Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D.
(more commonly referred to as Real Sociedad
) is a Spanish football club from the Basque city of San Sebastián in Guipúzcoa. Founded on September 7 1909, it was relegated to Segunda División at the end of the 2006-2007 season. The home stadium is the Estadio Anoeta
, which seats 32,076 spectators.
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REAL SOCIEDAD TICKETS
|
Name
The club is known in Basque as
Erreala
or the
txuri-urdin
(meaning "white-blue" in Basque), from their colours: blue with white vertical stripes and white shorts. The club name means
Royal Society of Football
. A blue quarter on white also appears in the flag of their home town.
History
Early history
Football was introduced to
San Sebastián in the early 1900s by students and workers returning from
Britain. In 1904 they formed the
San Sebastian Recreation Club
and in 1905 they competed in the
Copa del Rey. In May 1905 the
San Sebastian Football Club
was formed as a separate branch of the club. In 1909 they applied to enter the
Copa del Rey but complications over registration permits saw them compete as
Club Ciclista de San Sebastian
. This team beat
Club Español de Madrid 3-1 in the final. Out of the confusion the
Sociedad de Futbol
was formed on September 7th, 1909. In 1910 Spanish clubs played in two rival cup competitions and Sociedad de Futbol entered the
Copa UECF
as
Vasconia de San Sebastian
. In the same year the King
Alfonso XIII, who used San Sebastián as his
summer capital, gave the club his patronage. They subsequently became known as
Real Sociedad de Fútbol
. Real Sociedad were founder members of
La Liga in 1928. The team came fourth with Francisco "Paco" Bienzobas finishing as top scorer. The team's name was changed to
Donostia Club de Futbol
in 1931, with the advent of the
Second Spanish Republic, but changed back to Real Sociedad after the
Spanish Civil War in 1939.
The team has generally fluctuated between the
Primera
and
Segunda
divisions, in one period (during the 1940s) managing to be relegated and promoted seven times. Around that time the sculptor
Eduardo Chillida was the team's goalkeeper until injury put a stop to his football career.
The success of the 1980s
The best period of the team's history must be the early 1980s where they won the
Primera
two seasons running.
For many years, Real Sociedad followed the practice of their Basque rivals
Athletic Bilbao of signing only Basque players. They abandoned the policy in 1989 when they signed
Irish international John Aldridge from
Liverpool.
La Liga 2002-2003
Real Sociedad's best league performance in recent years is their 2nd place finish in
La Liga
in 2002-03. Key contributors to that side included a
Serb (
Darko Kovacevic), a
Turk (
Nihat Kahveci), a
Russian (
Valeri Karpin), a
Dutch goalkeeper (
Sander Westerveld), and
Spanish home-grown talent
Xabi Alonso, Coached by
French manager
Raynald Denoueix .
Key moments from that season came when Real Sociedad beat
Real Madrid in April 4-2 at the
Anoeta in
San Sebastián. They kept first place in La Liga until matchday 37 when they were due to play
Celta de Vigo in a match that ended up 3-2 in favor of Celta, while on the other hand Real Madrid has beaten city rival
Atletico Madrid 4-0, this meant that the team from
Madrid secured first place two points clear Real Sociedad just ahead of the last matchday of the season when a 3-0 Sociedad victory against Atletico Madrid was just not enough because Real Madrid has just secured another victory against
Athletic Bilbao.
The team quailfied directly for the
UEFA Champions League 2003–04 by finishing 2nd, they ended up unbeaten at home with 71 goals scored and defeated on 6 occasions only. Strikers Nihat and Kovacevic finished 2nd and 3rd respectively on the
Pichichi chart with 23 and 20 goals.
Relegation
While they still attempt to keep a core of Basque players, whether coming from their own teams or signed from other clubs, they will also employ non-Basque Spanish players, as well as foreigners.
They were relegated from La Liga in 2006–2007, finishing 19th.
On
9 July 2007, former
Welsh international and
Fulham manager
Chris Coleman was appointed as the new club coach, on the recommendation of former Real Sociedad (and current Welsh National team) manager
John Toshack, who remains a respected and influential figure at the club. Coleman resigned on
January 16 2008.
Honours
- Copa del Rey
: 2
- *1909 and 1987
.
- Primera División
: 2
- *1981 and 1982
.
- Spanish Super Cup
: 1
- *1982
.
- European Champion Clubs' Cup
- *Semi-Finalists 1982-83
.
