Greek Football Cup

AEK Athens' team which won the first Greek Cup in 1932.

The Greek Cup under EPO began in 1931. In its early years, entry was optional. Teams were paired against each other by the football associations, without a draw taking place. Later on, for many years, a proper draw took place and also two-legged matches were added.

The participation of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in the final 1962 is counted for both as the presence of a finalist, since the match was stopped due to darkness in overtime (0-0). Due to the incidents between the players of the two teams, the incidents in the stands, the excessive delays and the suspicion that all this was intentional for the match to be repeated and for the teams to make bigger profits, the GGA council decided to punish the EPO with a reprimand and banned the replay of the match as a penalty for both teams[2][3][4]

Until 1964, if the final score was a draw (including extra time), the two teams played a replay match, while penalties didn't exist. That year, in the semi-final[5] between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos (1–1 at the time),fans of both teams stormed the pitch, damaged the football field and virtually stopped the game, believing that it was fixed to end in a draw, in order to be replayed for financial reasons. Both teams were ejected from the competition and therefore, in 1964 AEK won the title but the final match was not held. AEK also won in similar fashion in 1966 when Olympiacos did not show up in the final.[6]

In 1965, a new rule was applied, to determine that, if the game was undecided even after extra time, the winner would be determined by the toss of a coin. Panathinaikos won this way in the 1969 final against Olympiacos[7] . Afterwards the penalty shootout was applied. Until 1971, teams from all over the country, professional and amateur, had been taking part. Each team first played against clubs from its own association and the winners continued in a nationwide competition. Due to this, strong professional sides met amateur neighbourhood teams, sometimes beating them with high scores; a 23–0 win in an Apollon Athens vs. PAO Neas Melandias match on 23 September 1959 remains a record win for the Greek Cup until today. Since 1971, only teams from professional divisions are allowed to participate, while amateur clubs take part in the Amateur Cup.

In 1991 and 1992 the finals were two-legged matches.

It is widely considered that the most exciting match in the history of the competition was the 2009 final[8] between Olympiacos and AEK (3–3 full time, 4–4 after extra time and 15–14 on penalties).

11 clubs have won the Greek Cup.[9]

Notes:
• In the periods 1933–38 and 1940–46, the competition was not held (in 1940–41 only the 1st round was carried out).
• In 1961–62, final match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos was abandoned (no cup winner).
• In 1963–64 and 1965–66, final matches were not held.
• Statistical paradox : 78 editions of the competition, 77 concluded with a cup winner, 76 finals (75 concluded - 1 abandoned).

19 clubs have reached the Greek Cup final.[10]

11 clubs have won the Greek Football Cup, from a total of 6 cities.

• Greek Super League
• Greek Super Cup
• Greek League Cup

• Cup at UEFA
• RSSSF