SD Eibar

Sociedad Deportiva Eibar (in Basque: Eibar Kirol Elkartea) is a Spanish football club based in Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous Basque Country.

SD Eibar

Full name	Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)	Armagiñak / Los Armeros (The Gunsmiths) Azulgranas (blue-and-carmines)[1]
Founded	30 November 1940 (1940-11-30)
Ground	Ipurua Municipal Stadium, Eibar
Capacity	8,164[2]
President	Amaia Gorostiza[3]
Head coach	José Luis Mendilibar
League	La Liga
2019–20	La Liga, 14th of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Ipurúa stadium

SD Eibar vs Valencia CF

Founded on 30 November 1940, the team currently plays in La Liga having been promoted to the top tier of Spanish football for the first time in 2014. They also participated in 26 Segunda División seasons (a spell in the 1950s, and most of the 1990s and 2000s), spending the rest of their history competing at lower levels.

The team plays in claret and blue shirts with blue shorts (originating from the kit of FC Barcelona)[4] and holds home games at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium. SD Eibar is a fan-owned club, with about 8,000 shareholders from 48 countries.[5] Until SD Huesca qualified for the top flight in 2018, the club was considered the smallest to have played in Spain's top division,[6][7] and its stadium had the lowest capacity of any La Liga teams.[8][9] Although Eibar is the sole professional club of its town, it contests several Basque derbies with other clubs from the region.[3]

Eibar is the only football club which has the quality certificate UNE-EN-ISO 9001.[10]

History

Establishment

Formed by the merger of Deportivo Gallo and Unión Deportiva Eibarresa, the club was originally known as Eibar Fútbol Club, before changing to Sociedad Deportiva Eibar. During the difficult postwar years, the team played sporadically, which caused Eibar to disappear from official competitions during the 1942-43 season.[11] Originally an irregular team, it was not until the 1943–44 season that it was reorganised into more of a full-time unit.

Tercera División

Promoted to Tercera División in 1950, Eibar achieved promotion to Segunda División three seasons later, being relegated again after a five-year stint and competing in division three for 25 of the following 28 years (in 1977 Tercera became the fourth level, after the creation of Segunda División B). In 1988, the side returned to the "silver category".[12] That season also included a historic moment when goalkeeper José Ignacio Garmendia scored a goal in a game against Pontevedra via a kickout from his own area.[13]

Promotion to Segunda División

After spending 18 years in a row in Segunda División, Eibar was relegated to the third division at the end of the 2005–06 campaign. However, it won its group the next season, thereby qualifying for the promotion play-offs where it won its semi-final tie against Hospitalet 2–0 and defeated Rayo Vallecano 2–1 on aggregate in the decisive round, sealing its return after just one year.[14] Eibar finished 21st in the 2008–09 season meaning they were relegated to the Segunda Division B.

Relegation to Segunda B (2009–13)

Eibar qualified for three straight promotion play-offs but could not get promoted to the Segunda División.

In the 2012–13 edition of the Copa del Rey, Eibar ousted Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao – who had appeared in two of the last four finals in the tournament – on the away goals rule to reach the round-of-16 following a 1–1 draw at the San Mamés Stadium. The decisive goal was scored by Mikel Arruabarrena who played youth football with the opposition, as did manager Gaizka Garitano;[15] the same season the team managed to return to the "silver category", following a four-year absence.[16]

Segunda División and promotion to La Liga

In 2013–14 Eibar earned, for the first time in its history, one of two direct promotion berths to La Liga,[17] which was certified on 25 May 2014 with a 1–0 home win against Deportivo Alavés.[18] (they celebrated their feat with confetti originally produced by Barcelona, who wear the same colours and had anticipated winning the Spanish league title a week earlier, but that did not come to pass).[19] Simultaneously, however, the club was threatened with relegation back to division three due to the financial inability of the S.A.D. to have a share capital of at least €2,146,525.95 before 6 August 2014. The club launched a campaign named Defiende al Eibar (Defend Eibar) with the aim of reaching the required share capital through a seasoned equity offering.[20] On 15 July 2014 the club announced it had reached the established goal.[21][5]

Eibar finished its first top-flight season in 18th, ending in relegation. However, after the season ended, 13th-placed Elche were sent to the second tier as punishment for financial mismanagement, and Eibar were reinstated.[22]

