Tiny Eibar is about to play in Spain's top league for the first time in its history. It will be the smallest team ever to compete in La Liga, with a town of just 27,000 people and a stadium that holds just under 6,000. It begins with a home derby against Basque neighbors Real Sociedad on Sunday,
Raising the Eibar —
Tiny Eibar is about to play in Spain's top league for the first time in its history. It will be the smallest team ever to compete in La Liga, with a town of just 27,000 people and a stadium that holds just under 6,000. It begins with a home derby against Basque neighbors Real Sociedad on Sunday,
RAFA RIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Eibar is only in the top tier thanks to a share issue that helped raise €1.7 million ($2.3 million) after it won the second division title. 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.
Fair shares —
Eibar is only in the top tier thanks to a share issue that helped raise €1.7 million ($2.3 million) after it won the second division title. 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.
RAFA RIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Former Eibar player Xabi Alonso was among those enlisted to help back the club's bid to raise the funds it needed.
Illustrious alumni —
Former Eibar player Xabi Alonso was among those enlisted to help back the club's bid to raise the funds it needed.
Unai Eraso
With the help of World Cup winner Alonso and Real Madrid teammate Asier Illarramendi (R) the "Defend Eibar" campaign -- led by club president Alex Aranzabal (center) -- met its target three weeks before the deadline thanks to pledges from as far afield as Australia, China, Argentina, Ireland and England.
A global game —
With the help of World Cup winner Alonso and Real Madrid teammate Asier Illarramendi (R) the "Defend Eibar" campaign -- led by club president Alex Aranzabal (center) -- met its target three weeks before the deadline thanks to pledges from as far afield as Australia, China, Argentina, Ireland and England.
Unai Eraso
"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."
A spirit of togetherness —
"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."
RAFA RIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Gaizka Garitano, a former player at the Basque club, is the man who has masterminded back-to-back promotions for Eibar. Now he is set to lead the club on it's biggest ever journey.
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. Now he is set to lead the club on it's biggest ever journey.
Félix Morquecho/El Diario Vasco
Eibar's Ipurua stadium holds just 5,900 spectators but there are plans to raise the capacity to 6,700. It has an atmosphere that can prove intimidating to visiting teams, something the club hopes Real Madrid and Barcelona will find out this season.
Ipurua —
Eibar's Ipurua stadium holds just 5,900 spectators but there are plans to raise the capacity to 6,700. It has an atmosphere that can prove intimidating to visiting teams, something the club hopes Real Madrid and Barcelona will find out this season.
RAFA RIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
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."
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
Before the season started Aranzabal said: "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."
Maintaining identity —
Before the season started Aranzabal said: "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."
RAFA RIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES