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Cypriot club Pafos FC will mark their historic UEFA Champions League appearance this midweek – just 11 years since the team’s founding.

Lately, the club has made waves by entering European tournaments for the first time last term, reaching the Conference League knockout phase and winning their first-ever top-flight trophy.

Now, they have attained yet a further major accomplishment by navigating multiple qualifiers of elite European qualification to reach the main competition – joining only one other clubs, alongside Kazakh club Kairat Almaty, to enter the competition newly.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv and Red Star Belgrade were all overcome by Pafos during the entry phase.

Their reward is eight matches in the league phase, with a fixture on their turf against German champions Bayern and an visit to Chelsea, but they begin with a match in Hellenic soil against Greek side Olympiakos this Wednesday.

"Everyone was in ecstasy," stated ex- Brazil and Blues centre-back Luiz, who signed for the team in last month, about the point Pafos qualified.

"Everybody was elated because we achieved something amazing. Not a soul expected us to reach the Champions League this campaign."

"It’s a pleasure to be here because I can witness this emotion, with everyone’s desire, to accomplish something significant."

Founded in 2014: An Overview

Pafos came into existence in eleven years back when two clubs from the region joined forces – AEK Kouklia and Paphos AFC – who in turn had been created in a year 2000 union of two other teams in the district.

They started in the second tier and bounced around between first division until the 2017 purchase by a Russian entrepreneur, a Russian businessman with UK passport who was once as Pompey owner in 2011.

"Our vision was straightforward – we aimed to create something new, something strong, something long-lasting – not just a sports team but one that could contribute to the community," he stated not long ago.

"Cyprus is a nation with such a affection for the game and, in Pafos, we were confident that we had an possibility to grow something from the very beginning."

It wasn’t instant success, though.

"Total Sport Investment have transformed the club, entirely. It was a team that found it hard to remain in the top division."

"In Mediterranean countries, the enthusiasm is extreme. So, if the team succeeds, everyone will visit the arena. If the team underperforms, few supporters will show up. It’s all or in the between."

"They have done some errors, investment that didn't give them returns. They have been putting money in since 2017. There was some trial and error to come to this point."

British Managers Take a Turn

Scottish the former defender, currently Dundee gaffer, had nineteen matches in the dugout in six years ago.

Welshman the coach took 21 games in that campaign.

English the experienced manager led the team for eighteen matches in three years ago.

Two ex-Blackburn defenders had a go, as well – former Red Devils player Berg and former Real Madrid star Michel Salgado, who was SD but also had two caretaker spells.

During his playing days, once in the EPL player Jason Puncheon was at Pafos from three seasons.

Progress Arrives With Former Arsenal Assistant

The tide turned with the arrival of Spaniard the coach in summer of 2023. He had been Emery’s assistant manager at several sides, among them the Gunners.

He led Ibiza and Real Zaragoza before switching to the island.

Carcedo's initial term in control ended with the squad’s inaugural honor – the 2023-24 domestic cup, with a 3-0 win over Omonia, who were on their own turf for the match.

In his second season Pafos passed three rounds of UECL qualifying, finishing twelfth in the group stage and then securing victory in the play-off round before losing to the Swedish side in the last 16.

They concluded the season as Cypriot title winners for the first time – winning the title by a clear margin and creating a route to the elite competition.

Jaja late finish in Pafos' home game against the Serbian champions to make it a draw (three-two) sealed their berth in the main competition.

"Cyprus’ leader of Cyprus the official is a huge Pafos FC enthusiast who goes to the arena."

"He attended the fixture. He saw it with tension. At the final whistle he was ecstatic like a little kid. He was overjoyed. There was a popular clip of him celebrating like a kid."

"It feels like winning the title in Cyprus, it's such a huge a deal."

"It is a milestone you place next to your name – one championship, a domestic cup and one elite appearance. It's a huge issue here."

'I Think There’s a Chance Do Something Special'

This summer, Pafos secured the unexpected capture of star the Brazilian, who at the age of 38 had been playing for {Fortaleza|Fort