On 18 July 2015, Eibar played its 75th Anniversary game against Celtic in Ipurua (1–4). This included an inaugural ceremony on the pitch with a parade of 19th-century-clothed Basque soldiers with a Saltire and bagpipes playing "Scotland the Brave", with officials from both clubs shooting a 350 kg 19th-century cannon. Eibar stated that they invited Celtic as their opponent for the game due to the strong connection between the Basque Country and Scotland, and also due to the Scottish presence in Eibar through the years (the main supporter group is named "Eskozia la Brava", meaning "Scotland the Brave").[23][24]

Under its new coach José Luis Mendilibar, Eibar finished its second top-flight season in 14th. Borja Bastón finished top ten in scoring and was named La Liga Player of the Month of October 2015, making him the first Armero to receive the award. In April 2017, Dani García became the first player to reach the milestone of 100 top division appearances for the club.[25]

The club's 10th place in 2016–17 was improved to 9th the following season, with the latter campaign marking the first time ever that Eibar had finished as the highest-ranking of the Basque teams.[3]

Affiliated clubs

Vitoria

In 2015, the club signed a collaboration agreement with CD Vitoria (Tercera División) to act as an Eibar feeder team for emerging players.[26][1] Eibar had previously disbanded their own B team in 2012 to cut costs while the senior side languished in Segunda División B but decided to seek a new formal arrangement for a subsidiary club after retaining their place in La Liga.[27] Within two years of the partnership, Vitoria gained promotion to the third tier for the first time in their history;[28] they were relegated in 2018–19[29] and their home matches back in the Tercera División were then moved to Eibar.[30]

Eibar Urko

In summer 2016, the club expanded its club structure further by integrating local team Urkomendi (of the 6th level Preferente de Guipúzcoa)[31] into the organisation as a reserve team to act as a link between the youth level and Vitoria, to be known as Eibar Urko.[32] Urkomendi (formally Urko14 Alkideba Fútbol Taldea) had been founded only two years earlier by a group including several former Eibar youth players who had been released precisely because there was no structure between the junior and senior teams to accommodate them.[33][34] The hope of the management was that both new subsidiary teams would move up to a higher level to improve the standard of competition for their players' development.[32][34]

Playing in the town's Unbe Sports Complex, Eibar Urko gained promotion to the provincial fifth level in 2018,[35][36] and seemed set to advance further to the regional fourth tier (Tercera División) as 2019 champions of Gipuzkoa; however, Vitoria's relegation from the third level at the same time blocked Urko's promotion due to rules preventing teams owned by the same club competing in the same division.[29] This also meant Urko could not be promoted at the end of the 2019–20 season either, unless Vitoria achieved the same.

Logroñés

Also in 2016, Eibar made a 3-year collaboration agreement with UD Logroñés, with Eibar players going on loan to the Segunda B club for experience with the aim of achieving promotion due the additional talent in the squad.[37] Four players made the move that summer: goalkeeper Jon Ander, defender Amelibia, midfielder Sergio García and winger Thaylor.

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1940–41 4 1ª Reg. 5th 1941–42 4 1ª Reg. 7th 1942–43 5 2ª Reg. — 1943–44 5 2ª Reg. — 1944–45 5 2ª Reg. — 1945–46 4 1ª Reg. 9th 1946–47 5 2ª Reg. 1st 1947–48 4 1ª Reg. 5th 1948–49 4 1ª Reg. 2nd 1949–50 4 1ª Reg. 1st 1950–51 3 3ª 1st 1951–52 3 3ª 2nd 1952–53 3 3ª 1st 1953–54 2 2ª 7th 1954–55 2 2ª 8th 1955–56 2 2ª 14th 1956–57 2 2ª 10th 1957–58 2 2ª 17th 1958–59 3 3ª 2nd 1959–60 3 3ª 7th

