AEL

Founding, early years & First Golden Age (1966–1988)

The basketball department of AEL was founded in 1966 with Michalis Nikolaidis being the pioneer and coach and the club was one of the founding members of the Cyprus Basketball Federation. Nikolaidis, himself being a high school P.E. teacher, recruited various students (such as Georgios Thyrotos, Panikos Evzonas, Spyros Antoniou, Donis Kounounis, Andros Michaelides, Andreas Katsampis, etc.) which he considered suitable and formed the first basketball team of AEL, based in the open court "Oasis" located in Gladstonos Street, Limassol. Due to Nicolaides' methodical approach in his coaching style, he was able to produce a talented batch of basketball players. As a result, the first distinction for AEL came early on (in 1972), when they finished second in the Cyprus Basketball League, behind the most dominant team of that period, PAEEK Kyrenia.

In the following 1972–73 season, AEL progressed to its first Cyprus Cup final, losing to APOEL. Despite the fact that both opportunities to bring silverware to the club had failed, it was obvious that the foundations had been laid and the team was ready to take its next "great leap". The following year, in 1974, the team celebrated its first Cypriot Championship, with Dimitris Palalas, Lakis Silvestros, Giorgos Fotas and Michalis Loizidis slowly being added to the roster. In 1978 and 1980, the team completed the double, winning both the Cypriot Championship and the Cypriot Cup. The next batch of up and coming players that were to become the new stars of the team were Antonis Evzonas, Marios Thrasyvoulidis, Michalis Hadjineofytou, Stavros Stavrou, Marios Georgiou, Frikos Karagiannis, Melios Athanasiadis. With these players, AEL won three more doubles (1982, 1983, 1985) and rightfully earned the nickname "Queen" of Cyprus basketball.

From 1981 the technical leadership was taken over by captain George Thyrotos, who was both player and coach. Thyrotos became AEL's primary flag bearer for almost three decades, after having played for the club from 1967 until 1987, and, following his retirement as a player, he carried on as head coach until 1989. Throughout this period, Thyrotos managed to secure multiple major trophies for the club in each of these roles, which has led him to be often considered one of the team's greatest ever players. Indeed, AEL became the dominant team in Cyprus in the 1980s, a decade in which it won twelve major trophies in total (six national championships, four Cypriot Cups, and two Super Cups). Due to these unprecedented (as they were at the time) domestic successes, this has resulted in the time period between 1980 and 1989 being retroactively dubbed by the club itself as AEL's "First Golden Age".

Decline, relegation & return to glory (1989–2001)

By the early 1990s however, the team began to display signs of its decline, due in part to the retirements of the team's core player group as well as from the transfers of two of the club's star players, Antonis Evzonas and Frikos Karagiannis, who had been transferred to POL and Keravnos. Another factor which greatly influenced the team's decline was that other Cypriot teams started to sign foreign players and whilst AEL also participated in this practice, a string of poor signings ultimately brought the team to its knees - inevitably leading to the club's relegation to the second division at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Following this catastrophic setback, the club appointed team veterans, Stavros Grigoriou, Dimitris Palalas and Marios Thrasyvoulides, as the three-member ruling panel in charge of the team's technical leadership. Despite the fact that the vision of the ruling panel was oftentimes restricted by various external factors, the club nevertheless returned to the top-tier of Cypriot basketball the following year undefeated and in 1994 a major reconstruction effort commenced, with a strong focus on developing a robust team infrastructure, from which the talents of the next decade emerged, such as Georgios Palalas, Michalis Kounounis, Rakis Karagiannis, Lauris Hadjivassiliou and George Nikolaou.

