Real Sociedad

Not to be confused with C.D. Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad
Full name Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D.
Nickname(s) Txuriurdin (White and Blue)
Erreala / La Real (The Royals)
Founded 7 September 1909 (7 September 1909)
Ground Anoeta
Ground Capacity 32,200
Chairman Jokin Aperribay
Manager Eusebio Sacristán
League La Liga
2015–16 La Liga, 17th
Website Club home page

Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D., more commonly referred to as Real Sociedad (pronounced: [reˈal soθjeˈðað]; Royal Society) or La Real, is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909. Its home stadium is Anoeta, which seats 32,200 spectators. Real Sociedad won the La Liga title in 1980–81 and 1981–82, and last finished runners-up in 2002–03. La Real has also won the Copa del Rey twice, in 1909 and 1987. The club play the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao. Real Sociedad were founder members of La Liga in 1928, and their longest spell in the top flight was for 40 seasons from 1967 to 2007.[1]

The club has competed in the UEFA Champions League twice. In the 2003–04 season the club made it to the round of 16 before losing to French club Olympique Lyon.

Real Sociedad has also several sports sections: women's football, track and field, field hockey and basque pelota.

Name and colours

The club's name means Royal Society of Football in Spanish. During the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), it was renamed "Donostia Club de Fútbol". The club is nicknamed in Basque as Erreala or the txuri-urdin ("white-blue" due to the colours of their kit). The colours stem from the flag of San Sebastian: a blue canton on a white field.

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 7 September 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.

Real Sociedad Ranking Graph 1929–2013

11
2  222
3     3 
4 444       4
  55        55   
  6        6       
 7    777      7 77    7   7
   8  8 88  88   88             8    
        9 9                            
        1010   10                         10   
      11                  11          11  1111       
             12                                 12  12
       1313                                13 13      131313     
       14       14    14 14                                   14    
                      15                                    15 15    
                                                             16     
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                              19     
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
       11 1  1             1                                        1     
                                                                          
            3                                                              
            4                44                                         4      
                                                                               
       6      6                 6                                           6      
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
                                  10                                                 
29
 
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  Champions of La Liga
  Qualified for European competition

  Promoted
  Relegated

The success of the 1980s

The team finished as runners-up in La Liga for the first time in 1979–80, gaining 52 points compared to Real Madrid's 53, and 13 points clear of third-placed Sporting Gijón. Real Sociedad won their first ever Primera División title at the end of the 1980–81 season, denying Real Madrid a fourth-consecutive title by beating them on goal difference after both clubs gained 45 points in the season.[2] This qualified La Real for the 1981–82 European Cup, where they were knocked out in the first round by CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria, who hosted and won the first leg 1–0. The second leg in Spain was a 0–0 draw.[3]

The club retained the title the following season beating Barcelona by 47 points to 45, under the management of Alberto Ormaetxea.[4] The forward Jesus Maria Satrustegui was the club's top scorer for 1980–81 with 16 goals.[5] He scored 13 the following season as Pedro Uralde was the top scorer with one more.[6] The club reached the semi-finals of the 1982–83 European Cup, defeating Víkingur of Iceland, Celtic of Scotland and Sporting Lisbon of Portugal before losing 3–2 on aggregate to eventual champions Hamburger SV of Germany.[7] Real Sociedad won the Supercopa at the beginning of the 1982–83 season. They overturned a 1–0 defeat in the first leg to defeat Real Madrid 4–1 on aggregate.

