In the 2011/12 season, APOEL shocked all of Europe. Not only did they win their group containing Zenit, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk, they then went on to beat a strong Olympic Lyonnais side in the last 16. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter finals by Real Madrid by an aggregate score of 8-2, but what happened to those players and manager who were a part of the squad in their penalty shootout triumph against the French giants?
First Team
Dionisios Chiotis - This Greek goalkeeper saved two penalties in the shootout that propelled APOEL into the quarter finals of the Champions League. He continued to play for APOEL until 2015 where he moved back home to Trikala in which he played 24 time. He then moved to Apollon Smyrni in 2016 and played there for a year before retiring from the game in 2017. He has one solitary cap for Greece which he won back in 2002. It is unknown what he is doing today but he owns a goalkeeper academy so presumably he is doing that.
Paulo Jorge - The bald headed Portuguese center back played an integral part in APOEL's fairytail run, keeping many talented strikers at bay. He left in 2012 to play for Cyrpus' Anorthosis Famagusta, clocking up 45 appearences in 2 years before playing one final year in Cyprus for Doxa. He is currently APOEL's assistant manager and saw the club fail to qualify both for the Champions League and Europa League; a complete contrast to his playing days.
Marcelo Oliveira - The Brazilian center back partnered Paulo Jorge in the heart of the defense. He continued to play for APOEL until 2014 where he moved to Portugal to play for Moreirense, offering his services to the club for 3 years. He is the first player on the list to still be playing, aged 36, plying his trade in the Portuguese Primera Liga for Santa Clara, where he has made 6 appearences.
Savvas Poursaidis - An interesting player. This Greek-born right back gained citizenship for Cyprus in 2009 where he played 12 times for the country. He retired from playing in 2012 and has taken up a variety of roles; first as a chief scout of APOEL in their newly created Scouting Department until 2013, then as a manager from 2016 onwards; first for Cypriot First Division club Anagennisi Deyneia, then for Doxa three months later. He currently manages Nea Salamis Famagusta who play in the top division in Cyprus. He lead his team to 7th place last season out of a 12 team league.
William Boaventura - Affectionately known as 'Boa', the Brazilian left back had quite a varied career, playing in Ukraine, Russia and Greece prior to his move to APOEL in 2012. He left the club after their surprising run to the quarter finals to play for Anorthosis Famagusta but unfortunately had to retire shortly after due to heart problems. It's unknown what he's up to these days, probably enjoying a quiet life away from the game somewhere.
Constantinos Charalambidis - The only born Cypriot to start the the tie for APOEL, the right winger played over 320 times over two spells at the club and was the captain for their second leg tie against Lyon. His second spell lasted from 2008-2016 where he played one season for Cyrpus' AEK Larnaca before retiring in 2017. He played 92 times for Cyprus, scoring 12 goals and was known to celebrate goals by doing a flip. He now presents a sports television show in his native homeland.
Gustavo Manduca - He had what can be described as a 'journeyman career' playing for numerous clubs in Finland, Portugal and Greece as well as his native Brazil. He joined APOEL in 2010 and that proved to be his final club, playing 5 years for the Cypriot giants. He is best known for scoring the goal that equalised the tie in the second leg against Lyon, as well as in the quarter final against Real Madrid in their 5-2 drubbing. Manduca has had a dabble in management, first as a caretaker for APOEL (which saw him win the Cypriot Cup and win the league) and then for Second Division side Othellos where he was dismissed after a couple of months due to poor results. He is currently a part of the backroom team at Atlético Tubarão in his native Brazil.
Nuno Morais - A name that may be familiar to Chelsea fans, the Portuguese central midfielder, who dispactched his spot kick in the penalty shootout, is another of the few that are still playing. Morais joined APOEL in 2007 and is still playing for the club to this date, collecting over 300 appearences in his 11 years and holds the record of the most appearences made in the Cypriot league by a foreign player. He is also the clubs vice captain and the 34 year old will be hoping he can still help lead the club back into the Champions League in his twilight years.
Helder Sousa - Another who is still playing, the 40 year old central midfielder has played for numerous clubs in Portugal throughout his career. He actually made his CL debut in the 1-0 loss to Lyon in the first leg of the tie aged 34. He terminated his contract the following year where he returned back to Portugal to play for Trofense. He is currently playing for Rio Ave's B team.