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1960–61 3 3ª 3rd 1961–62 3 3ª 1st 1962–63 3 3ª 1st 1963–64 3 3ª 2nd 1964–65 3 3ª 2nd 1965–66 3 3ª 2nd 1966–67 3 3ª 1st 1967–68 3 3ª 2nd 1968–69 3 3ª 6th 1969–70 3 3ª 2nd 1970–71 3 3ª 7th First round 1971–72 3 3ª 4th Third round 1972–73 3 3ª 12th Second round 1973–74 3 3ª 2nd First round 1974–75 3 3ª 16th Third round 1975–76 3 3ª 19th First round 1976–77 4 Reg.Pref. 5th 1977–78 5 Reg.Pref. 3rd 1978–79 5 Reg.Pref. 1st 1979–80 4 3ª 4th First round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1980–81 4 3ª 3rd Second round 1981–82 4 3ª 1st Second round 1982–83 4 3ª 2nd Third round 1983–84 4 3ª 2nd Third round 1984–85 4 3ª 2nd Second round 1985–86 4 3ª 1st Third round 1986–87 3 2ªB 7th Round of 16 1987–88 3 2ªB 1st Third round 1988–89 2 2ª 16th Second round 1989–90 2 2ª 16th First round 1990–91 2 2ª 10th Third round 1991–92 2 2ª 12th Fourth round 1992–93 2 2ª 16th Third round 1993–94 2 2ª 10th Fifth round 1994–95 2 2ª 5th Third round 1995–96 2 2ª 12th Second round 1996–97 2 2ª 5th Second round 1997–98 2 2ª 10th Second round 1998–99 2 2ª 18th First round 1999–2000 2 2ª 11th Second round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2000–01 2 2ª 15th Round of 64 2001–02 2 2ª 8th Round of 64 2002–03 2 2ª 17th Round of 32 2003–04 2 2ª 10th Round of 16 2004–05 2 2ª 4th Round of 64 2005–06 2 2ª 22nd Fourth round 2006–07 3 2ªB 1st Third round 2007–08 2 2ª 13th Third round 2008–09 2 2ª 21st Second round 2009–10 3 2ªB 2nd First round 2010–11 3 2ªB 1st First round 2011–12 3 2ªB 3rd Third round 2012–13 3 2ªB 2nd Round of 16 2013–14 2 2ª 1st Third round 2014–15 1 1ª 18th* Round of 32 2015–16 1 1ª 14th Round of 16 2016–17 1 1ª 10th Quarterfinals 2017–18 1 1ª 9th Round of 32 2018–19 1 1ª 12th Round of 32 2019–20 1 1ª 14th Round of 32

*Avoided relegation to the second tier after the 2014-15 season due to Elche's administrative relegation because of tax problems.[22]

---

• 6 seasons in La Liga
• 26 seasons in Segunda División
• 7 seasons in Segunda División B
• 28 seasons in Tercera División
• 13 seasons in Categorías Regionales

Honours / Achievements

• Segunda División

2013–14[lower-alpha 1]

• Segunda División B[lower-alpha 2]

1987–88,[lower-alpha 1] 2006–07,[lower-alpha 3] 2010–11,[lower-alpha 4]

• Tercera División[lower-alpha 2]

1950–51,[lower-alpha 5] 1952–53,[lower-alpha 1] 1961–62,[lower-alpha 6] 1962–63,[lower-alpha 7] 1966–67[lower-alpha 8]

• Tercera División[lower-alpha 9]

1981–82, [lower-alpha 10] 1985–86[lower-alpha 11]

Notes

1. Promoted directly
2. Third tier
3. Promoted in play-offs
4. Not promoted in play-offs
5. Not promoted in play-offs
6. Not promoted in play-offs
7. Not promoted in play-offs
8. Not promoted in play-offs
9. Fourth tier
10. Not promoted in play-offs
11. Promoted in play-offs

Current squad

As of 1 August 2020[38]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  SRB Marko Dmitrović 2 DF  ARG Esteban Burgos 3 DF  ESP Pedro Bigas 6 MF  ESP Sergio Álvarez 7 FW  ESP Quique González 8 MF  SEN Pape Diop 9 FW  ESP Sergi Enrich 10 MF  ESP Edu Expósito 11 DF  POR Rafa Soares (on loan from Vitória de Guimarães) 12 DF  POR Paulo Oliveira 13 GK  ESP Yoel

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 DF  ESP José Ángel 17 FW  ESP Kike 20 DF  ESP Rober Correa 21 MF  ESP Pedro León 22 MF  JPN Takashi Inui 23 DF  ESP Anaitz Arbilla 24 DF  ESP Álvaro Tejero — DF  ESP José Antonio Martínez — MF  ESP Roberto Olabe — FW  ESP Asier Benito

Reserve team

Main article: CD Vitoria

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 DF  ESP Miguel Marí 29 MF  ESP Ekhi Bravo

No. Pos. Nation Player 31 GK  ESP Sergio Cubero 33 MF  ESP Miguel Atienza

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ESP Jordi Calavera (at Girona until 30 June 2020)

Stadium

Eibar's home stadium is Estadio Municipal de Ipurua, which seats 8,164 spectators.

