Cretan derby
Το Κρητικό ντέρμπι
Other namesHeraklion Derby
Ηρακλειώτικο ντέρμπι
The Battle of Crete
Η Μάχη της Κρήτης
LocationHeraklion / Crete, Greece
TeamsErgotelis,
OFI
First meetingErgotelis 1 – 0 OFI,
18 August 1929 (friendly)[1]
Latest meetingOFI 1 − 1 (3 – 4 p.) Ergotelis,
24 January 2019
(Cup, R. of 16)
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Most winsOFI (25)
Largest victoryOFI 5 − 0 Ergotelis
27 November 2004

The Cretan derby (Greek: Το Κρητικό Ντέρμπι), also called Heraklion Derby (Greek: Ηρακλειώτικο ντέρμπι) or The Battle of Crete (Greek: Η Μάχη της Κρήτης) is an association football rivalry between Ergotelis and OFI, the two teams that have represented the city of Heraklion, Crete in the Greek Super League. Although the term "Cretan derby" has been used to describe almost every match-up between football clubs from Crete on any level of the Greek football league system, the OFI-Ergotelis rivalry is the most iconic, since it involves the two most prestigious clubs on the island and its roots can be traced back to the early days of Greek professional football.

History

Social rivalry

Socially, Ergotelis and OFI have always represented different cultures. Ergotelis, being based in Martinengo (inside the city center) primarily represented the Heraklion upper middle class, while OFI, based in the western suburb of Kaminia traditionally attracted supporters from the surrounding working class areas.[2] The two clubs were founded almost simultaneously, as OFI was established in 1925 and Ergotelis merely four years later. For several decades the two clubs were competing head-to-head, intensifying the animosity between their fans whenever the two clubs were about to play against one another. OFI-Ergotelis match-ups during the 60's have been attributed as a "social event" for the city of Heraklion, being the dominant topic of discussion for many days prior as well as many days after the actual games.[2]

The Junta incident

Historically, the events that followed the conclusion of the 1966−67 season of the Greek Second National Division (Beta Ethniki) gave political dimensions to the already strained relations between the two clubs. At that time, both clubs competed in the league, with OFI having finished in 3rd and Ergotelis in 10th place, both safe from relegation status. When the Greek military junta came to power in 1967, a law was passed, that determined that only a single club would have the right to represent each regional city in Greece's professional leagues. Therefore, Ergotelis was forcibly relegated to amateur status. Furthermore, the clubs remaining in the Beta Ethniki (later renamed the Football League) had the right to demand the transfer of any number of players from the relegated clubs. As a result, five of Ergotelis' best considered players at the time (Konstantinos Theodorakis, Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Manolis Stavroulakis, Konstantinos Zouraris and Georgios Skandalakis), were signed by OFI.[3] OFI club officials have also been reported to force these individuals into hiding, in order to thwart any attempts from Ergotelis' side to approach and renew contracts with the players. Tensions between the two clubs rose when a court decision in favor of Ergotelis was overruled by the junta-controlled Hellenic Football Federation, which finally approved OFI's contracts with the players and threatened Ergotelis officials with eviction from their home turf in Martinengo Stadium.[4]

Ergotelis's relegation directly followed an incident in which the club's board of directors allowed renowned left-liberal songwriter and composer Mikis Theodorakis (a key voice against the right-wing government) to perform a concert in Ergotelis' traditional home stadium in Martinengo, on August 6, 1966. In retaliation, the junta 'branded' Ergotelis as an unpatriotic organization, accusing its officials of «deviating from the purposes for which they were elected, turning the club into an instrument servicing political, and sometimes unpatriotic objectives». To this day, Ergotelis fans attribute the club's disappearance from Greek football reality for over three decades to this incident, implying there was preferential treatment of the right-wing government in favor of OFI, who were promoted to Greece's top football division for the first time in Cretan football history merely a year later (1968), despite finishing 2nd in the Beta Ethniki that season. These accusations still remain a topic of various controversies between the fans of the two clubs.[5]

