Real Sociedad: Noble work

Words: Xabier Piñeiro

Images: Xabier Piñeiro

That 2002-2003 La Liga season, in which the San Sebastián club came within just three points of winning, was, for an entire generation of Real Sociedad fans, a lump in their throats that stopped them from celebrating for almost 20 years.

And when they could finally do so, winning the Copa del Rey in 2021, a face mask due to Covid-19 muffled the joy of a land that smells of football, feels football, and breathes football throughout its territory.

Gipuzkoa is a green and rainy land, quiet, hardworking, and noble, the birthplace of some of today’s best coaches, such as Unai Emery, Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, and Andoni Iraola, and of world-class footballers like Zubimendi and Oyarzabal, the starting striker for the Spanish National Team and hero of the last Euros.

On the team’s bench sat Matarazzo, an American no one knew, who arrived to completely transform the team and breathe new life into it.

He’ s a man who smiles as he strolls through the city, greeting his neighbours and sipping coffee while reading the newspaper.

San Sebastián celebrated, still recovering from the 2026 Copa del Ray win in Seville but with enough energy to paint the city blue and white, to bask in the northern sun and celebrate the victory of the working class, to finally shout that Real Sociedad has won again.

This generation already has its heroes, and I can only think of Gorrotxategu’s group of friends, who a year ago were cheering on their mate in Miranda de Ebro, in the Second Division. I hope they were very happy in Seville and that they remember that day for the rest of their lives.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad supporters.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad supporters. San Sebastián..

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Playa de La Concha.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Friends of Gorrotxa.

©Xabier Piñeiro/ Terrace Edition. Real Sociedad celebrations.

Xabier is on Instagram: @local__visitante