Jason Puncheon has been hired by the Cypriot side (Picture: Getty)

Former Premier League cult hero Jason Puncheon has been named manager of a Cypriot second-division team based in the popular party town of Ayia Napa.

Puncheon spent nine seasons in the Premier League, with his most memorable stint coming at Crystal Palace.

The Englishman scored 16 goals in 169 games for Palace, including the opener in their 2016 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

He also enjoyed stints at Milton Keynes Dons, Southampton, and Huddersfield Town before choosing to pack his bags and wind down his playing days in Cyrus with top-flight clubs Pafos and Anorthosis.

Now 38, Puncheon has already moved into coaching after retiring in 2023 but has enjoyed little success so far in his two stints in the Cyriot second division.
The former midfielder spent seven months at Peyia 2014 before moving to AEZ Zakakiou where he was in charge for less than a month before being sacked having failed to win any of his first seven games.

Puncheon, though, has been given another shot in the dugout by a third Cypriot team after he was appointed manager of Ayia Napa FC on Tuesday.

Puncheon spent six seasons at Crystal Palace (Picture: Getty)

A statement on the club’s social media said: ‘Agia Napa Athletic Club announces the start of its partnership with coach Jason Puncheon.

‘Jason has previously been the coach of the PEGEIA team and also of Sa Zakakiou. The agreement with him is until M...