Famous players

Note: this list includes players that have appeared in at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

Gonzalo Escalante Frederic Peiremans Fabián Orellana Avimiled Rivas Derek Boateng Simone Verdi Takashi Inui Natxo Insa Damián Ísmodes Paulo Oliveira Igor Lediakhov

Pape Diop Marko Dmitrović Dejan Lekić Ander Alaña Xabi Alonso Sergio Álvarez Jon Altuna Txema Añibarro Mikel Arruabarrena Eneko Bóveda Ander Capa

Lluis Codina Roberto Echevarria Sergi Enrich Ciriaco Errasti Ramón Gabilondo José Eulogio Gárate Dani García Gaizka Garitano José Garmendia Agustín Guisasola Xabi Irureta

Javi Lara Roberto Lombraña David Silva Mikel Oyarzabal Aitor López Rekarte Jon Urzelai Federico Magallanes

Club officials

Current technical staff

José Luis Mendilibar is the current head coach of Eibar.

Position	Staff
Head coach	José Luis Mendilibar
Assistant manager	Iñaki Bea Jauregi
Goalkeeping coach	Josu Anuzita
Fitness coach	Toni Ruiz
Technical assistant	Andoni Azkargorta
Analyst	Unai Ezkurra
Chief of medical services	Alberto Fernández
Doctors	Txema Peñalba Xabi Valencia
Physiotherapists	Brais Jul Xabi Moreno Unai Ormazabal Manu Sánchez
Physical readapters	Mikel Calvo Alain Gandiaga
Nutritionist	Aurora Cid
Psychologist	Igor Jauregi
Kit men	Ibai Díez Zapico
Field delegate	Germán Andueza
Administrative delegate	Iosu Echevarria

Last updated: 9 April 2019
Source: SD Eibar

Board of directors

Office	Name
President	Amaia Gorostiza[3]
Vice president	Joseba Unamuno
Secretary	Jon Ander Ulazia
Directors	Virginia Arakistain
	Leire Barriuso
	J. A. Fernández
	Javier Gurrutxaga
	Agustín Lahidalga
	Antón Martinena
	Alex Martínez
	Javier Sarrionandia

Last updated: 9 April 2019
Source: SD Eibar

Coaches

Antonio Corral Artayer (1953–58) Luis Ciaurriz Ustarroz (1971–73) Juan Arriarán Aramburu (1974–75) Jesús María Sagasti Zorroza (1982–83) Alfonso Barasoain (1988–90) Mikel Etxarri Sasiain (1990–92) José Mendiluce Loyola (1992) José Gallastegui Otaduy (1992–93) José María Araquistain (1993–95) Miguel Ángel Alonso (1995–98) Enrique Ormaetxea Axpe (1998) José Gallastegui Otaduy (1998) Alfonso Barasoain (1998–99) Blas Ziarreta (1999–03) José María Amorrortu (2003–04) José Luis Ribera (2004) José Luis Mendilibar (2004–05) Carlos Terrazas (2005) Roberto Olabe (2006) Manix Mandiola (2006–08) Carlos Pouso (2008–09)

Josu Uribe (2009) Ángel Viadero (2009–10) Manix Mandiola (2010–12) Gaizka Garitano (2012–15) José Luis Mendilibar (2015–)

Presidents

1940–46	Juan Artamendi
1946–48	Bernardino Odriozola
1948–49	Crispin Garate
1949–57	Manolo Escodin
1957–58	Boni Guisasola
1958–59	Tomas Echaluce
1959–61	Manolo Zubia
1961–62	Pedro Irusta
1962–65	Luis María Fernández de Betoño
1965–67	Luis María Aranegui
1967–68	Roberto Cadenas
1968–74	José González Ortiz de Zárate
1974–77	Eusebio Oyarzun
1977–84	Paco Marquiegui
1984–88	Javier Arrieta
1988–2002	Juan Luis Mardaras
2002–09	Jaime Barriuso
2009–16	Alex Aranzábal
2016–	Amaia Gorostiza[3]

See also

• CD Vitoria, reserve team.