By the summer of 1996, George Triantaphyllides was hired at the helm of the technical leadership. The fans of AEL, disappointed by the relegation of the football team, found "refuge" in the basketball team. The passion of George Triantaphyllides for basketball in combination with the unwavering support from the basketball club played a massive role in AEL's subsequent successes. Despite the seemingly abysmal start to millennium for AEL, the club nevertheless managed to close the decade with moderate success, by reaching the 1998–99 Cypriot Basketball Cup Final, against Keravnos B.C. Even though AEL lost the game by 78–49, the team's significant overhaul during the mid-1990s was finally beginning to yield results on the court and it was becoming all the more apparent that AEL was on the cusp of another "golden era".

Second Golden Age & various European successes (2002–2010)

The initial Dragan Raca era (2002–2005)

In 2002, AEL appointed Dragan Raca as head coach, a former player of the club that had retired from playing at the end of the 2001–02 CBL season, with his managerial duties commencing from the start of the 2002–2003 season. As the season progressed, it was becoming all the more apparent that with Raca's coaching prowess, in combination with the technical abilities possessed by the club's three star players at the time, Konstantinos Perentos, Michalis Kounounis and Duane Woodward, AEL was a force to be reckoned with and a serious title contender at least on a domestic level. Against all odds, on the 13th February 2003, AEL was crowned with its only European title after winning the newly established 2002–03 FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup (South Conference). AEL clinched the title with an astonishing record of 10 victories in 10 games. The victory signaled the beginning of the team's European successes in the years that were to follow and between 2002 and 2010, AEL enjoyed the most successful period in its history once again retaining its title as the "Queen of Cypriot Basketball". The particular tournament was only organised in this format for one season. It was thereafter merged with the FIBA Europe Champions Cup to form the FIBA Europe Cup (2003–2005). The list of winners of FIBA's Conference South include AEL, Aris B.C., PBC Academic, Tuborg Pilsener, Banvit.

Following their unexpected success in the Challenge Cup, they were awarded a berth in the FIBA Europe League and in the following season, AEL officially made their debut at the top level of FIBA Europe competitions. AEL retained the services of their previous season's top scorer in the Cup (Duane Woodward with an average 26.7 PPG) as well as the services of local up-and-coming star Konstantinos Perentos (with an average 12 PPG and 4 RPG in the previous season). AEL participated as Cypriot champions in the newly established FIBA Europe League whereby they qualified from the group phase after eliminating both Peristeri and Paris Basket Racing. However, the club was subsequently eliminated by Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Round of 16. Domestically AEL won the treble by winning the Cypriot Championship, Cypriot Basketball Cup and Cypriot Super Cup.They faced Keravnos in the championship final and despite a narrow 99–96 victory in the first game of the series, AEL were unstoppable in the second game which was held in front of a capacity crowd in Limassol as they defeated Keravnos 103–70. The third game proved to be the most significant of the series. AEL traveled to Nicosia knowing that an away win would almost certainly guarantee the second successive championship. The club once again rose to the occasion as they defeated Keravnos by 110–96. The final game of the Cyprus play-offs, as it proved to be, took place in Limassol on 16 April 2004. All 3.000 tickets for the game were sold-out several days in advance.

In 2004–05, AEL secured another double by winning both the Cypriot Division A and Super Cup. They also came close to repeating their previous achievement during the 2004–05 FIBA Europe League, but, despite being tied in victories with 4th-placed Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C., they were behind on points differential statistics and thus finished 5th (the top four teams qualify to the next round), and were eliminated from the competition in the group phase. During the 2005–06 FIBA EuroCup (when the competition changed format) AEL passed the first group round by finishing second, eliminating both PAOK BC and Kallev Tallinn. However, after reaching the tournament's round of 16, the team finished last in the group and were eliminated from that season's competition.

Despite the fact that the club was facing tougher opposition in comparison to the opposition it had faced in previous European campaigns, the effort to reach the quarter-finals was finally achieved during the 2006–07 FIBA EuroCup season. The group that AEL were drawn in the first round of the 2006–07 EuroCup season included former EuroLeague winners Virtus Bologna, French giants ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne and Dutch side Astronauts Amsterdam. Given the strength of the opposition, very few expected that AEL were likely candidates to qualify to the next round. However, following a surprise 88–83 victory over Virtus Bologna, followed by an upset against ASVEL where AEL won by 84–58, the club finished 2nd in their group and achieved the unimaginable by qualifying to the second round with four wins and two losses in total. Unlike the previous season, in which AEL finished with 0 points in the second round, in the 2006–07 FIBA EuroCup, AEL who were in the same group with CB Estudiantes, Liege Basket and BC Šiauliai, finished second with 5 victories and 1 defeat – tied with the Estudiantes because of the matches between them. AEL beat Estudiantes 63–62 in order to reach the quarter-finals. AEL made it all the way to the EuroCup Quarter-Finals before getting ousted by Ukrainian side Azovmash Mariupol in the three-game play-off series, the best ever performance of a Cypriot club in any European club competition at the time. Indeed, the club's dream to reach the Final Four stage of FIBA's top-tier competition, still remained elusive to them as they were eliminated from the competition by the Ukrainian team Azovmash 2–1 in victories. AEL won at home 85–79 but they were nevertheless defeated away from home by 88–63 and 97–69.

Organising the FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day Limassol & interest to join Greek A1 Basketball League (2006–2008)

AEL also played a detrimental role in FIBA's decision to host the FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day in Limassol for three consecutive seasons (2006–2008). Previous iterations of the FIBA All-Star Games were held in Kyiv and Nicosia. The tournament was played from 2004 until 2008, and during each iteration, the AEL team made various contributions to the rosters of the two competing teams, Rest of World & Europe. Namely, AEL's coach, Dragan Raca, was selected as coach of Europe's All Star team on two occasions, in 2004 and 2005. Indeed, Milutin Aleksić was selected on three separate occasions to represent the latter team (2006, 2007, 2008) whereas Michalis Kounounis was also selected once during Europe's 2005 All–Star team as was Michael McDonald, who was selected to represent the 2005 Rest of World team. Duane Woodward was selected to play on behalf of the Rest of World team on two occasions (2004, 2008), on one occasion playing against Giorgos Palalas who was selected as part of Europe's 2004 All Star team. Frankie King also was selected for the Rest of World All Star team in 2007. Finally, Ryan Randle took part in and won the 2007 FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day Slam-Dunk Contest. In addition to the above, during the 2008 off-season, AEL B.C. officials indicated that they would be interested in abandoning the Cyprus Basketball Division A to join the Greek A1 Basketball League, commencing from the 2008–09 season. However, despite AEL's interest having been warmly received by officials from the Hellenic Basketball Association, the club ultimately opted against the move.

Transformation from EuroChallenge contenders to EuroChallenge favourites (2008–2010)

It was during the two consecutive seasons that were to follow where AEL boasted perhaps its greatest European achievements. During the 2007–08 FIBA EuroChallenge season, AEL achieved a EuroChallenge season record of 8-2 (both losses occurring on the road and by a maximum margin of five points), Additionally, AEL successfully maintained an average of 81.9 PPG, with an average OPPG of 71.8, which was the highest average margin of all the Final Four teams in that season. It also marked the first time AEL lost a home game in the EuroCup since 31 January 2006. Furthermore, AEL's star player, Milutin Aleksic, lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals and during this season, Aleksić held that season's highest field goal percentage in a single game by connecting on all of his nine shots from the field in AEL's 103–80 win over KK Zagreb. AEL also drew more fouls than any other club in the EuroChallenge (25.3 fouls per game), and stole more balls than any other club in that season's EuroChallenge (10.3 steals per game). Following a decisive 2–0 victory against Khmik in the quarter-finals. AEL would then eventually progress to the 2008 FIBA Europe Cup Final 4, facing Dexia Mons-Hainaut in the semi-final, however AEL surprisingly lost the match by 70–55. They nevertheless claimed 3rd place in that season's competition, after having defeated Tartu Rock in the consolation final.

