Tiny Eibar has hit the big time, earning promotion to La Liga for the first time in the club's history. It will be the smallest team to compete in Spain's top flight, with a town of just 27,000 people and a stadium that holds just 5,000 spectators. But there could be a sting in the tail.
Raising the Eibar —
Tiny Eibar has hit the big time, earning promotion to La Liga for the first time in the club's history. It will be the smallest team to compete in Spain's top flight, with a town of just 27,000 people and a stadium that holds just 5,000 spectators. But there could be a sting in the tail.
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The financial rules that govern the top two leagues in the country decree every team must have a capital equal to 25% of the average expenses of all sides in the second division, excluding the two clubs with the biggest outgoings and the two with the smallest. This has raised the financial bar well above Eibar's means.
Champions elect? —
The financial rules that govern the top two leagues in the country decree every team must have a capital equal to 25% of the average expenses of all sides in the second division, excluding the two clubs with the biggest outgoings and the two with the smallest. This has raised the financial bar well above Eibar's means.
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Former Eibar player Xabi Alonso is among those backing the club's bid for promotion.
Xabi chic —
Former Eibar player Xabi Alonso is among those backing the club's bid for promotion.
Unai Eraso
With the help of World Cup winner Alonso and Real Madrid teammate Asier Illarramendi, the "Defend Eibar" campaign has already gone past the €1.2 million mark thanks to pledges from football fans as far afield as Australia, China, Argentina, Ireland and England.
Defend Eibar —
With the help of World Cup winner Alonso and Real Madrid teammate Asier Illarramendi, the "Defend Eibar" campaign has already gone past the €1.2 million mark thanks to pledges from football fans as far afield as Australia, China, Argentina, Ireland and England.
Unai Eraso
Gaizka Garitano, a former player at the Basque club, is the man who has masterminded back-to-back promotions for Eibar. With second-placed Deportivo La Coruna losing in the final round, Eibar clinched the second division title to secure the first trophy in the club's 74-year history.
The gift of Garitano —
Gaizka Garitano, a former player at the Basque club, is the man who has masterminded back-to-back promotions for Eibar. With second-placed Deportivo La Coruna losing in the final round, Eibar clinched the second division title to secure the first trophy in the club's 74-year history.
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"The secret to their success has been humility, hard work and above everything the spirit of the team," lifelong Eibar fan Unai Eraso told CNN. "No-one is above any other. This is indicative of Eibar's culture. The older players teach the younger players how to behave, how to work, how to be a team player."
One for all —
"The secret to their success has been humility, hard work and above everything the spirit of the team," lifelong Eibar fan Unai Eraso told CNN. "No-one is above any other. This is indicative of Eibar's culture. The older players teach the younger players how to behave, how to work, how to be a team player."
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Eibar's Ipurua stadium holds just 5,200 spectators but has an atmosphere that can prove intimidating to visiting teams, something the club hopes Real Madrid and Barcelona will find out next season.
Ipurua —
Eibar's Ipurua stadium holds just 5,200 spectators but has an atmosphere that can prove intimidating to visiting teams, something the club hopes Real Madrid and Barcelona will find out next season.
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Aranzabal says Eibar's success has been a fillip for the entire town. "Eibar has always been a major industrial force but, since 1980 because of the Spanish recession, it has been through difficult times. We have lost inhabitants, we lost industry and now with this achievement will be a major economic and social boost."
'Confidence boost' —
Aranzabal says Eibar's success has been a fillip for the entire town. "Eibar has always been a major industrial force but, since 1980 because of the Spanish recession, it has been through difficult times. We have lost inhabitants, we lost industry and now with this achievement will be a major economic and social boost."
Félix Morquecho/El Diario Vasco
Local journalist Mikel Madinabeitia told CNN: "It's a typical rags to riches story. I wrote in my newspaper Eibar has been the D'Artagnan of the second division, with that famous catchphrase 'All for one and one for all.' There are no celebrities in this team, no millionaires."<br />
All for one and one for all —
Local journalist Mikel Madinabeitia told CNN: "It's a typical rags to riches story. I wrote in my newspaper Eibar has been the D'Artagnan of the second division, with that famous catchphrase 'All for one and one for all.' There are no celebrities in this team, no millionaires."
Félix Morquecho/El Diario Vasco
If Eibar does join the likes of Real Madrid and Barca in La Liga, it will need to invest in new players. But Aranzabal says: "We won't go crazy wasting a lot of money on getting very expensive players. We want to maintain our team philosophy and do things as we have been doing all these years. We want to stick to our guns and be true to our history."
La Liga legacy —
If Eibar does join the likes of Real Madrid and Barca in La Liga, it will need to invest in new players. But Aranzabal says: "We won't go crazy wasting a lot of money on getting very expensive players. We want to maintain our team philosophy and do things as we have been doing all these years. We want to stick to our guns and be true to our history."
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