Current squad
The numbers are established according to the official website: and . The
EU flags indicate players who, although foreign, are still members of the European Economic Community, thus the club is not restricted in player such foreigners.
| No.
|
| Position
| Player
|
| 1
| {{flagicon
|
| Claudio Bravo
|
| 2
| {{flagicon
|
| Carlos Martínez
|
| 3
| {{flagicon
|
| Mikel González Martínez
|
| 4
| {{flagicon
|
| Gorka Elustondo Urkola
|
| 5
| {{flagicon
|
| Markel Bergara
|
| 6
| {{flagicon
|
| Mikel Labaka
|
| 8
| {{flagicon
|
| Emilio Nsue (on loan from RCD Mallorca)
|
| 9
| {{flagicon
|
| Imanol Agirretxe Arruti
|
| 10
| {{flagicon
|
| Xabier Prieto Argarate
|
| 11
| {{flagicon
|
| Mikel Aranburu (captain (football))
|
| 13
| {{flagicon
|
| Eñaut Zubikarai
|
| 14
| {{flagicon
|
| Esnaola
|
|
|
| No.
|
| Position
| Player
|
| 15
| {{flagicon
|
| Ion Ansotegui
|
| 16
| {{flagicon
|
| Laskurian
|
| 17
| {{flagicon
|
| David Zurutuza
|
| 18
| {{flagicon
|
| Borja Viguera
|
| 19
| {{flagicon
|
| Diego Rivas
|
| 20
| {{flagicon
|
| Carlos Bueno (on loan from C.A. Peñarol)
|
| 21
| {{flagicon
|
| Jonathan Estrada (on loan from Millonarios)
|
| 22
| {{flagicon
|
| Daniel Estrada Aguirrezabalaga
|
| 23
| {{flagicon
|
| Sergio Rodríguez Martínez
|
| 24
| {{flagicon
|
| Alberto de la Bella
|
| 25
| {{flagicon
|
| Asier Riesgo Unamuno
|
|
Seasons
Recent season
:
| Season
|
| Pos.
| Pl.
| W
| D
| L
| GS
| GA
| P
| Cup
| Europe
| Notes
|
| 1997-1998
| 1D
| 3
| 38
| 16
| 15
| 7
| 60
| 37
| 63
| last 16
|
|
|
| 1998-1999
| 1D
| 10
| 38
| 14
| 12
| 12
| 47
| 43
| 54
|
| UC
| last 16
|
|
| 1999-2000
| 1D
| 13
| 38
| 11
| 14
| 13
| 42
| 49
| 47
|
|
|
|
| 2000-2001
| 1D
| 13
| 38
| 11
| 10
| 17
| 52
| 68
| 43
|
|
|
|
| 2001-2002
| 1D
| 13
| 38
| 13
| 8
| 17
| 48
| 54
| 47
| 1st round
|
|
|
| 2002-2003
| 1D
| 2
| 38
| 22
| 10
| 6
| 71
| 45
| 76
| 1st round
|
|
|
| 2003-2004
| 1D
| 15
| 38
| 11
| 13
| 14
| 49
| 53
| 46
| 3rd round
| UCL
| last 16
|
|
| 2004-2005
| 1D
| 14
| 38
| 13
| 8
| 17
| 47
| 56
| 47
| last 32
|
|
|
| 2005-2006
| 1D
| 16
| 38
| 11
| 7
| 20
| 48
| 65
| 40
| 3rd round
|
|
|
| 2006-2007
| 1D
| 19
| 38
| 8
| 11
| 19
| 32
| 47
| 35
| last 64
|
| Relegated
|
| 2007-2008
| 2D
| 4
| 42
| 18
| 14
| 10
| 55
| 39
| 68
| 2nd round
|
|
|
| 2008-2009
| 2D
| 6
| 42
| 17
| 16
| 9
| 48
| 38
| 67
| 3rd round
|
|
|
Season to season
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1929
| 1ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1929/30
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1930/31
| 1ª
| 3rd
|
|
|
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1931/32
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1932/33
| 1ª
| 6th
|
|
| 1933/34
| 1ª
| 5th
|
|
| 1934/35
| 1ª
| 11th
|
|
| 1935/36
| 2ª
| 6th
|
|
|
- As Real Sociedad de Fútbol
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1939/40
| 2ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1940/41
| 2ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1941/42
| 1ª
| 14th
|
|
| 1942/43
| 2ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1943/44
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 1944/45
| 2ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1945/46
| 2ª
| 6th
|
|
| 1946/47
| 2ª
| 3rd
|
|
| 1947/48
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 1948/49
| 2ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1949/50
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1950/51
| 1ª
| 5th
|
|
| 1951/52
| 1ª
| 10th
|
|
| 1952/53
| 1ª
| 10th
|
|
| 1953/54
| 1ª
| 9th
|
|
| 1954/55
| 1ª
| 14th
|
|
| 1955/56
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1956/57