On 11 March 1987, Real Sociedad set a record for most goals in a quarter-final of the Copa del Rey by beating Mallorca 10–1. In the semi-finals of the same tournament, they beat their Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao 1–0 over two legs. On 27 June 1987, Real Sociedad won their only Copa del Rey title, beating Atlético Madrid 4–2 on penalties after drawing 2–2. The match was held at the La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza, Aragon.[8] In the following season's Copa del Rey, Real Sociedad defeated Atlético Madrid again by beating them in the quarter-finals. They then beat Real Madrid 5–0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, but lost 1–0 in the final to FC Barcelona at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium on 30 March 1988.[9] In the 1987–88 La Liga, Real Sociedad were runners-up for the first time since they lost their title, with 51 points compared to Real Madrid's 62, and three points clear of third-placed Atletico de Madrid.[2]

The English-born Republic of Ireland international John Aldridge was Real Sociedad's first non-Basque player, and was the club's top scorer during both of his seasons from 1989 to 1991

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.[10] Aldridge scored 16 goals in his first season to be the club's top scorer,[11] and fourth-highest scorer of the whole league as La Real finished fifth.[12] In 1990, La Real signed another English league striker, Dalian Atkinson of Sheffield Wednesday,[13] who therefore became the club's first black player. He scored 12 goals in his first season, second at the club only to Aldridge's 17.[14] That was Aldridge's final season at La Real, and he returned to England to play in the lower leagues at Tranmere Rovers, while Atkinson left to top-flight Aston Villa.

In 1997–98 Real Sociedad came third, their best finish since being runners-up for the first time since 1988. Their total of 63 points was 11 less than champions FC Barcelona, and two less than runners-up Athletic Bilbao. The club came higher than Real Madrid on goal difference.[12] Yugoslav striker Darko Kovačević scored 17 times that season, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the league.[15] The third-place finish qualified La Real for the 1998-99 UEFA Cup where they beat Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic and Dynamo Moscow of Russia before being knocked out in the third round by another Spanish club, Atletico de Madrid.

21st century

Nihat Kahveci was a key player as the top goalscorer as Real Sociedad finished second in the 2002–03 La Liga

Nihat Kahveci was a key player as the top goalscorer as Real Sociedad finished second in the 2002–03 La Liga

After finishing 13th for three consecutive seasons, Real Sociedad were runners-up in the 2002–03 La Liga, their best finish since 1988.[16] Their tally of 76 points was only beaten by Real Madrid's 78, and La Real had four more points than third-placed Deportivo La Coruña.[17] The club was managed by Frenchman Raynald Denoueix. La Real's strikeforce combined the Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci with Yugoslav international Darko Kovačević. The two were third and fourth top scorer in the league respectively, with 23 and 20 goals.[18] The team also included Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, and Xabi Alonso in midfield. Alonso was the winner of the 2003 Don Balon award for the best Spanish player in the league, while Nihat was voted the best foreign player and Denoueix the best manager.[19]

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 the penultimate game of 38 when they lost 3–2 away to Celta de Vigo, while Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid 4–0. This meant that Real Madrid secured first place two points clear of Real Sociedad for the last game, where La Real defeated Atlético Madrid 3–0 and Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao to gain the title.[20] The team qualified directly for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League by finishing 2nd, they were unbeaten at home, scored 71 goals in total, and were defeated on 6 occasions only.

Real Sociedad were placed in Group D of the 2003–04 Champions League with Juventus of Italy, Galatasaray of Turkey and Olympiacos of Greece. The team won two matches, drew three and lost away to Juventus to finish second and advance [21] to the last 16. There they were knocked out after losing 1–0 in both games against Olympique Lyonnais of France, hosting the first game. [22] 2003–04 La Liga saw a dramatic decline in the club's performance, slipping to 15th out of 20. Their tally of 46 points was only five more than relegated Real Valladolid .[23]

Real Sociedad were relegated from La Liga in 2006–07, 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 manager John Toshack, an important board member at the club. Coleman resigned on 16 January 2008.

On 13 June 2010, Real Sociedad returned to La Liga.

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Real Sociedad.

In the 2012–13 season, Real Sociedad finished in fourth place and qualified for the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League season, but in the play-offs, this time. In the play-offs, they reencountered with Lyon of France, but they won both games 2–0, qualifying for the group stage. Real Sociedad didn't make it out of the group as it obtained only one point.[24]

On 10 November 2014, Real Sociedad announced David Moyes as the chosen manager, to replace Jagoba Arrasate, who was sacked following a series of bad results, both home and abroad. Moyes also became the fourth British manager in the club's history. Moyes was sacked 9 November 2015 after falling to 16th in La Liga, later that day he was replaced by Eusebio Sacristán.

