1968–69 Alpha Ethniki

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The 1968-69 Alpha Ethniki Season

The 1968-69 season of the Greek Football Championship was the first Greek division, featuring 18 clubs instead of the usual 16. This season saw AEL Limassol, champion of Cyprus in the previous year's championship, participate alongside other top teams from Greece and Cyprus.

As part of this season, AEK Athens sought to retain its title as the Greek champion against a strong field of seventeen best Greek and Cypriot clubs competing throughout the year. The 18 participating clubs faced each other twice, with the exception of Olympiakos Nicosia, which was relegated from Alpha Ethniki in the previous season.

The Panathinaikos ultimately emerged as champions, securing their ninth title in Greece. This victory marked a significant milestone for the team and earned them qualification to participate in the European Cup of Champions Clubs 1969-70.

In addition to the Greek championship, several teams qualified for other European competitions based on their performance in the domestic league. The winner of the Greek Cup was eligible for the European Cup of Cup Winners 1969-70, while the champion club and a few classified teams were also invited to participate in the Fairs Cup.

Tournament Format

The tournament format involved three rounds: each team played every other team twice, resulting in a total of 34 games. The scoring system awarded three points for victory, two for tie, and one point for defeat. However, AEK Athens was penalized with a single point due to an unspecified infraction.

Participating Teams

The participating teams included the champions from Cyprus (AEL Limassol), as well as 17 Greek clubs competing in Alpha Ethniki. The top four teams qualified for European competitions: Panathinaikos, Olympiakos Pireo, Aris Thessaloniki, and Panionios.

Final Classification

The final classification of the season saw several notable results:

* Panathinaikos emerged as champions with their ninth title in Greece.
* AEL Limassol returned to the Cypriot Championship after being relegated from Alpha Ethniki.
* Olympiakos Nicosia was relegated from Alpha Ethniki due to its poor performance in the previous season.

External Links

For more information on this season, including historical data and statistics, please visit:

* Greek Football Championship
* Football in 196