Cypriot minnows Pafos FC head into one of the club’s biggest-ever games against Chelsea in the Champions League and the club’s badge is an incredibly unique one
17:10, 21 Jan 2026
Pafos FC
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Pafos FC are preparing for the biggest game in the club's history(Image: )
Pafos FC take on Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge in one of the biggest games in their history.
The Cypriot minnows were only founded in 2014 to consolidate football in the Paphos district when AEP Paphos and AEK Kouklia voted to combine their operations in 2014, and the following season, Pafos were promoted to the top-flight.
After yo-yoing between the first and second division, Pafos were taken over by Total Sports Investment, linked with British-based businessman Roman Dubov and the club soon professionalised while climbing towards the upper echelons of Cypriot football.
Facundo Buonanotte celebrates with Chelsea players
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Chelsea can continue their good form in the Champions League(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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After winning their maiden Cypriot First Division last year, Pafos entered the Champions League for the first time in their history and arrive at Stamford Bridge with qualification from the group stage still to play for.
Currently sitting 29th in the table, Pafos are just two points behind Napoli, Olympiacos and Copenhagen, who occupy the final three play-off spots, but the Cypriot side have a game in hand.
While the club’s history is short, the past of the area is not. Pafos’ badge is in the three main colours of the club – blue, yellow and white – but also features a face in an incredibly unique crest.
Pafos FC crest
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Evagoras' face is portrayed on the Pafos FC crest(Image: )
The man in particular is Evagoras Pallikarides, a Greek-Cypriot poet and revolutionary born in Paphos.
He was a member of the guerrilla group, National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters, also known as EOKA, during the anti-colonial campaign against British rule in Cyprus in the late 1950s.
Since 1878, Cyprus was a British protectorate and later became a full member of the British Empire in 1914. 11 years later, Cyprus became a colony of the British crown until the nation achieved independence in August 1960.
Evagoras Pallikarides
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Evagoras Pallikarides was a Greek-Cypriot revolutionary(Image: )
During the preparations of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, anti-British rule protests were held in Paphos, with Evagoras attending, where he was arrested and soon released.
However, he was again arrested after attempting to transport weapons for the EOKA ahead of an impending attack and was subsequently executed by hanging in March 14, 1957, at just 19.
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Evagoras was the youngest and last EOKA insurgent to be executed by the British government and he became a martyr of resistance in the country.
His image was initially inherited on the crest of AEP Paphos, who are a predecessor of Pafos FC. AEP Paphos were formed as a result of the unification of APOP Pafos and Evagoras Pafos, the latter named after the young revolutionary.
Evagoras’ legacy continues throughout Cyprus and the legitimacy and circumstances of his arrest and execution remain a source of tension between Cyprus and Great Britain's relations.