On 25 May 2014 time stood still at Ipurua. SD Eibar had achieved the biggest feat in the club's history by sealing a place in the Spanish top flight.  Jota's strike was ultimately enough to see off Alavés in a 1-0 win that secured promotion to the top tier and sent the squad and Ipurua faithful into raptures. This really was a dream come true.

Just over 50 kilometres away in an Irish pub in San Sebastián, Rudolf and Christa were enjoying a few pints with friends as Eibar's landmark achievement played out in the background. This feat clearly left its mark on the pair and the club's promotion is one they'll never forget.

That May afternoon marked the beginning of the love story between Rudolf and Christa, a romance with Eibar right at the heart of it. The bond between the couple, who tied the knot last year with the Eibar crest duly featuring on their wedding flowers, remains as strong as ever and has always been linked to the Armeros.  "Our love story all began with SD Eibar. We watched the game in a pub and the hostel we were staying at in San Sebastián was also called Eibar", recounts Rudolf.

These initial links to the club were, however, just the beginning of the Austrian couple's association with the Armeros. The following day and with Eibar's promotion still fresh in their minds, Rudolf and Christa set out for Bilbao, but they decided to stop off in Eibar en route to find out a little more about the club. They visited Ipurua and the vibe in the city and the friendliness of the locals made a real impression: "We met some marvellous people. Everyone was just so friendly".

As their holidays came to an end, Rudolf and Christa returned home to Linz, the  picturesque northern Austria city that's straddled by the Danube. However, despite the distance their allegiance towards Eibar didn't fade. Indeed, quite the opposite. The pair kept close tabs on the team's progress via the internet and television.

Passion for the Armeros takes root in Linz

Rudolf and Christa have successfully managed to transmit their passion for the club in their native Linz. A few years ago, the only Eibar shirts you'd see in the city were those worn by the couple, but spottings are now becoming increasingly common.  "Many friends and family members have started to follow Eibar because of us and they often ask us about how the team is doing. Nobody in Austria had heard of Eibar but there are now are a lot of people in Linz who follow the team", revealed Rudolf.

However, this isn't where the couple's devotion towards Eibar ends. Indeed, Rudolf and Christa's loyalty sees them make annual trips to attend a game. They're big fans of Ipurua and its atmosphere and how the fans get behind the team: "Ipurua is a special place. Our best memory is last season's win over Valencia".

Loyalty takes couple to Austrian training camp

   
When it was announced that Eibar would be returning to Kössen this pre-season, the pair didn't think twice before packing their bags and heading for the club's Austrian training base. Kössen is over two hours away from Linz by car, but the couple's desire to see the team at close quarters meant that distance wasn't an issue.

Fully kitted out in their Eibar colours, Rudolf and Christa have attended several of the teams training sessions over the past few days and were also on hand to see the team cruise to victory over Leeds United.

The couple also have plans to attend the side's last two outings in Austria, against Kasımpaşa and Schalke 04. In these games they'll be looking to form a real presence in the stands and are hopeful that their fellow Linz-based followers join them to cheer the team on.

Clutching onto the fixture list for the coming season, the couple are already dreaming of which games they'll go and see. Amongst the early candidates are the home clashes against Athletic and Leganés.  Regardless of the opposition, Rudolf and Christa are intent on continuing to parade their Eibar romance wherever it takes them.