Football rivalry

As any regional Greek football rivalry, the OFI-Ergotelis Cretan derby traditionally stands as a rivalry between the two most successful football clubs representing the city of Heraklion in the Greek professional football leagues. Even before their professional debuts, the two teams would often clash for the title in Crete's regional football leagues, as well as the honor of being Crete's most successful club in the Greek Cup. However, following the events that led to Ergotelis' relegation to amateur status in 1967, the two clubs went on in completely opposite ways. Today, OFI is considered the most successful club on the island, being the first to earn promotion to Greece's top professional football league, merely a year after Ergotelis was dismantled by the junta, and once again in 1976 which started a notable 33-year run in the competition. Being the sole representative of Crete in the top-level football competition in Greece for almost 30 years, OFI attracted a lot of support over the years across the whole island, and is currently considered the most popular football club in Crete. Further adding to the club's prestige, OFI have reached the Greek football Cup final twice, actually winning the trophy in 1987, which marks the first, and to this day only major honor won by a Cretan club in Greek football history. Additionally, they placed second in the 1985–86 Alpha Ethniki season, which marks the best finish of a Cretan club in the competition, as well as being the only club on the island to boast a string of relatively successful European campaigns and a Balkans Cup trophy win in 1989.

In contrast, Ergotelis languished in the lower regional and national competitions for 32 years, before making an explosive comeback in the early 2000s and earning their first ever promotion to the Super League in 2004.[6] Making the most of OFI's decline during the 2000s, Ergotelis quickly established itself as the second most successful club in Heraklion, winning the 2nd National Division title in 2006, and starting its own consecutive top-flight run alongside their weakening rival. Ergotelis actually out-performed OFI in the competition during 2008−11, in which for the first time in their history the two clubs played at different levels in the Greek football league system, in which Ergotelis was the sole representative of Heraklion in the Greek Super League. In recent years however, both clubs went bankrupt, and therefore returned to amateur competitions before meeting up once again in the 2017–18 Second National Division, the first time in the competition since their controversial season in 1966−67.

In contrast to other regional Greek football rivalries, the rivalry between OFI and Ergotelis has rarely shown signs of extreme intensity, as the two teams have played numerous friendly games against each other. However the very first game between the two teams, a friendly in 1929, was abandoned after violence between the players broke out, just 35 minutes into the game.[1]

Major Honours won
Competition Ergotelis OFI
Super League Greece 0 0
Greek Football Cup 0 1 (1987)
Total 0 1
Division Titles won
Competition Ergotelis OFI
Football League (2nd Division) 1 (2006) 3 (1966, 1976, 2018)
Gamma Ethniki (3rd Division) 2 (1966, 2017) 1 (2016)
Total 3 4

Statistics

Head-to-head

Ergotelis
wins		 Draws OFI
wins
Super League (1959–60 - present) 1
At Ergotelis home 2 1 4
At OFI home 1 2 4
Total 3 3 8
Greek Cup
At Ergotelis home 1 1 1
At OFI home 0 4 7
Neutral field 2 0 1
Total 3 5 9
Football League (1959–60 - present) 1
At Ergotelis home 0 3 3
At OFI home 1 0 5
Total 1 3 8
Total
7 11 25
Alpha Ethniki goals Ergotelis OFI
At Ergotelis home 7 9
At OFI home 5 13
Total 12 22

1 Including play-off games

Records

Matches list

Super League Greece (1959–60 − present)

Ergotelis – OFI OFI – Ergotelis
Season
R.
Date
Venue
Atten.
Score
R.
Date
Venue
Atten.
Score
1959–2004 Clubs competing at different competition levels
2004–05 24 03–04–2005 Pankritio Stadium 9,850 0–1 9 27–11–2004 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium 3,816 5–0
2005–06 There were no games due to the relegation of Ergotelis to the Beta Ethniki (2nd National Division)
2006–07 5 23–09–2006 Pankritio Stadium 4,150 2–0 20 04–02–2007 Pankritio Stadium 3,540 1–3
2007–08 18 26–01–2008 Pankritio Stadium 3,950 1–1 3 30–09–2007 Pankritio Stadium 3,017 4–1
2008–09 14 14–12–2008 Pankritio Stadium 3,517 1–3 29 12–04–2009 Pankritio Stadium 1,481 0–0
2009–10 There were no games due to OFI competing in the Football League (2nd National Division)
2010–11
2011–12 20 04–02–2012 Pankritio Stadium 3,964 0–1 5 01–10–2011 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium 3,723 1–0
2012–13 There were no games due to the relegation of Ergotelis to the Football League (2nd National Division)
2013–14 25 17–02–2014 Pankritio Stadium 3,860 0–1 8 20–10–2013 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium 4,968 1–1
2014–15 23 07–02–2015 Pankritio Stadium 1,716 3–2 6 04–12–2014 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium 3,850 1–0
2015–16 Clubs competing at different competition levels
2016–17
2017–18 Both clubs competing in the Football League
2018–19 Clubs competing at different competition levels

