Ethnikos Achna Football Club (Greek: Αθλητικός Σύλλογος Εθνικός Άχνας), commonly known as Ethnikos Achna or simply Ethnikos, is a professional football club based in the village of Dasaki Achnas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, on the island of Cyprus. Founded in 1968, the club currently plays in the Cypriot First Division. Ethnikos' home ground is the Dasaki Stadium, which can accommodate 7,000 spectators.
History
The club played in the Cypriot Second Division until 1983 when it was promoted to the Cypriot First Division but was immediately relegated. Ethnikos was promoted to the First Division again in 1986 and stayed there for four seasons. Another two years in the Second Division ended with promotion to the First Division in 1992, where Ethnikos remained until their relegation again in 2018.
The team's best overall national ranking is fourth in the 1994–95, 1997–98 and 2006–07 seasons. The club participated in the Cypriot Cup final twice; once in 2002, where they were beaten by Anorthosis Famagusta 0–1, and again in 2022 when they were beaten by Omonoia in a penalty shootout after a 0–0 score in normal and extra time.
European Competitions
Ethnikos has competed in the UEFA Intertoto Cup six times: In 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Five of those times, they were eliminated in the first round. However, in 2006, Ethnikos won the Intertoto Cup and was one of the eleven winners of that year's competition. After eliminating Albanian side Partizani Tirana, they faced Croatian side NK Osijek. They tied both matches, but Ethnikos advanced on away goals, and became the first team from the Cypriot league system to have reached the third round of the Intertoto Cup. There, they beat Maccabi Petah Tikva 4–3 on aggregate, and became one of the competition's eleven winners. This meant that Ethnikos had qualified for the 2006–07 UEFA Cup.
In the UEFA Cup, Ethnikos eliminated Roeselare with a 2–1 loss in Belgium and a 5–0 victory in Cyprus, qualifying for the first round. They were eliminated by Lens after drawing the first leg at home (played at GSP Stadium, Nicosia) 0–0 and losing 3–1 in France. Because of their success in the Intertoto Cup, Ethnikos was named the Sports Team of the Year in 2006, by the Sports Journalists Union of Cyprus.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
