12 Facts About Sotiris Kaiafas

Sotirios Kaiafas is a retired Cypriot footballer who is considered to be the best footballer that Cyprus has ever produced.

Sotiris Kaiafas played for a local club in Mia Milia, called Prodoos.

Sotiris Kaiafas joined Omonia in 1965, and in 1967 he debuted for Omonia's senior team, joining the youth team at the age of 16.

Sotiris Kaiafas, like other Cypriot stars such as Andreas Stylianou, Panicos Efthymiades, and Leonidas Leonidou, became a cult hero to the fans during a period where there was a close connection between players and fans; during this time, football was played on gravel and footballers were paid only a pittance by clubs.

Sotiris Kaiafas moved to South Africa with his family, but came back to Cyprus one year later and has lived with his family in Nicosia since then.

Sotiris Kaiafas was the top scorer of the Cypriot First Division in another seven seasons and scored a total of nearly 300 league goals, having the record of scoring 44 goals in one season.

Sotiris Kaiafas helped his beloved Omonia AC to the league championship on six occasions.

Sotiris Kaiafas was voted "Cypriot Sportsman of the Year" in 1976 and 1978 by the Cyprus Journalists Association.

Yet, even while appearing for one of Europe's smaller teams, Sotiris Kaiafas managed to register twice in 17 matches.

Sotiris Kaiafas announced his retirement from football in May 1984, ending a career which coincided with the greatest decade in Omonia's history, seeing them as league champions seven times.

Sotiris Kaiafas refers to the club as his "second family".

Kaiafas' grandsons, Alexandros and Sotiris are in the early stages of their careers at Omonia and Olympiakos Nicosia respectively.