Esteban Solari - 'Tano' (which means Italian in Argentine slang) comes from a footballing family. His more famous brother Santiago played for both Real Madrid and Inter Milan, his uncle Jorge played for River Plate and the national team and his cousin is Fernando Redondo who played for both Real Madrid and Milan. Esteban never quite reached those same heights but his efforts helped APOEL reach the quarter finals of the Champions League and he dispatched a penalty against the former employers of his brother and cousin in the quarter final. He last played for Aucas in Ecuador in 2016.
Ailton Almeida - A name famous in Denmark and the Middle East, the Brazilian forward was one of the players who successfully dispatched his penalty kick in the shootout against Lyon. He left APOEL in 2012 to play for Terek Grozny, then left to play for Saudi giants Al-Hilal in 2015. He then played in the UAE in Al-Jazira and Al-Dharfa and is currently a free agent. It's been rumoured that he may be making a return to Sweden to play for Goteborg.
Subs:
Urko Pardo - The Belgian born goalkeeper started his career at Barcelona before making the move to Greece in 2007. APOEL signed him from Rapid Bucharest in 2011 but he could not lodge Chiotis from the starting spot. When the Greek hero left in 2012 he made the starting spot his, playing 114 times for APOEL until 2017. moving to Alki Orokini where he currently plays. He was also granted Cypriot citizenship and has played 3 times for the country.
Kaka - Not to be confused with the former Milan and real Madrid player of the same name, the Brazilian defender was on loan to APOEL from Hertha Berlin. This loan was never made permanent and he moved to Hungary's Videoton shortly after. He did however make a return to the club as a signing in the 2014-15 season where he played 26 times in one season. He currently plays in Portugal's LigaPro for Varzim S.C.
Ivan Trickovski - Trickovski came on as a substitute in the second leg and dispatched his spot kick in the penalty shootout. The Macedonian winger left APOEL shorty after to play for Club Brugge where he was a bit part player for two seasons. He has also played for Al-Nasr in UAE, Poland's Legia Warsaw and back in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca where he currently plays. He is currently just short of averaging a goal every other game in two seasons so he could well be on the move again if he impresses in the Europa League.
Marinos Satsias - A one club man, Satsias spent 19 years at APOEL from 1995-2014 and won 65 caps for his national team. The defensive midfielder, known for his passion for the game, helped his club win 8 Championships, 8 Super Cups and played in the quarter final game against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. In his last season he captained the team to winning a domestic treble, and it appears that he liked being the leader, moving into management in 2016 first with Ethnikos Latison FC and then with Omomia Aradippou who play in the Cypriot Second Division. He guided the team to a 6th placed finish last season.
Nektarios Alexadrou - The Cypriot can operate as both a left winger and left back. He was brought on in extra time against Lyon in the second leg and was trusted to dispatch his spot kick which he did. Alexandrou joined APOEL in 2008 and is still at the club, becoming the teams captain in 2016. He has 40 caps for Cyprus but has yet to score his first international goal.
Athos Solomou - Another Cypriot player, Solomou joined the club in 2009 and left in 2014 collecting 62 appearences and scoring 5 goals. He then moved to Enosis Neon Paralimmi in 2014 and then to the now dissolved Otelul Galati in 2015. A move back home to Doxa came about shortly afterwards before signing a 6 month contract with Iranian outfit Rah Ahan in 2016. He's managed to win 13 caps for Cyprus and currently plays for Digenis Oroklinis.
Marcinho - The Brazilian attacking midfielder was signed on a free transfer in 2010 and played two years for the club. He came on as a substitute against Lyon and helped his team keep the 1-0 lead and win the game in the resulting shootout. Since leaving APOEL in 2012 he has played in Bulgaria for Levski Sofia, Greece for Anorthosis and for numerous clubs in his native Brazil. The 37 year old is currently playing for Campinense Clube in Brazil.
Manager:
Ivan Jovanovic - The Serbian, who joined APOEL in 2009 was the mastermind behind APOEL's run. He managed the team until 2013 where he then joined Al-Nasr in the UAE, helping them win the GCC Champions League over Oman's Saham. He was sacked from the technical command of the team after failing to adjust to the repeated technical errors, however was reinstated as Al-Nasr manager in January 2018, a position he currently still holds.