Who are Man United's next Europa League opponents Omonia Nicosia?
Omonia Nicosia are Man United’s first-ever Cypriot opponents, are coached by a familiar face in Neil Lennon and have an ex-Man City player in their ranks… but he actually supports the Reds! All you need to know ahead of tonight’s Europa League clash
- Manchester United are in Cyprus to play Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League
- It is the first time United have faced Cypriot opposition in European competition
- They have previously played at the GSP Stadium – against Maccabi Haifa in 2002
- Omonia, the reigning cup holders in Cyprus, are coached by Neil Lennon
- They have ex-Man City academy player- and United fan – Brandon Barker
The UEFA Europa League continues to throw up all kinds of mystique and wonder for Manchester United.
Having played their first-ever match in Moldova last month, the Reds are now set to take on Cypriot opposition for the first time in their long and illustrious European history.
But the GSP Stadium has hosted United previously – what might be described as an experimental line-up lost 3-0 there to Israeli team Maccabi Haifa, forced to play on neutral ground, in the 2002-03 first group phase.
Omonia Nicosia’s Bruno celebrates his goal against Real Sociedad on the second matchday
The Cypriots are coached by Neil Lennon, formerly of Leicester, Bolton and Celtic
And in the opposition dug-out against AC Omonia Nicosia on Thursday night will be a familiar face.
Neil Lennon had many a fiery midfield battle with United when he was a Leicester City player and also played for Celtic against them in the 2006-07 Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo was in the United team beaten 1-0 at Parkhead.
Indeed, such was Lennon’s character, he even had a bust-up with David Beckham during Ryan Giggs’s testimonial match in 2001, with Roy Keane the unlikely peacemaker.
Lennon was also in charge of Celtic when they encountered Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side in Toronto during pre-season in 2010, losing 3-1.
But this is his first competitive meeting with United as a coach.
Cristiano Ronaldo pictured at Manchester Airport as United head off to Cyprus for the game
Erik ten Hag will be hoping back-to-back wins over Omonia push United towards qualification
Indeed, the Northern Irishman will become only the second British manager to take charge of an overseas club against United after Bruce Rioch for Aalborg in the 2008-09 Champions League.
The 51-year-old had been out of work just over a year after resigning from the Celtic job in February 2021 when he took over at Omonia in March this year.
Funnily enough, he replaced the former United defender Henning Berg, who has subsequently gone to Cypriot First Division rival Pafos.
With not much time to improve fortunes, Omonia finished seventh in the league but they did win the Cypriot Cup for the first time in a decade, beating Ethnikos Achna on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Lennon gets stuck into Eric Cantona during a Leicester vs Man United game from 1996-97
Lennon argues with David Beckham – with Roy Keane trying to break them up – during a testimonial for Ryan Giggs between United and Celtic in 2001
The uncompromising Lennon slides in on United’s Paul Scholes in the Champions League
As Celtic coach, Lennon came up against Sir Alex Ferguson during pre-season in 2010
Omonia factfile
Founded: 1948
Manager: Neil Lennon
Stadium: GSP Stadium, Nicosia
Capacity: 22,859
Last season: 7th; Cypriot Cup winners
Colours: Green and white hoops
Honours: 21 Cypriot Championships, 15 Cypriot Cups and 17 Super Cups
That was even more impressive given that their Nigerian right-back Abdullahi Shehu was sent off after just five minutes, with Lennon himself sent to the stands for dissent at the end of extra time.
Omonia’s 15th Cypriot Cup triumph – only rivals APOEL have won more (21), likewise with league championships (28 to 21) – earned them a play-off spot in the Europa League.
They destroyed Belgian club Gent 4-0 on aggregate to make the group stage for the second time in their history.
Lennon proclaimed he wanted a ‘sexy draw’ and he certainly got it, with tournament favourites United, Spanish club Real Sociedad and Moldovans Sheriff Tiraspol paired with them.
It’s proved tough going so far with Sheriff 3-0 winners at the GSP Stadium on matchday one.
There was brief hope Omonia might take a point away to Sociedad when their Brazilian winger Bruno Felipe equalised but they ultimately went down 2-1.
