It was in the summer of 2014 when Los Armeros experienced perhaps their most surreal moment, a mix of unrestrained euphoria and an existential threat that tested the very soul of our club. We had just achieved the unthinkable: promotion to the Primera División, the pinnacle of Spanish football. Estadio Municipal de Ipurúa, that small bastion of passion in the heart of Eibar, was preparing to welcome the giants. But the joy was short-lived.

The Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) established a minimum capital requirement for all clubs, a measure designed for financial stability, but for humble Eibar, it meant an abyss. Overnight, the club needed to raise 1.7 million euros to comply with social capital regulations. It wasn't about sporting performance, but financial bureaucracy. The possibility of administrative relegation, despite having earned our place on the pitch, was real and terrifying.

But if something defines Eibar, it's our fighting spirit and our unbreakable connection with our people. Thus, the 'Defiende al Eibar' (Defend Eibar) campaign was born, a bold and unprecedented initiative. The idea was simple: sell club shares for 50 euros each, opening the door for anyone, anywhere in the world, to become a co-owner of this humble giant. We weren't looking for big investors; we were looking for thousands of small dreamers.

The response was overwhelming. From Japan to Argentina, passing through the ordinary fans in Eibar itself and in the Basque Country, people answered the call. Media outlets from all over the planet echoed our unique battle, of the small David facing Goliath, not on the pitch, but in the offices. The story of Eibar, a club from a city of just over 27,000 inhabitants reaching the elite, was already a fairy tale. The threat of losing it all due to an economic issue resonated with anyone who believed in the power of community spirit.

Each share purchased was not just an investment; it was a vote of confidence, an act of faith in a club model that refuses to forget its roots. The deadline expired, and Eibar not only reached the 1.7 million euros but surpassed it, raising over 1.9 million with the help of more than 10,000 shareholders from 69 countries. It was the tangible proof that this club was and is much more than a football team; it is a symbol of resilience, humility, and hard work.

That campaign not only saved Eibar's promotion to the Primera División; it cemented our global identity and reminded us that, although we are a small club, our heart and our support network are immense. It was a historic moment that transcended sports, reaffirming that football, in its purest essence, belongs to the people. And it is a lesson that continues to resonate in the halls of Ipurúa and in every corner of the world where an Armero heart beats.