Fanbase

The Spanish Centro de Investigaciones Sociologicas (Centre of Sociological Investigations) found out that of 2,473 adults interviewed in 49 provinces, 1.3% of the Spanish population have more feelings for Real Sociedad than any other club, and 1.5% have more feelings for La Real than any other club apart from their favourite.[25]

In appreciation of the value of the supporters to the club – in the words of club president Jokin Aperribay, "The fans are the soul, the nourishment and the reason for Real Sociedad" – the players each wore the name of a randomly selected club member on their shirt for the match against Sevilla in December 2012.[26]

Honours

Winners (2): 1980–81, 1981–82
Runners-up (3): 1979–80, 1987–88, 2002–03
Winners (2): 1909, 1986–87
Runners-up (5): 1910, 1913, 1928, 1951, 1987–88
Winners (1): 1982
Winners (3): 1948–49, 1966–67, 2009–10
Runners-up (2): 1940–41, 1942–43

Current squad

As of 1 February 2016[27]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Argentina GK Gerónimo Rulli
2 Spain DF Carlos Martínez
3 Spain DF Mikel González (vice-captain)
4 Spain MF Asier Illarramendi
5 Spain MF Markel Bergara
6 Spain DF Iñigo Martínez
7 Portugal MF Bruma (on loan from Galatasaray)
8 Spain MF Esteban Granero
9 Spain FW Imanol Agirretxe
10 Spain MF Xabi Prieto (captain)
11 Mexico MF Carlos Vela
13 Spain GK Oier Olazábal (on loan from Granada)
No. Position Player
14 Spain MF Rubén Pardo
16 Spain MF Sergio Canales
17 Spain MF David Zurutuza
19 Spain DF Yuri
20 Spain DF Joseba Zaldúa
21 Spain DF Héctor Hernández
22 Brazil FW Jonathas
23 Mexico DF Diego Reyes (on loan from Porto)
24 Spain DF Alberto de la Bella
25 Spain DF Raúl Navas
28 Spain MF Mikel Oyarzabal
30 Spain DF Aritz Elustondo

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Spain GK Gorka Giralt (at Portugalete)
Spain DF Jon Gaztañaga (at Numancia)
Spain MF David Concha (at Numancia)
Spain MF Pablo Hervías (at Oviedo)
No. Position Player
Spain MF Alain Oyarzun (at Mirandés)
Iceland FW Alfreð Finnbogason (at Augsburg)
Spain FW Iker Hernández (at Barakaldo)

Seasons

Recent seasons

Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe Notes
1997–98 1D 3 3816157 603763 last 16
1998–99 1D 10 38141212 474354 UClast 16
1999-00 1D 13 38111413 424947
2000–01 1D 13 38111017 526843
2001–02 1D 13 3813817 485447 1st round
2002–03 1D 2 3822106 714576 1st round
2003–04 1D 15 38111314 495346 3rd round UCLlast 16
2004–05 1D 14 3813817 475647 last 32
2005–06 1D 16 3811720 486540 3rd round
2006–07 1D 19 3881119 324735 last 32 Relegated
2007–08 2D 4 42181410 553968 2nd round
2008–09 2D 6 4217169 483867 3rd round
2009–10 2D 1 4220148 533774 2nd round Promoted
2010–11 1D 15 3814321 496645 last 32
2011–12 1D 12 38121115 465247 last 16
2012–13 1D 4 3818128 704966 last 16
2013–14 1D 7 38161111 625559 Semi-final UCLGroup