References

1. "El CD Vitoria será el filial del Eibar" [CD Vitoria will be the subsidiary of Eibar] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
2. "El Eibar inicia la próxima semana la reubicación de los abonados para la próxima temporada" (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 21 May 2019.
3. Matt Davis (29 November 2018). "Eibar: The female president & football philosophy behind Real Madrid conquerors". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
4. "La conexión histórica entre el Barça y el Eibar" [The historical connection between Barça and Eibar]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 17 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
5. Raphael Minder (23 July 2014). "A Tiny Club's Uneasy Rise". New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
6. https://qz.com/283391/meet-the-smallest-team-ever-to-play-in-elite-european-soccer/
7. "Eibar: La Liga's smallest club still punching above their weight". Sky Sports. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
8. "Eibar make la Liga's smallest stadium their fortress". The Indian Express. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
9. Euan McTear, Eibar the Brave: The Extraordinary Rise of La Liga's Smallest Team.
10. El sistema de calidad de la S.D. Eibar va a ser auditado este fin de semana (S.D. Eibar's quality system will be audited this weekend); Diario Vasco, 22 May 2008 (in Spanish)
11. "La historia del Club: La fundación del club: los inicios en Regional y Tercera División" [Club History: Club foundation: initial years in Regional divisions and Tercera]. SD Eibar - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-11-20.
12. "La historia del Club: El retorno a Segunda División B y el ascenso a la A" [Club History: The return to Segunda B and promotion to A]. SD Eibar - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-11-20.
13. Su gol directo al Pontevedra aún lo recuerdan en Ipurua (His direct goal to Pontevedra is still remembered in Ipurua); El Diario Vasco, 5 April 2007 (in Spanish)
14. El Eibar regresa a Segunda tras remontar ante el Rayo Vallecano (Eibar returns to Segunda after coming back from behind against Rayo Vallecano); Diario AS, 24 June 2007 (in Spanish)
15. El pequeño se come al grande (Little fish eat big fish); Marca, 12 December 2012 (in Spanish)
16. El Eibar vuelve a Segunda cuatro años después (Eibar returns to Segunda four years later); Marca, 30 June 2013 (in Spanish)
17. El Eibar o la ternura del fútbol (Eibar or the tenderness of football); El País, 25 May 2014 (in Spanish)
18. Un golazo de Jota Peleteiro lleva al Eibar a Primera división (Jota Peleteiro wonder goal takes Eibar to first division); Marca, 25 May 2014 (in Spanish)
19. "El Eibar celebrará el ascenso con el confeti que el Barcelona no pudo utilizar ante el Atlético" [Eibar will celebrate the promotion with the confetti that Barcelona could not use against Atlético]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
20. Aprobación de la Ampliación de Capital (Eibar's capital expansion is approved) sdeibar.com 8 April 2014 Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
21. La S.D. Eibar consigue con éxito la cantidad mínima para la Ampliación de Capital (SD Eibar successfully obtains the minimum amount required for the increase in share capital) Archived 2014-07-18 at the Wayback Machine sdeibar.com 15 July 2014
22. "Elche relegated from La Liga over unpaid taxes, Eibar promoted". Sky Sports. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
23. "Ezkozia La Brava". Scotsman.com. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
24. "Ezkozia La Brava". HeraldScotland.com. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
25. "100 partidos de Dani García con el Eibar en Primera División" [100 games of Dani García with Eibar in First Division] (in Spanish). La Liga en Números. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
26. "El CD Vitoria será filial de la SD Eibar" [CD Vitoria will be the affiliate of SD Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
27. "El Eibar podría tener un filial en Tercera a partir de la próxima temporada" [Eibar could have a subsidiary in Tercera from next season] (in Spanish). Diario Vasco. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
28. "El CD Vitoria jugará en Olaranbe los partidos de Segunda B" [CD Vitoria will play its Segunda B matches at Olaranbe]. Gasteiz Hoy (in Spanish). 21 July 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
29. "Fran Garagarza califica de "sobresaliente" la temporada del primer equipo" [Fran Garagarza describes the first team's season as "outstanding"] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
30. "El filial CD Vitoria jugará sus partidos como local en Eibar" [Vitoria moves to Unbe Sports Complex in Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 8 August 2019.
31. "Competiciones: Regional Preferente Grupo 2 2015/2016". Kirolak (in Spanish). 15 May 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
32. "El SD Eibar refuerza el fútbol base con la compra del Urkomendi" [Eibar strengthens their academy by acquiring Urkomendi] (in Spanish). Palco23.com. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
33. "Nace el Urko14 Alkideba FT de fútbol" [The Urko14 Alkideba FT football is born]. Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 30 April 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
34. "El Eibar se fusiona con el Urkomendi para que sea filial azulgrana" [Eibar merges with Urkomendi to be a maroon-and-blue branch]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
35. "El Eibar consolida su estrategia con la base" [Eibar consolidates its strategy with the base]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 May 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
36. "El Eibar presume de cantera" [Eibar boasts a quarry]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 June 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
37. "El Eibar se alía con el Logroñés para llevar su marca a La Rioja" [Eibar links with Logroñés to leave its stamp on La Rioja)] (in Spanish). Palco23.com. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
38. "Primer Equipo Squad". SD Eibar. Retrieved 25 June 2019.

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Eibar at La Liga (in English and Spanish)
• Eibar at UEFA (in English and Spanish)
• Club profile at BDfutbol (match reports in each season)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)