Football League (Greek Second National Division since 1959–60)

Ergotelis – OFI OFI – Ergotelis
Season
R.
Date
Venue
Atten.
Score
R.
Date
Venue
Atten.
Score
1959–60 1 07−03−1960 Ergotelis Stadium 2,000 1–1 8 02−05−1960 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 1−3
1960–61 There were no games, as Ergotelis withdrew from the league
1961–62 6 04−03−1962 Ergotelis Stadium N/A 1–5 1 07−01−1962 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 1–0
1962–63 17 10−02−19631 Ergotelis Stadium N/A 1–1 1 30−09−1962 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 3–1
1963–64 There were no games due to the relegation of Ergotelis to the Heraklion FCA Regional Championship
1964–65 1 18−10−1964 Ergotelis Stadium N/A 1–3 17 27−01−1965 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 2–1
1965–66 There were no games the relegation of Ergotelis to the Gamma Ethniki (3rd National Division)
1966–67 7 16−11−1966 Ergotelis Stadium N/A 0–0 24 01−03−1967 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 3–0
1967–68 There were no games due to the relegation of Ergotelis to the Heraklion FCA Regional Championship
1968–2017 Clubs competing at different competition levels
2017−18 6 04−12−2017 Pankritio Stadium N/A 2–4 23 24−03−2018 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A 4–2
2018−19 There were no games due to the promotion of OFI to the Super League.

1 Match originally meant to be held 10−02−1963, postponed due to weather conditions.

Greek Cup

Season
Round
Leg
Date
Venue
Atten.
Match
Score
Winner
1939–40 1st qualifying round (Crete) – Chandax Stadium N/A ERG – OFI 3–2 ERG
1946–47 2nd qualifying round (Crete) – Chandax Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 6–2 OFI
1947–48 1st qualifying round (Crete) – 12−10−1947 Chandax Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 1–3 ERG
1950–51 Play-off round (Crete) – T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 1–1 (aet; draw) OFI
1951–52 4th qualifying round (Crete) – Ergotelis Stadium N/A ERG – OFI 1–2 (aet) OFI
1952–53 Play-off round (Crete) – T. Vardinogiannis Stadium 5,000 OFI – ERG 3–1 OFI
1954–55 Qualifying round (Crete) – 09−03−1955 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 2–0 OFI
1955–56 Qualifying round (Crete) – 14−03−1956 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 4–0 OFI
1958–59 Play-off round (Crete) – 23−03−1959 Ergotelis Stadium 5,000 ERG – OFI 1–0 ERG
1959–60 Qualifying round (Crete) – 07−02−1960 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 1–0 OFI
1963–64 Qualifying round (Crete) 22−01−1964 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 0–0 —
Replay 04−03−1964 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 0–0
1964–65 Qualifying round (Crete) – 20−01−1965 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 3–1 OFI
1968–69 Play-off round (Crete) – T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 4–1 OFI
2018–19 Round of 16 1st 08−01−2019 Pankritio Stadium Ν/Α ERG – OFI 1–1 ERG
2nd 24−01−2019 T. Vardinogiannis Stadium N/A OFI – ERG 1–1 (aet; 3–4 p)

• Series won: Ergotelis 4, OFI 8.[7]

Head-to-head ranking in National Competitions

P. 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1
2
3
4
5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10
11 11
12 12 12
13 13 13 13 13
14 14 14 14
15 15 15
16 16
17
18
Second National Division1
P. 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4
5 5
6 6
7 7
8 8
9 9 9 9
10 10
11
12 12
13
14
15
16
17
18 18
19
20
21
Third National Division2
P. − − − − − − 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1 1 1 1
2
3

• Total: Ergotelis 5 times higher, OFI 58 times higher.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] [18][19]

:1.^ Contested as Greek FCA Winners' Championship throughout 1960–1962. Contested as Beta Ethniki until 2009−10, when the league was renamed Football League. Contested as Super League 2 as of 2019–20.