Season to season

Season Division Place Copa del Rey
  • As Real Sociedad de Foot-ball
1929 4th Round of 16
1929/30 7th Round of 16
1930/31 3rd Round of 32
Season Division Place Copa del Rey
  • As Donostia Football Club
1931/32 8th Quarter-finals
1932/33 6th Round of 32
1933/34 5th Round of 16
1934/35 11th Fifth round
1935/36 6th First round
Season Division Place Copa del Rey
1939/40 1st Round of 16
1940/41 1st Semi-finals
1941/42 14th Round of 16
1942/43 1st Round of 16
1943/44 13th Round of 16
1944/45 4th Round of 16
1945/46 6th First round
1946/47 3rd First round
1947/48 13th Semi-finals
1948/49 1st Quarter-finals
1949/50 8th Round of 16
1950/51 5th Runner-up
1951/52 10th Quarter-finals
1952/53 10th Quarter-finals
1953/54 9th Quarter-finals
1954/55 14th Did Not Play
1955/56 8th Round of 16
1956/57 12th Semifinals
1957/58 9th Semifinals
1958/59 10th Round of 32
1959/60 14th Round of 16
Season Division Place Copa del Rey
1960/61 8th Round of 16
1961/62 15th Round of 32
1962/63 4th Round of 32
1963/64 6th Round of 16
1964/65 4th Semi-finals
1965/66 10th Round of 32
1966/67 1st Round of 32
1967/68 14th Round of 16
1968/69 7th Semi-finals
1969/70 7th Round of 16
1970/71 8th Quarter-finals
1971/72 8th Quarter-finals
1972/73 7th Fifth round
1973/74 4th Round of 16
1974/75 4th Quarter-finals
1975/76 8th Semi-finals
1976/77 8th Round of 16
1977/78 11th Semifinals
1978/79 4th Fourth round
1979/80 2nd Quarter-finals
1980/81 1st Round of 16
Season Division Place Copa del Rey
1981/82 1st Semi-finals
1982/83 7th Semi-finals
1983/84 6th Round of 16
1984/85 7th Quarterfinals
1985/86 7th Third round
1986/87 10th Winner
1987/88 2nd Runner-up
1988/89 11th Round of 16
1989/90 5th Quarterfinals
1990/91 13th Round of 16
1991/92 5th Fifth round
1992/93 13th Quarterfinals
1993/94 11th Fifth found
1994/95 11th Fourth round
1995/96 7th Second round
1996/97 8th Second round
1997/98 3rd Round of 16
1998/99 10th Round of 16
1999/00 13th First round
2000/01 13th Round of 64
2001/02 13th Round of 64
Season Division Place Copa del Rey
2002/03 2nd Round of 64
2003/04 15th Round of 32
2004/05 14th Round of 32
2005/06 16th Third round
2006/07 19th Round of 32
2007/08 4th Second round
2008/09 6th Third round
2009/10 1st Second round
2010/11 15th Round of 32
2011/12 12th Round of 16
2012/13 4th Round of 32
2013/14 7th Semifinals
2014/15 12th Round of 16
2015/16 Round of 32

European record

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1998–99 UEFA Cup 1R Czech Republic Sparta Prague 1–0 4–2 5–2
2R Russia Dynamo Moscow 3–0 3–2 6–2
3R Spain Atlético Madrid 2–1 1–4 3–5
2003–04 UEFA Champions League Group D Italy Juventus 0–0 2–4 2nd
Turkey Galatasaray 1–1 2–1
Greece Olympiacos 1–0 2–2
Round of 16 France Lyon 0–1 0–1 0–2
2013–14 UEFA Champions League PO France Lyon 2–0 2–0 4–0
Group E England Manchester United 0–0 0–1 4th
Germany Bayer Leverkusen 0–1 1–2
Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 0–2 0–4
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 3Q Scotland Aberdeen 2–0 3–2 5–2
PO Russia FC Krasnodar 1–0 0–3 1–3
Notes

