Limassol | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 31[b] | Qualification for therelegation round |
| 8 | AEL Limassol | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 31[b] | |
| 9 | Doxa Katokopias | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 41 | −10 | 30 | |
| 10 | Pafos FC | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 27 | |
| 11 | Ethnikos Achna | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 43 | −16 | 24[c] | |
| 12 | Ermis Aradippou | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 40 | −18 | 24[c] | |
| 13 | Enosis Neon Paralimni(R) | 26 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 28 | 47 | −19 | 20 | Relegation to theCypriot Second Division |
| 14 | Ayia Napa(R) | 26 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 17 | 64 | −47 | 6 |
| Home \ Away | AEK | AEL | ANO | APOE | APOL | ARI | AYN | DOX | ENP | ERM | ETH | NSL | OMO | PAF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEK Larnaca | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
| AEL Limassol | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | |
| Anorthosis Famagusta | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 | |
| APOEL | 1–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 6–2 | |
| Apollon Limassol | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 5–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | |
| Aris Limassol | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | |
| Ayia Napa | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–7 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |
| Doxa Katokopias | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | |
| Enosis Neon Paralimni | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–1 | |
| Ermis Aradippou | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | |
| Ethnikos Achna | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Nea Salamis Famagusta | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–9 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | |
| Omonia Nicosia | 3–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 6–0 | |
| Pafos FC | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APOEL(C) | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 91 | 26 | +65 | 83 | Qualification for theChampions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | AEK Larnaca | 36 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 61 | 34 | +27 | 75 | Qualification for theEuropa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Apollon Limassol | 36 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 61 | 36 | +25 | 68 | Qualification for theEuropa League third qualifying round[a] |
| 4 | Omonia | 36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 63 | 34 | +29 | 67 | Qualification for theEuropa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 59 | |
| 6 | Nea Salamis Famagusta | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 44 | 72 | −28 | 37 |
| Home \ Away | AEK | ANO | APOE | APOL | NSL | OMO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEK Larnaca | 3–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | |
| Anorthosis Famagusta | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | |
| APOEL | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | |
| Apollon Limassol | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Nea Salamis Famagusta | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | |
| Omonia Nicosia | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | AEL Limassol[a] | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 38 | 43 | −5 | 47 | |
| 8 | Ermis Aradippou | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 36 | 52 | −16 | 42 | |
| 9 | Doxa Katokopias | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 59 | −13 | 41[b] | |
| 10 | Aris Limassol | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 41[b] | |
| 11 | Ethnikos Achna | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 39 | |
| 12 | Pafos FC(R) | 36 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 36 | Relegation to theCypriot Second Division |
| Home \ Away | AEL | ARI | DOX | ERM | ETH | PAF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEL Limassol | 2–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 1–0 | |
| Aris Limassol | 0–1 | 4–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | |
| Doxa Katokopias | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | |
| Ermis Aradippou | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Ethnikos Achna | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | |
| Pafos FC | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| # | Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anorthosis | Nea Salamina | 1–3 | 29 August 2015 | |
| 2. | APOEL | AEL Limassol | 6–0 | 17 October 2015 | |
| 3. | Apollon | Pafos | 3–1 | 20 February 2016 |