:2.^ Contested under various formats until formally being structured as Gamma Ethniki in 1982. Briefly contested under the name Football League 2 between 2011−13 and as Football League between 2019 and 2021. Contested again as Gamma Ethniki as of 2021–22.

Penalties and red cards

Including all the Alpha Ethniki and Greek Cup games played to date.

Season Match Penalties for Ergotelis (2) Penalties for OFI (7)
1952–53 (Cup) OFI – Ergotelis 3–1 soccer ball with check mark Vavoulas 72'
2004–05 OFI – Ergotelis 5–0 soccer ball with red X Machlas 22'
2006–07 OFI – Ergotelis 1–3 soccer ball with check mark Júnior 22'
2007–08 OFI – Ergotelis 4–1 soccer ball with check mark Júnior 75'
2007–08 Ergotelis – OFI 1–1 soccer ball with check mark Leozinho 18'
2014–15 OFI – Ergotelis 1–0 soccer ball with check mark Milhazes 90'+7'
2018–19 (Cup) OFI – Ergotelis 1–1 (aet; 3–4 p) soccer ball with check mark Neira 44' soccer ball with red X Neira 59' soccer ball with red X Potouridis 72'
Season Match Red cards for Ergotelis players (5) Red cards for OFI players (5)
1954–55 (Cup) OFI – Ergotelis 2–0 Kountouris 65'
1959–60 (Cup) OFI – Ergotelis 1–0 Zervos 59'
2004–05 Ergotelis – OFI 0–1 Khachatryan 80'
2006–07 Ergotelis – OFI 2–0 Kounenakis 58'
2006–07 OFI – Ergotelis 1–3 Belevonis 21'
2007–08 OFI – Ergotelis 4–1 Bărcăuan 77'
2011–12 Ergotelis – OFI 0–1 Koutsianikoulis 90'+2'
2013–14 Ergotelis – OFI 0–1 Romano 71'
2014–15 Ergotelis – OFI 3–2 Gentsoglou 24'
2018–19 (Cup) OFI – Ergotelis 1–1 (aet; 3–4 p) Koutsianikoulis 32'

Men in both teams

Players from Ergotelis to OFI

Players from OFI to Ergotelis

Managers for both teams

References

  1. 1 2 Ergotelis Official Site: History Section (Greek)
  2. 1 2 "Σέντρα στον... πεντοζάλη των «αιωνίων»" (in Greek). tanea.gr. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ↑ «Υποβιβάστηκε γιατί δρούσε αντεθνικώς» [Relegation due to anti-national activity] (in Greek). Eleftherotypia Newspaper. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "Όταν η χούντα «εκτέλεσε» το ποδόσφαιρο" [When the Junta "executed" (Greek) football] (in Greek). gazetta.gr. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Θεοδωράκης: «Να εξαπλωθεί σε όλη την Κρήτη»" [Theodorakis: "May (Ergotelis' ideals) spread throughout Crete"] (in Greek). sentragoal.gr. 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ο Εργοτέλης "γκρέμισε" τον Ακράτητο από την Α' Εθνική (Ergotelis "demolished" Akratitos from Alpha Ethniki)" (in Greek). Skai TV. 30 May 2004. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "H αναθεωρημένη προϊστορία του ΟΦΗ με τον Εργοτέλη στο Κύπελλο!" (in Greek). oficrete.gr. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2004-05
  9. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2005-06
  10. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2006-07
  11. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2007-08
  12. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2008-09
  13. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2009-10
  14. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2010-11
  15. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2011-12
  16. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2012-13
  17. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Current Domestic Results, Greece 2013-14
  18. ↑ http://betaethnikihellas.blogspot.gr/2011_01_01_archive.html Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine (Greek): "Εκεί, εκεί στη Β' Εθνική!" (Beta Ethniki archives blog)
  19. ↑ The RSSSF Archive - Historical Domestic Results, Greece 2nd Level
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