Cretan derby

Socially, Ergotelis and OFI have historically represented different demographics within Heraklion. Ergotelis primarily represented the upper middle class, while OFI attracted supporters from working-class areas. The two clubs were established nearly simultaneously in the 1920s, with OFI being founded in 1925 and Ergotelis following in 1929. Over the years, the rivalry has intensified, particularly in the 1960s, when matches between the two were considered major social events in Heraklion.

The tension between the two clubs was further fueled during the Greek military junta. Following the 1966–67 season of the Greek Second National Division (Beta Ethniki), Ergotelis was relegated to amateur status due to a new law that limited the number of professional football clubs per city. Five of Ergotelis' key players were transferred to OFI, and Ergotelis fans have long attributed this incident to political interference by the junta, which they claim favored OFI. The rivalry remains deeply rooted in Heraklion's football culture today.

While OFI has been historically more successful, achieving promotion to the Super League in 1968 and remaining there for most of the next three decades, Ergotelis lingered in the lower divisions until their resurgence in the early 2000s. Ergotelis earned their first promotion to the Super League in 2004, marking a new chapter in the rivalry.

Ergotelis’s withdrawal from the national leagues in 2022 marked a significant shift in the rivalry. The two teams, once fierce competitors in both local and national competitions, no longer compete at the same level. The last official derby match occurred in 2019 during the Greek Football Cup, and with Ergotelis now focused on rebuilding through youth development in the local leagues, it is unlikely the two sides will face each other again in the near future.

This shift has made the Cretan derby more of a symbolic rivalry than a competitive one, as OFI continues to perform in the top tier of Greek football while Ergotelis rebuilds in the amateur leagues. The rivalry, however, remains a key part of Cretan football history.

The Cretan Derby between OFI Crete and Ergotelis is steeped in history, with matches dating back to the late 1920s when the clubs were first established. The very first recorded match, a friendly on 18 August 1929, saw Ergotelis leading 1–0 against OFI, but the game was interrupted in the 35th minute due to a brawl between players from both teams.{{cite news|title=Εφημερίδα 'ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΑ ΣΚΕΨΙΣ' |location=Ηράκλειο |date=20 August 1929|issue=311}}

Below is a detailed breakdown of their head-to-head encounters from 2004 onwards, reflecting the modern era of their rivalry:

...

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718055346/http://betaethnikihellas.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html Εκεί, εκεί στη Β' Εθνική! Beta Ethniki archives blog]

{{Ergotelis F.C.}}

{{OFI Crete}}

{{Greek football derbies}}

Category:Football derbies in Greece

Category:Sport in Heraklion

*