No fear of heights

Located in the Bajo Deva area of Gipuzkoa, Eibar (with just 30,000 inhabitants) used to be known in Spain for its imposing armament factories. Their industrial activity, mainly metalwork, was what put them on the map, until the 2013/14 season, when the town’s team, SD Eibar, had their best ever season to win the Liga Adelante and promotion to the Spanish topflight. 

A visit to the charming Municipal de Ipurúa stadium (capacity of 5,200 compared to 98,000 in the Camp Nou and 81,000 in the Santiago Bernabéu) is all that is needed to understand the size of the achievement of the Armeros with Gaizka Garitano at the helm. The Basque manager, who was at the club during his playing days, took the team up to the Liga Adelante and last season produced a miracle by leading them to the Liga BBVA with one of the lowest budgets in the division. 

Gaika Garitano produced a miracle by leading the team to the Liga BBVA with one of the lowest budgets in the division

Making Ipurúa into a fortress  They could not have made a better start to the first division of Spanish football. At home and in the local derby against Real Sociedad, Eibar scored their first goal and recorded their first victory in the Liga BBVA. However, it is their only win so far in a ground that has always been a talisman for the Basque outfit, and their coach is well aware that their chances of survival lie in making the Ipurúa into an impregnable fortress. “If we don’t have a packed Ipurúa, it will be a bumpy road”, claimed the manager from Derio in the first weeks of the competition.

Team first, names second Eibar have rarely been able to boast any stars among their ranks. Their DNA holds a mixture of tenacity, teamwork and the ability to get the most out of their resources as a team. Nobody is indispensable, but everyone is important. Goalkeeper Xabi Irureta and centre-backs Raúl Albentosa and Raúl Navas demonstrated their solidity last season and they are doing so again in the 2014/15 campaign. Jon Errasti, the team’s only player from Eibar, is the flag-bearer in the centre of the park and nobody can deny the important roles that men like Mikel Arruabarrena, Saúl Berjón and Javi Lara will play throughout the year. 

Their DNA holds a mixture of tenacity and teamwork. Nobody is indispensable, but everyone is important 

David and GoliathBut the tough challenge of keeping their place in the Liga BBVA brings with it significant rewards, such as, for example, the chance to play against the most decorated sides in Spanish football. Eibar have already paid a visit to the defending champions, Atlético Madrid, and although they lost, they certainly impressed the Vicente Calderón. They managed to get a draw in the San Mamés against none other than Athletic Club and this weekend they take on FC Barcelona in the Camp Nou, where they will hope to give Luis Enrique’s men a fright. “We are very keen and excited about going there. It is a match that everyone wants to play”, said the Asturian Saúl, who played under the orders of the Barça manager with the Azulgrana reserves.

A proud Eibar currently occupy ninth place in the Liga BBVA and their first steps in the Liga BBVA have made it clear that they are not afraid of heights. Garitano guarantees a competitive team and the squad is brimming with enthusiasm and desire. Nobody can take for granted getting points from Eibar as before doing so they will have to penetrate a thick layer of armour.