During the 2008-09 FIBA EuroChallenge season, Dragan Raca led AEL into the EuroChallenge Final Four for a second season in a row and the team was looking like it had regained its confidence following the disappointment during last season's competition. Despite AEL's European achievement that season, AEL faced a string of disappointing results in the domestic league, which eventually culminated in AEL losing 2–0 in the Cypriot league play-off semi-finals to APOEL. Due to the team's poor domestic performances, AEL decided to sack Raca and his assistant coaches Mike Protics and Thanasis Mastoris. Immediately following Raca's sacking by the club, the board of AEL appointed Serbian coach, Miroslav Nikolic, in time for the Final 4 phase of the competition, this time being held in Bologna, Italy. However, this last minute managerial change would eventually prove to be fruitless, as AEL lost in the semi-final to Virtus Bologna by 83–69. The club also lost against Triumph Lyubertsy during the consolation final by 94-82 and finished the tournament in 4th place.

Descent into obscurity, dissolution & reformation (2011–2017)

Following various changes to the club's administration that occurred between 2008 and 2012, combined with the sudden departure of most of the club's key players, AEL's on-court performances struggled greatly, which left the formerly unstoppable force of Cypriot basketball looking like a shadow of its former self. In addition to these issues, during the 2012–13 season, the club was also experiencing financial difficulties and at the end of the Basket League Regular Season, AEL finished in 6th place (out of 8 teams), thereby missing out on the League playoffs. In October 2014, the club announced that the basketball section would be dissolved due to mounting financial difficulties. However, despite the club's initial decision to dissolve the basketball team, AEL Limassol nevertheless announced that it would re-establish the club for the following season with the team competing in Cyprus Basketball Division B.

The financial difficulties that the club faced still continued to burden the newly formed team and the Cyprus Basketball Federation prohibited AEL from joining the Cypriot top-flight as long as the club's debts remained unsettled and irrespective of whether they managed to achieve qualification via their final Division B position. Ironically, AEL won the Division B championship three years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017), as well as the Division B Cup twice (2015, 2016). Nevertheless, since the club's financial struggles persisted, the club had no choice but to continue competing in the Cyprus Basketball Division B, ultimately leading the club to the brink of collapse for a second time at the end of the 2016–17 season.

Recent history (2018–present)

Return to Division A & reaching two Cup finals (2018–2022)

With another dissolution appearing imminent, a consortium of around 20 local businessmen and AEL supporters took control of the basketball club and thereafter formed a limited liability company, named AEL Basketball Ltd. Benefiting from the new corporate structure, the club managed to settle a significant amount of its unpaid debts in order to return to Cypriot Basketball Division A. In September 2018, under new administration, the club returned to the Cypriot top flight following a 5-year hiatus. During the team's first season back at the top-tier of Cypriot Basketball, former club legend Giorgos Palalas, who was contemplating his retirement following the end of the 2017–18 season, instead chose to rejoin the newly formed team for the 2018–19 season after which he decided to retire from playing. Since then, the club's final league positions for the 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons were 5th, 8th, 9th, 7th and 5th, respectively. During this period, the club also reached the 2022 Cypriot Cup final but they were ultimately unable to claim the trophy, losing the game to Keravnos B.C. by a scoreline of 87–55. By reaching the 2022 cup final, AEL also qualified for the 2022 Cypriot Super Cup final once again against Keravnos (who were the 2021–22 double winners), however AEL also lost this match by a scoreline of 89–74.

