Real Sociedad are enjoying a fine season both domestically and in Europe. This famous Spanish club sit 5th in the La Liga table and prepare to take Premier League powerhouse Manchester United in the next round of the Europa League this week and we thought it was a good time to take a look at the history of this great Basque club.
Name: Real Sociedad de Fútbol
Nicknames: The Royals (Le Reales)
Founded: 7th September 1909
Stadium: Anoeta Stadium. Capacity: 39,500
Noteworthy Former Players: Xabi Alonso, Antoine Griezmann, Joseba Etxeberria, Darko Kovacevic, Carlos Vela, Claudio Bravo, Mikel Arteta.
Manager: Imanol Alguacil. Alguacil played for Real Sociedad from 1990-1998 and retired in 2003 whilst playing for Burgos. In 2011, Alguacil made his first steps into management by taking charge of the Real Sociedad youth team. After 2-years in that role, Alguacil then became the Real Sociedad B team assistant before taking charge of the B team himself from 2014-2018. In 2018, Alguacil took interim charge of Real Sociedad’s first team and became the full-time manager later in that year. The former Real Sociedad right-back has taken charge of 100 games as things stand and boast a win ratio of exactly 44%.
Real Sociedad have spent most of their professional career in the top-flight of Spanish football but have tended to drop into the second tier for short spells every so often. Between 2007-2009 Sociedad spent three seasons in the Segunda Division and before that they spent four campaigns in the second tier from 1962-1966. During the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, Real Sociedad were somewhat of a ‘yoyo club’ earning promotion to La Liga only to get relegated after a season or two.
In 1909 the club claimed its first major trophy, winning the Copa del Rey, but had to wait until 1980 to win their first La Liga title. Real Sociedad claimed the league title again the following season and in 1987 they won the Copa del Rey for the second time as well.
The club have never won a European trophy and so far, they have only played 82 matches in European competition. Real Sociedad’s best performance in Europe arrived during the 1982/83 campaign when the club reached the Semi-Final of the European Cup, losing 3-2 on aggregate against German side Hamburg.
This season Real Sociedad made a very bright start and even lead the La Liga table for a number of weeks, but they now sit 5th in the table and are still in the Europa League. Former Premier League stars, Nacho Monreal, David Silva and Adnan Januzaj have been key performers this season, while up front Mikel Oyarzabal and Alexander Isak have been putting the ball into the back of the net on a regular basis. It’s going to be tricky for Sociedad to finish in the Champions League places this season as Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are expected to finish in the top three, while Sevilla currently sit 7pts ahead in 4th spot.
If the club can defeat Man Utd over two legs, then they will have all the belief they need to go all the way and win their first-ever European title this season. However, it seems more likely that the club will end this campaign without any silverware and in the Europa League places, but even that marks positive steps forward.