May 23, 2016. Amaia Gorostiza succeeds Álex Aranzabal to become the president of Eibar after the election of the Board of Directors. An Eibarress based in Getxo, with extensive experience in the business world, takes charge of the gunsmith club at the best moment in its history. Ahead, the challenge of keeping the team in First Division, consolidate growth in all its areas and protect the values that have always characterized Eibar.
Gorostiza celebrates a decade directing Eibar today. Ten years at the service of the club of his life. Five seasons in First and another five in Second. In all this time he has collected joys and sorrows. He kept his feet on the ground during the team’s golden era in the top category and has known how to cushion the disappointments of the last courses in the Silver category, where Eibar has risen from every blow.
For us she was like a mother. When she had to tell you off, she did it, but we always felt like we could count on her for whatever was needed.
She is in charge of leading the way to be followed from a management that encompasses head and heart in equal parts. Because football not only depends on talent, but on the mental component that it tries to take care of with all its players. “For us she was like a mother. When she had to tell you off she did, but we always felt like we could count on her for whatever was needed,” he recalls. Dani García.
8-11-17 AMAIA THE PRESIDENT HAS VISITED THE TRAINING
Dani was the first captain Gorostiza met withbut with no one has he shared as many battles as with Arbilla. “The first day I met him I already noticed that he was a very special person. I consider her a friend and I will take her with me for life. We have even helped each other in personal situations“, says the Navarrese, who highlights her ability to overcome each blow. “She has lifted us all up in delicate moments, but she has not needed anyone to lift her because she is very strong. “She has suffered a lot and has fought like no other for the well-being of Eibar.”
She has lifted us all up in delicate moments, but she didn’t need anyone to lift her up because she is very strong. She has suffered a lot and has fought like anyone else for the well-being of Eibar.
Their closeness is not only linked to the footballers, but to any club employee. “Amaia It is the best model that this club can have, because in addition she is an excellent leaderand. The human warmth with which he treats everyone, whether a footballer, kit man or physio, is very important. It is the maximum exponent of a project that transmits values such as closeness, humility or work,” he indicates. Sergio Alvarez.
Amaia is the best model this club can have, because she is also an excellent leader. It is the maximum exponent of a project that transmits values such as closeness, humility or work.
Gorostiza takes care of every last detail and knows how to be close to players who are experiencing complicated situations. “The season in which the competition was stopped due to Covid was very hard for me because I had a knee problem and I was only able to play 7 games. Almost every day he called me to ask about my recovery. When I had knee surgery he showed up at the hospital to cheer me up and that’s something I won’t forget.” Ramis recalls.
The season in which the competition was stopped due to Covid was very hard for me because I had a knee problem and I could only play 7 games. Almost every day he called me to ask about recovery.
Dani García does not forget his last campaign as a gunsmith in which he decided to put an end to a wonderful period to go to the Athletic. “The year I decided to leave Eibar I had a very bad time. Signing for Athletic was a great step at a professional level, but I suffered a lot and she was always by my side with a smile to help me in that process.”
A mother for all
The role of Gorostiza In times of adversity it has always been relevant. “This It is professional football and we are here to perform, but she also takes care of the human side. He is aware of your life, your emotional state and that is something to value a lot in a world where everything moves very quickly. In other clubs you can feel alone in the face of danger in a negative streak. Here it is quite the opposite. Seeing that the ‘boss’ gives you a hug in a difficult moment gives you extra confidence”says Sergio.
MARCA Soccer awards are presented by the president to Eibar between Messi and Iniesta.
Among the happiest days of these ten years is the historic triumph against Real Madrid in Ipurua. “That day we were so happy that he even brought out the champagne. It was a day of great celebration, although then the following week we lost to a direct rival like Rayo Vallecano,” Ramis recalls with a smile.
Party in Eibar: the president uncorked champagne and the players asked for a day off
García was one of the players who took a public position during the electoral process in 2017 in favor of Gorostiza: “My opinion was not based on my figure as a footballer, but rather that I made him an Eibar fan. He understood that the best thing for the club was for him to remain at the helm due to his management and his way of leading the project.”.
He is a person used to leading projects and working with people. He knows how to delegate very well and always makes decisions based on the support of professionals in each area.
A president present at all times, but that also gives space and trust in all areas so that each specialist can do their job. “He is a person used to leading projects and working with people. He knows how to delegate very well and always makes decisions based on the support of professionals in each area,” explains Garitano.
The gunsmith president with Florentino Pérez before a Real Madrid-Eibar match.
Derio’s coach sees many similarities between Amaia and the presidents he had from his time as a player. “Amaia is a bit of the profile of the people who have always been at Eibar. When I was a footballer I met Mardaras and Barriuso, who were people who knew what the club was, they were there in the good times and the bad. Amaia is on that same line. If it has been there for ten years it is because it is doing things well”.
I have always understood football as a team sport, with a feeling of belonging and where values are important. Eibar fits perfectly into that idea and from the first moment in the person of Amaia all of this is identified by her closeness and her humility.
Palaces The balance she shows to be close and demanding on a daily basis stands out. “I have always understood football as a team sport, with a feeling of belonging and where values are important. Eibar fits perfectly into that idea and from the first moment in the person of Amaia all of this is identified by her closeness and her humility, two things that are not incompatible with the demand, ambition and the desire to be better within the difficulties that appear on a daily basis”.
Amaia Gorostiza, president of Eibar, and César Palacios, sports director
“It is not easy to spend 10 years as president in the world of football. He has a lot of merit and it means that he has done things well, with a lot of dedication.. There are many presidents who are in the clubs to make a financial profit, but in the case of Amaia that is not the case, she does it because of the great feeling she has for the club,” says Palacios.
There are many presidents who are in clubs to make a financial profit, but in Amaia’s case that is not the case, she does it because of the great feeling she has for the club.
Teamwork. Delegate and trust in those responsible for each area. Gorostiza Since his arrival, he has strengthened the figure of each worker to get the most out of each one. “I remember his first months, beyond that human warmth and his fantastic way of directing, because of that impact he had to reorganize everything and manage the club in a global way. It is the smartest decision,” confesses Martija.
I remember his first months, beyond that human warmth and his fantastic way of directing, because of the impact he had in reorganizing everything and managing the club in a global way. It is the smartest decision
Martija remembers those years in which the club increased its budget, but always maintained the same philosophy. “The change in regulations on television rights allowed us to have a budget that we would never have had due to our sources of income. Eibar has very marked red lines and all of that was managed well. There are other projects that have exceeded these lines and that has resulted in debts, non-payments and even disappearances. The club maintained its philosophy, but with a very high capacity to go to the market.”
Ten years with successes and errors. But above all, giving continuity to what has been Eibar for much of its history. A close club, that takes advantage of every last one of its resources to compete, that makes any player feel at home from the first day and that has in the figure of Gorostiza a reference for any employee. From the trustthe communication and the familiarity. Without losing even an iota of requirement.