It leaves them needing to take points off United either on Thursday or at Old Trafford next week to stand any chance of progressing.
The third-placed side does drop into the Europa Conference League, which could offer some European football after Christmas.
Lennon will have to keep his cool if things go wrong. Only at the weekend, he launched into a tirade at the standard of refereeing in Cyprus after his side won 2-0 against Doxa, leaving them fourth but only three points off the top.
Omonia defeated Belgian club Gent 4-0 on aggregate to reach the Europa League group
United’s 2002 Cyprus horror show
United had already booked their place in the second group stage of the 2002-03 Champions League when they travelled to Cyprus to take on Israel side Maccabi Haifa.
The match couldn’t be played in Israel after UEFA intervened on security grounds but the loss of home advantage didn’t affect Maccabi in the slightest as they won 3-0.
A frustrated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rues a missed chance as Diego Forlan looks on
Sir Alex Ferguson put out an experimental team which saw John O’Shea at centre-half and 18-year-old Kieran Richardson in attack. Their bench was packed with youngsters as Fergie left his star names at home.
Goals by Yaniv Katan, Raimondas Zutautas and Yakubu (not long before he joined Portsmouth) earned Maccabi a comfortable 3-0 win.
‘For two wonderful hours, everyone in Israel can forget all the problems we have,’ said their coach Itzhak Shum.
Maccabi’s Yaniv Katan celebrates after scoring their opening goal back in 2002
‘Maybe United thought it was going to be easy but we have faith in our own ability.’
Man United team: Ricardo; G Neville, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre; P. Neville, Scholes, Fortune; Forlan, Richardson; Solskjaer
Subs: Carroll; May, Pugh, Roche, Lynch, Nardiello, Timm
‘I don’t understand the officiating in this country. Why does it take them so long to make a decision on a penalty? It drives people – players, supporters, coaches – crazy,’ he fumed.
Among a multi-cultural squad at Omonia – which means ‘unity’ or ‘concord’ in Greek – are two Englishmen and a Welshman.
Winger Brandon Barker, 26, supports United but came through the youth ranks at Man City.
He was poised for a first-team breakthrough under Manuel Pellegrini and made his debut against Chelsea in the FA Cup in 2016.
Brandon Barker was a bright prospect in Man City’s academy and is now with Omonia
Lennon and Gary Hooper worked together at Celtic with the striker now at Omonia
But Pep Guardiola’s arrival saw Barker sent on a succession of loans before he left for Rangers in 2019. He came to Omonia in the summer having worked under Lennon during a loan at Hibernian.
Lennon also knows striker Gary Hooper, 34, well from their time together at Celtic between 2010 and 2013, though he has only played 15 minutes for the club so far.
The Welshman is Adam Matthews, a 30-year-old right-back who also played for Lennon at Celtic.
No doubt Omonia’s green colours and the shamrock on the club crest appealed to their manager, who can approach this double-header with United knowing his team have absolutely nothing to lose.