| 1ª
| 12th
|
|
| 1957/58
| 1ª
| 9th
|
|
|
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1958/59
| 1ª
| 10th
|
|
| 1959/60
| 1ª
| 14th
|
|
| 1960/61
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1961/62
| 1ª
| 15th
|
|
| 1962/63
| 2ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1963/64
| 2ª
| 6th
|
|
| 1964/65
| 2ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1965/66
| 2ª
| 10th
|
|
| 1966/67
| 2ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1967/68
| 1ª
| 14th
|
|
| 1968/69
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1969/70
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1970/71
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1971/72
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1972/73
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1973/74
| 1ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1974/75
| 1ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1975/76
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1976/77
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
|
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1977/78
| 1ª
| 11th
|
|
| 1978/79
| 1ª
| 4th
|
|
| 1979/80
| 1ª
| 2nd
|
|
| 1980/81
| 1ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1981/82
| 1ª
| 1st
|
|
| 1982/83
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1983/84
| 1ª
| 6th
|
|
| 1984/85
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1985/86
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
| 1986/87
| 1ª
| 2nd
|
|
| 1987/88
| 1ª
| 2nd
|
|
| 1988/89
| 1ª
| 11th
|
|
| 1989/90
| 1ª
| 5th
|
|
| 1990/91
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 1991/92
| 1ª
| 5th
|
|
| 1992/93
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 1993/94
| 1ª
| 11th
|
|
| 1994/95
| 1ª
| 11th
|
|
| 1995/96
| 1ª
| 7th
|
|
|
| Season
| Division
| Place
| Copa del Rey
|
| 1996/97
| 1ª
| 8th
|
|
| 1997/98
| 1ª
| 3rd
|
|
| 1998/99
| 1ª
| 10th
|
|
| 1999/00
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 2000/01
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 2001/02
| 1ª
| 13th
|
|
| 2002/03
| 1ª
| 2nd
|
|
| 2003/04
| 1ª
| 15th
|
|
| 2004/05
| 1ª
| 14th
|
|
| 2005/06
| 1ª
| 16th
|
|
| 2006/07
| 1ª
| 19th
|
|
| 2007/08
| 2ª
| 4th
|
|
| 2008/09
| 2ª
| 6th
|
|
| 2009/10
| 2ª
| —
|
|
|
----
- 63
seasons in La Liga
- 14
seasons in Segunda División
Famous players
- Dietmar Kühbauer
- Meho Kodro
- Sávio Bortolini
- Adriano Rossato
- Júlio César Santos
- Claudio Bravo
- Miguel Ramírez
- Mark González
- Igor Cvitanovic
- Dalian Atkinson
- Kevin Richardson
- Jérémie Bréchet
- Lionel Potillon
- Georgi Demetradze
|
- John Aldridge
- Edgaras Jankauskas
- Stéphane Collet
- Luis García
- Sander Westerveld
- Mutiu Adepoju
- Bjørn Tore Kvarme
- Oceano da Cruz
- Ricardo Sá Pinto
- Gheorghe Craioveanu
- Dmitri Khokhlov
- Valeri Karpin
- Darko Kovacevic
- Dragan Mladenovic
|
- Lee Chun-Soo
- Mikel Alonso
- Periko Alonso
- Xabi Alonso
- Agustín Aranzábal
- Luis Arconada
- Mikel Arteta
- José Mari Bakero
- Txiki Begiristain
- Óscar de Paula
- Javier de Pedro
- Joseba Etxeberría
- Jon Andoni Goikoetxea
- Loren
|
- Fran Mérida
- Musti Mujika
- Jesús María Satrústegui
- Urruti
- Jesús María Zamora
- Vicente Biurrun
- Roberto López Ufarte
- Håkan Mild
- Mattias Asper
- Nihat Kahveci
- Sebastian Abreu
|
see also Cat:Real Sociedad footballers
Famous coaches
- Benito Díaz
- Rafael Iriondo
- Alberto Ormaechea
- John Toshack
- Javier Irureta
- Perico Alonso
- Javier Clemente
- José Mari Bakero
- Raynald Denoueix
- Chris Coleman
- Juan Manuel Lillo
see also Cat:Real Sociedad managers