Managers

Dates Name
1918–23 Spain José Berraondo
1923–26 Hungary Lippo Hertzka
1926 Spain Luis Ortiz de Urbina
1926–30 Spain Benito Díaz
1930–35 England Harry Lowe
1939–41 Spain Gaspar Gurruchaga
1941–42 Spain Sebastián Silveti
Spain Patxi Gamborena
1942–51 Spain Benito Díaz
1951–55 Spain José Ignacio Urbieta
1955–60 Spain Salvador Artigas
1960 Spain Joseba Elizondo
1960–62 Spain Baltasar Albéniz
1962 Spain Joseba Elizondo
1962–63 Spain Perico Torres
1963–64 Spain Antonio Barrios
Dates Name
1964–66 Spain Román Galarraga
1966–70 Spain Andoni Elizondo
1970–70 Spain Angel Segurola
1970–72 Spain Andoni Elizondo
1972–74 Spain Rafael Iriondo
1974–76 Spain Andoni Elizondo
1976–78 Spain José Antonio Irulegui
1978–85 Spain Alberto Ormaetxea
July 1, 1985 – May 8, 1989 Wales John Toshack
May 9, 1989–Jan 14, 1991 Spain Marco Antonio Boronat
Jan 15, 1991–June 30, 1991 Spain Javier Expósito
July 1, 1991–Nov 21, 1994 Wales John Toshack
Nov 22, 1994–Nov 27, 1995 Spain Salva Iriarte
Nov 28, 1995–June 30, 1997 Spain Javier Irureta
July 1, 1997–Oct 25, 1999 Austria Bernd Krauss
Oct 26, 1999–Oct 23, 2000 Spain Javier Clemente
Dates Name
Oct 24, 2000–Dec 21, 2000 Spain Perico Alonso
Dec 22, 2000–March 11, 2002 Wales John Toshack
March 12, 2002 – June 30, 2002 Spain Roberto Olabe
July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2004 France Raynald Denoueix
July 1, 2004–Jan 30, 2006 Spain José Maria Amorrortu
Jan 31, 2006–March 23, 2006 Spain Gonzalo Arconada
March 23, 2006–Oct 26, 2006 Spain José Mari Bakero
Oct 26, 2006–June 30, 2007 Spain Miguel Ángel Lotina
July 1, 2007–Jan 16, 2008 Wales Chris Coleman
Jan 15, 2008–April 2, 2008 Spain José Ramón Eizmendi
April 3, 2008 – June 30, 2009 Spain Juanma Lillo
July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2011 Uruguay Martín Lasarte
July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2013 France Philippe Montanier
July 1, 2013–Nov 3, 2014 Spain Jagoba Arrasate
Nov 10, 2014–Nov 9, 2015 Scotland David Moyes

Notable players

See also

References

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  4. "Performance record of Real Sociedad football Club". contentcreatorz.com.
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  6. "Real Sociedad 1981-1982". free-elements.com.
  7. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/matches/season=1982/round=1037/match=63866/prematch/index.html
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  9. http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spancup1988.html
  10. "BBC - Oxford - Oxford Inspires - John Aldridge". bbc.co.uk. horizontal tab character in |title= at position 31 (help)
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  12. 1 2 http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spanhist8999.html
  13. "Página web Oficial de la Liga de Fútbol Profesional - Liga de Fútbol Profesional". lfp.es.
  14. "Real Sociedad 1990-1991". free-elements.com.
  15. "La Liga Top Scorers - 1997-1998". free-elements.com.
  16. "Resultados Fútbol y clasificaciones - Bienvenido a Futbolme". futbolme.com.
  17. "Human Check". soccerpunter.com.
  18. "La Liga Top Scorers - 2002-2003". free-elements.com.
  19. http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/spanpoy.html
  20. "Cheap phentermine diet pills". holdingmidfield.com.
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  22. "UEFA Champions League 2003/04 - History - 1/8. – UEFA.com". Uefa.com.
  23. "Spanish Primera División Table - ESPN FC". go.com.
  24. 2013–14 Uefa Champions league, Group A Uefa.com
  25. http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/2700_2719/2705/Es2705mar_A.pdf
  26. "Real Sociedad players wear supporters' names on their shirts". Supporters Direct. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  27. "Primer equipo" [First team] (in Spanish). Real Sociedad. Retrieved 30 July 2014.

External links

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