SD Eibar - History

History

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. Originally an irregular team, it wasn't until the 1943–44 season that it was reorganised into a more full-time unit.

Promoted to the third division in 1950, Eibar achieved promotion to the second level three seasons later, being relegated again after a five-season stint and competing in division three for 25 of the following 28 years (in 1977 Tercera División became the fourth level, after the creation of Segunda División B). In 1988, the team returned to the "silver category".

Eibar club was relegated to the third division at the end of 2005–06. However, it won Segunda B (group IV) in the immediate season and, during the promotion play-offs, won the last-four tie against CE L'Hospitalet 2–0, beating Rayo Vallecano 2–1 on aggregate in the finals to seal its return after just a one-year absence.

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.