Man United’s European odyssey
Manchester United’s matches on the continent by country. Competitive matches only
Austria – Rapid Vienna 68/69, 96/97, Sturm Graz 99/00, 00/01, LASK Linz 19/20
Belgium – Anderlecht 56/57, 68/69, 00/01, 16/17, Club Bruges 15/16, 19/20
Bulgaria – Spartak Varna 83/84
Croatia – Croatia Zagreb 99/00
Cyprus – Maccabi Haifa in Nicosia 02/03, Omonia Nicosia 22/23
Czech Republic – Dukla Prague 57/58, 83/84, Sparta Prague 04/05
Denmark – Brondby 98/99, Copenhagen 06/07, Aalborg 08/09, Midtjylland 15/16
England – Home matches plus Tottenham Hotspur 63/64, Everton 64/65, Benfica at Wembley 67/68, Arsenal 08/09, Chelsea 10/11, Barcelona at Wembley 10/11, Liverpool 15/16
France – Strasbourg 64/65, Saint-Etienne 77/78, 16/17, Montpellier 90/91, Monaco 97/98, Lazio in Monaco 99/00, Marseille 99/00, 10/11, Bordeaux 99/00, Lille 01/02, 05/06, 06/07, Nantes 01/02, Lyon 04/05, 07/08, Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco 08/09, Paris Saint-Germain 18/19, 20/21
Finland – HJK Helsinki 65/66
Germany – Borussia Dortmund 56/57, 64/65, 96/97, Bayern Munich 98/99, 00/01, 01/02, 09/10, 13/14, Bayer Leverkusen 01/02, 02/03, 13/14, Stuttgart 03/04, Wolfsburg 09/10, 15/16, Schalke 10/11, Copenhagen and Sevilla in Cologne 19/20, RB Leipzig 20/21
Greece – Athinaikos 91/92, Panathinaikos 00/01, 03/04, Olympiacos 01/02, 02/03, 13/14
Hungary – Ferencvaros 64/65, Raba ETO Gyor 84/85, Videoton 84/85, Pecsi Munkas 90/91, Kispest Honved 93/94, Zalaegerszeg 02/03, Debrecen 05/06
Italy – AC Milan 57/58, 68/69, 04/05, 06/07, 09/10, 20/21, Juventus 76/77, 83/84, 96/97, 97/98, 98/99, 02/03, 18/19, Inter Milan 98/99, 08/09, Fiorentina 99/00, Roma 06/07, 07/08, 20/21, Barcelona in Rome 08/09, Real Sociedad in Turin 20/21, Atalanta 21/22
Kazakhstan – Astana 19/20
Malta – Hibernians 67/68
Moldova – Sheriff Tiraspol 22/23
Netherlands – Willem II 63/64, Ajax 76/77, 11/12, PSV Eindhoven 84/85, 00/01, 15/16, Barcelona in Rotterdam 90/91, Feyenoord 97/98, 16/17, AZ Alkmaar 19/20
North Macedonia – Real Madrid in Skopje 17/18
Poland – Gornik Zabrze 67/68, Widzew Lodz 80/81, Legia Warsaw 90/91, LKS Lodz 98/99, Villarreal in Gdansk 20/21
Portugal – Sporting Lisbon 63/64, 07/08, Benfica 65/66, 05/06, 06/07, 11/12, 17/18, Porto 77/78, 96/97, 03/04, 08/09, Boavista 01/02, Braga 12/13
Republic of Ireland – Shamrock Rovers 57/58, Waterford 68/69
Romania – Dinamo Bucharest 04/05, Otelul Galati 11/12, CFR Cluj 12/13
Russia – Torpedo Moscow 92/93, Rotor Volgograd 95/96, Chelsea in Moscow 07/08, CSKA Moscow 09/10, 15/16, 17/18, Rostov 16/17
Scotland – Dundee United 84/85, Rangers 03/04, 10/11, Celtic 06/07, 08/09
Serbia – Partizan Belgrade 19/20
Slovakia – Kosice 97/98
Spain – Athletic Bilbao 56/57, 11/12, Real Madrid 56/57, 67/68, 99/00, 02/03, 12/13, Valencia 82/83, 99/00, 00/01, 10/11, 18/19, Barcelona 83/84, 94/95, 98/99, 07/08, 18/19, Atletico Madrid 91/92, 21/22, Bayern Munich in Barcelona 98/99, Deportivo La Coruna 01/02, 02/03, Villarreal 05/06, 08/09, 21/22, Real Sociedad 13/14, Celta Vigo 16/17, Sevilla 17/18, Granada 20/21
Sweden – Djurgarden 64/65, IFK Gothenburg 94/95, Ajax in Stockholm 16/17
Switzerland – Basel 02/03, 11/12, 17/18, Young Boys 18/19, 21/22
Turkey – Galatasaray 93/94, 94/95, 12/13, Fenerbahce 96/97, 04/05, 16/17, Besiktas 09/10, Bursaspor 10/11, Istanbul Basaksehir 20/21
Ukraine – Dynamo Kyiv 00/01, 07/08, Shakhtar Donetsk 13/14, Zorya Luhansk 16/17
Wales – Wrexham 90/91
Countries that no longer exist
East Germany – Vorwarts Berlin 65/66
Yugoslavia – Red Star Belgrade 57/58, Partizan Belgrade 65/66, Sarajevo 67/68
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