Stadium introduction
GSP stadium was inaugurated on 6th October 1999 with a friendly between resident sides APOEL and Omonia. Set to share the stadium, perhaps it was only fitting that the game resulted in a draw, and with three goals a piece it was certainly an entertaining one at that.
As the only stadium in Cyprus which satisfies UEFA’s stadium requirements it is the de facto venue for European matches on the Island. Of the two clubs, APOEL have been much more successful in UEFA competitions having progressed to the group stages of the Champions League on three occasions.
APOELs most successful run to date came during the 2011/2012 season when they topped their a group containing Zenit St. Petersburg, Shakhtat Donetsk and FC Porto before being eliminated by Real Madrid in the quarter finals. AC Omonia by contrast have yet to even reach the group stages of the Europa League.
Since opening the GSP stadium continues to be the home of the Cypriot National Team, and has been used to host the qualification matches of every tournament with the exception of the 2010 World Cup. Due to a sponsorship name Cyprus reluctantly moved to Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium for the campaign.
Cyprus’s national stadium has occasionally been used as a neutral venue by other clubs. In 2002 it hosted Israeli teams,in Europe and during the 2013/2014 season it hosted the second leg of Dynamo Kyiv and Valencia in the Europa League after riots in the Ukrainian capital.
Travel guide
TRAIN
There is no rail transport system in Cyprus which means that you will either have to catch a bus, hail a taxi or rent a car. The good news for British Football Trippers is that the Island also drives on the left hand side which makes things easier.
DRIVING
The stadium’s address for satnav is as follows:
Pangyprion Avenue, 1501, 21099 Nicosia, Cyprus
Car Parks
The Sports complex contains a car park which has enough space for 2,850 vehicles.
AIRPORTS AND FLYING
Larnaca International Airport, the main airport of Cyprus, is located Airport just under 45km from GSP stadium. Around 50km from the capital city, you can catch a shuttle bus straight to Nicosia which coincidentally goes past the stadium.
How to get to the Stadium