SD Eibar, a strong contender for promotion in the Second Division, has suffered a setback as they lose their star player. The team’s head coach, Joseba Etxeberria, is now without the services of Juan Diego Molina ‘Stoichkov’, who was the second-highest goal scorer for the team last season.
Stoichkov, a 30-year-old forward from Cadiz, had been with Eibar since 2021, playing a total of 126 matches for the team. With 46 goals and twelve assists in those games, he was a key player for Eibar. Despite his contributions, the team never managed to secure promotion to the top flight, and now Stoichkov will be making his debut in La Liga with Alavés, who paid his release clause.
In addition to Stoichkov, Eibar has also seen other important players leave, such as Unai Vencedor, Mario Soriano, Luca Zidane, Álvaro Tejero, Aketxe, and Ríos Reina. However, the team has been active in the transfer market, bringing in young talents and players from the lower divisions to strengthen the squad. New signings include Magunagoitia, Jon Guruzeta, Álvaro Carrillo, and Slavy.
Losing a player of Stoichkov’s caliber is undoubtedly a blow to Eibar’s promotion hopes, but Etxeberria will be looking to the rest of the team to step up and fill the void left by the departing players. The upcoming season in the Second Division promises to be challenging, with several strong teams vying for the coveted promotion spots. Eibar will need to regroup quickly and adapt to the changes in the squad to remain competitive in the league.
Despite the setbacks, Eibar remains determined to achieve their goal of promotion to La Liga. The team’s fans will be eagerly watching to see how the new signings integrate into the squad and whether the existing players can rise to the occasion. Etxeberria will have his work cut out for him as he navigates the challenges of the upcoming season, but with the support of the fans and the determination of the players, Eibar will be looking to make a strong push for promotion.