Gradual improvements & participation in the Balkan League (2023–)

The club currently competes in Cyprus Basketball Division A and the Cypriot Basketball Cup. Additionally, in 2023, AEL were invited to compete in the Balkan International Basketball League, a European regional basketball competition that features a closed league format, marking the club's return to European basketball competitions following a thirteen-year absence. In AEL's first match of the 2023–24 Division A season, the team was defeated by reigning double–champions, AEK, in a 94–96 game thriller that was decided after two overtime stoppages at Nicos Solomonides. Following this closely tied league match, AEL then faced the 2022–23 Cypriot Cup & 2023 Super Cup runners–up, Anorthosis Famagusta away from home, losing the match 91–78. AEL's first league victory came in their third match against their old rivals, ETHA Engomis, defeating them by 81–63. During their fourth league game against arch-rivals, Apollon, AEL secured an impressive victory away from home, beating Apollon by 94–90. In their fifth OPAP Basket League game of the season, AEL beat historic basketball club, PAEEK by 92–71 at Nicos Solomonides Arena. In their sixth Basket League game of the season, AEL secured their fourth consecutive victory after beating Keravnos by 80–74 away from home, thereby ascending to the top of the regular season table with Jordan Shepherd managing 37 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. AEL maintained its position at the top of the Basket League table by beating APOP by 82–53, the team's fifth consecutive victory for the 2023–24 OPAP Basket League season. AEL's unbeaten run in the Basket League was further extended after defeating Enosis Neon Paralimni away from home by 78–70 in their eighth match of the season, extending their streak to six consecutive victories.

On 21 November 2023, AEL began their 2023–24 BIBL campaign in Limassol with a stellar performance, securing a fifty-one point margin in their victory over Montenegrin club and fellow BIBL newcomers, KK Pljevlja by 93–42. On 28 November 2023, AEL once again defeated KK Pljevlja in their return match in Montenegro by a score of 72–51, thus securing their second consecutive victory in the 2023–24 BIBL season and extending their win-streak to eight consecutive victories in all competitions. Following the strong start to their 2023–24 season, on 30 November 2023 AEL next faced Montenegrin side, KK Lovćen, in their third Delasport BIBL match of the season, once again playing away from home in Cetinje, Montenegro. Despite a strong start to the game, AEL ultimately lost to the Montenegrin side by a three-point margin (78–75). This marks the team's first defeat of the 2023–24 BIBL season and AEL's first defeat since their 15 October 2023 away defeat to Anorthosis B.C. in the OPAP Basket League, thereby bringing a stop to AEL's eight game win streak (in all competitions). AEL subsequently defeated Achilleas Kaimakli by 82–41 in their ninth Basket League game of the season, extending their win-streak to seven consecutive matches.

On 13 December 2023, AEL played their tenth game of the Basket League season in which they were defeated by 67–57 in a closely contested match against league-leaders APOEL B.C. at Lefkotheo Stadium thereby bringing their seven-game win-streak in the league to a halt. On 18 December 2023, AEL reclaimed its position at the top of the 2023–24 BIBL league table after beating KK Lovćen by 78–61 at the Nicos Solomonides Arena. On 22 December AEL lost their eleventh Basket League match of the season against Anorthosis by 90–74. Following the winter break, on 5 January 2024, AEL lost their twelfth Basket League match of the season to ETHA by 100–94, in a game that was finally decided after three overtime stoppages. On 15 January 2024, AEL faced fellow Limassol club, Apollon in their thirteenth Basket League match of the season, defeating their long-term rivals by 98–64, for what was to be the highest point margin victory for AEL in the Limassol derby since 2010. AEL then faced PAEEK on 20 January 2024, securing a narrow 86–81 victory over the latter team in their fourteenth Basket League game of the season.

On 25 January 2024, AEL were defeated 74–62 by Anorthosis in the First Round of the OPAP Basket Cup. On 29 January 2024, in their fifteenth Cyprus Basket League match of the 2023–24 season, AEL were defeated by Cypriot powerhouse, Keravnos B.C. by 71–62. On 6 February 2024, AEL defeated KB Peja by 94–84 in their fifth match of the 2023–24 BIBL season. On 8 February, AEL lost to KB Sigal Prishtina by 86–71.