It was late December, and Real Sociedad needed a new manager.

By Zach Lowy

After a golden era that saw them win their first trophy in 34 years and regularly play in UEFA competitions, it seemed the clock had finally struck midnight on La Real’s magical carriage. Imanol Alguacil’s departure after six glorious years had left a gaping void on the touchline, one which Sergio Francisco had failed to plug, with the Basque side hovering above the drop with 17 points from 17 matches.

So when Sporting Director Erik Bretos suggested that they should hire Pellegrino Matarazzo, Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay did what millions of other people in his place would have done: he asked ChatGPT, who told him that Matarazzo was a bad fit. Aperribay started to have reservations, but he ultimately decided to trust Bretos’ judgement and take a chance on the 48-year-old manager. It would end up being one of the finest decisions of his entire tenure.

Born and raised in New Jersey to Italian immigrants, Matarazzo graduated from Columbia University with a degree in applied mathematics before embarking on a playing career in Germany’s lower leagues. After launching his management career with Nürnberg and Hoffenheim, Matarazzo got his first head coaching gig in 2019, guiding Stuttgart to promotion and keeping them up for two straight Bundesliga seasons. He then saved Hoffenheim from relegation and qualified them for the Europa League, before spending 13 months out of coaching (during which time he served as a DAZN analyst at the FIFA Club World Cup) until taking charge at Anoeta.

“La Real’s mentality has shifted from one that was lacking in initiative into a very proactive and intense team under Matarazzo,” stated LaLiga commentator Alberto Edjogo-Owono. “I interviewed him before and after his first match vs. Atlético, and he told me that he wanted a high press, for the midfielders to be positioned at the right height to circulate the ball and, above all, to be very direct in their attacking. I think that was the big difference compared to Sergio Francisco. The difference is in the mentality: going after the game, going after the opponent, pouring numbers forward, and applying an intense high press.”

The Italian-American manager has overhauled a team whose foundations were cracking and given them a stable base to play their best football in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Sergio Gómez, who had looked bereft of confidence both in his attacking escapades and his defensive tasks, has earned a new lease on life and looks far more comfortable pushing forward on the left, which has allowed the likes of Mikel Oyarzabal, Ander Barrenetxea, and Gonçalo Guedes to cut inside and wreak havoc in the final third. This transition from a possession-centered style to a more direct approach hasn’t just benefitted the attackers, but defenders and midfielders like Beñat Turrientes, who has helped to fill a Martín Zubimendi-shaped hole in the centre of the pitch.

Matarazzo is well aware of his team’s defensive struggles: only Sevilla and Levante have conceded more in LaLiga, whilst no team has registered fewer clean sheets. But rather than employ a more risk-averse strategy, he’s instead freed up his players to play without fear and take initiative in possession. Since Matarazzo’s appointment, 15 of Real Sociedad’s 20 matches have seen both teams score, whilst 11 have featured over 3.5 goals.

After holding Atlético Madrid to a 1-1 draw in his debut, he oversaw seven wins in eight before finally losing to Real Madrid. Real Sociedad rebounded with three wins from five, including a win against archrivals Athletic Club to secure their spot in the final of the Copa del Rey. Five years after winning the trophy behind closed doors, La Real were finally going to get the chance to play for the Copa del Rey in front of their own fans.

“Matarazzo hasn’t dramatically changed the shape or the intention of La Real, but he’s given them more clarity,” stated Football España editor Ruaridh Barlow. “The main difference is the aggression with which they move the ball forward, looking to exploit space immediately if it’s there. Their attacking is less concerned with being hit in transition, but they’ve also improved in that regard, with full-backs getting to the byline. La Real can score goals against a set defence, but they’re looking to play the key pass from deeper, giving their forwards more space.”

“Most of all, it’s mental. If you look at Matarazzo’s first four games in charge, La Real came through games against Atlético, Getafe, Osasuna, and Barcelona, suffering equalisers or going behind in them all. They responded in each of them, sticking to their original plan and being aggressive with the ball without necessarily losing their clarity of purpose, and it got results. Now you have a team with talent and a rounded collection of players, who have a clarity of purpose and a system they feel that benefits them. It’s meant fewer mistakes and more room for players to express themselves.”

Despite squandering two advantages, Real Sociedad prevailed 4-3 on penalties in the Copa del Rey Final thanks in large part to backup goalkeeper Unai Marrero, who saved Atlético Madrid’s first two spotkicks, and who is one of the many academy graduates who have flourished under Matarazzo alongside Jon Martín, Jon Gorrotxategi, and Pablo Marín.

Over 100,000 supporters (more than half of San Sebastián’s population) poured into the streets to celebrate the trophy with the Real Sociedad players, the first time that they could do so since 1987. It was the crowning achievement for Matarazzo, who, after becoming the first American to coach in the Bundesliga and LaLiga, has now become the first American to win a major trophy in a top-five league.

More than just shattering glass ceilings, Matarazzo has managed to strike a chord with the entire Gipuzkoa community, whether that’s stopping to chat with Txuri-Urdin fans during his daily promenades, or giving his entire champion speech in Euskera, or partying until midnight with gleeful supporters in the city centre.

He has commandeered a rudderless ship and provided some much-needed structure for a Real Sociedad side that, prior to last Wednesday’s defeat vs. Getafe, had lost just three matches under him: Real Madrid (second), Villarreal (third), and Atlético Madrid (fourth). Under the watchful eye of Matarazzo, La Real have climbed from 16th to eighth – seven points away from fifth – and while they are already guaranteed a Europa League qualification (at least), they’ll be looking to build on their momentum and sneak into the Champions League positions in the final weeks of the season.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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