Without artificial intelligence, this historic fairy tale would never have happened: how Pellegrino Matarazzo became the ‘miracle man’ at Real Sociedad

Matarazzo has just delivered the club’s first major trophy in almost 40 years (1987, also the Copa del Rey), and this time they were finally able to celebrate properly. Although the proud, historic Basque outfit had also lifted the Copa del Rey in 2021, the coronavirus pandemic had dampened what could have been a huge, carefree party.

“What a wonderful start to this journey we are embarking on together,” Matarazzo told the crowd in Basque. Reports estimate that around 100,000 people turned an ordinary Monday into a huge celebration on the streets of San Sebastián. After he finished reading a brief statement from the town hall balcony, the crowd roared its approval. “I feel this is just the beginning,” the 48-year-old American added, and another wave of cheers crashed around him.

Just 48 hours earlier in Seville, his side had made history. Ander Barrenetxea’s 14-second opener against Champions League semi-finalists Atlético Madrid set the tone in the Copa del Rey final. Ademola Lookman equalised in the 18th minute, and just before half-time Mikel Oyarzabal, European champion with Spain, restored the lead from the spot. Atlético briefly levelled through Julián Álvarez a few minutes before full-time, yet Real Sociedad prevailed in the ensuing penalty shoot-out. When home-grown talent Pablo Marín calmly slotted home the decisive spot-kick, pandemonium erupted and the celebrations knew no bounds.

In doing so, Matarazzo became the first American manager to win a title in one of Europe’s top five leagues. The triumph in Seville caps his brief yet impactful spell in the Basque Country, especially when one recalls the club’s position when he took charge just four months ago, shortly before Christmas.

Last summer, Real Sociedad opted for an internal solution to close an era. Imanol Alguacil had led the Basques successfully for six and a half years: the club consistently finished in LaLiga’s top six, won the 2021 Copa del Rey and reached the 2023 Champions League. In the Champions League the following season, they even topped their group ahead of Inter Milan, only to be knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Yet in the summer of 2025, Alguacil—a club academy graduate who had previously played for the first team—opted for a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab, a move that took him away from San Sebastián in February 2026. The club turned to Sergio Francisco, previously coach of the B team and following a similar career trajectory to Alguacil, expecting him to continue the project with minimal disruption.

In theory, he was to build on that momentum; in practice, he was charged with reviving it. The previous campaign had already been disappointing, with 11th place representing the worst full season under Alguacil. Yet Francisco’s opening five LaLiga matches yielded just two points—no wins—and the slide continued.

The slide was predictable: Real Sociedad had already lost three pillars of the Alguacil era: In 2024, midfield maestro Mikel Merino moved to Arsenal, and centre-back Robin Le Normand joined Atlético Madrid; in 2025, the most crucial cornerstone of all, the exceptional Martin Zubimendi, also departed for Arsenal.

Replacing players of this calibre on a like-for-like basis is simply impossible for Real Sociedad. To a certain extent, this is business as usual; the club’s DNA relies on a steady supply of home-grown talent. Only by nurturing its own prospects can Real Sociedad remain competitive over the long term. Nevertheless, by the end of last year the situation had become critical. With the team in freefall, the board felt compelled to act. A 1-2 home loss to fellow strugglers Girona in mid-December proved the final straw: after 16 matchdays Real Sociedad sat 15th, just one point above the relegation zone. President Jokin Aperribay and his board concluded that Francisco had to go and that fresh external impetus was needed to avoid relegation.

The decision to appoint Matarazzo, then a virtual unknown in Spain, probably took even Aperribay by surprise. “I didn’t know him,” the Real Sociedad president admitted to Cadena SER after the cup final victory. He also revealed, “I asked the AI whether he would be a good manager for Real Sociedad. It told me he would not be.” Fortunately, Aperribay ignored the algorithm and trusted sporting director Erik Bretos, who had endorsed the former Bundesliga coach of VfB Stuttgart (December 2019–October 2022) and TSG Hoffenheim (February 2023–November 2024).

Matarazzo impressed at their first meeting, displaying encyclopaedic knowledge of the club and its players, and Aperribay formally approved the appointment after five discussions. The coach was presented on 21 December, more than 13 months after leaving Hoffenheim.

During his time out of the game, he reflected on earlier setbacks, telling The Athletic, “I used to overload players with information. I’ve since learned to be selective and tailor my approach so they can bring their energy onto the pitch without overthinking.” “Clarity is crucial—whether it’s verticality, line-breaking, positional play, pressing triggers or overall principles—but if players have too much in their heads, they can’t act instinctively,” he explained.

Clarity in his instructions, combined with freedom for players to decide on the ball, has helped him “find very good solutions to restore a winning mentality and get the team back on the road to success”. The Copa triumph brought the narrative full circle: Matarazzo’s Real Sociedad chapter began in early January with a 1–1 draw against Atlético, a result that hinted at progress.

Four consecutive victories then followed, two of them particularly memorable. The first of those victories required bold luck: in the round of 16 at home to Osasuna, Real Sociedad were 0-2 down with 15 minutes left. Benat Turrientes pulled one back, and only in stoppage time did Igor Zubeldia force extra time. A penalty shoot-out eventually sent them through.

The second standout win came a few days later, a 2-1 defeat of defending champions FC Barcelona, with goals from Oyarzabal and Goncalo Guedes. Those results provided the bedrock for Matarazzo’s highly successful first four months in San Sebastián. In 20 matches under his command, Real Sociedad have lost only four times: all on the road against elite LaLiga opposition—Real Madrid, Atlético (in the return leg) and Villarreal. The first unexpected defeat finally arrived on Wednesday, when—just two days after the city’s cup celebrations—Real Sociedad slipped to a surprise 0-1 loss at Getafe.

The team’s strong form on the pitch mirrors Matarazzo’s wholehearted commitment to the challenge. He has quickly grasped the club’s distinctive culture, which prizes Basque identity and prioritises players who were born locally and, preferably, came through “La Real”’s youth setup.

To fully immerse himself in the club, Matarazzo lives in the heart of the city in northern Spain and seeks direct contact with the people who bring the club to life. “I really enjoy this wonderful region. The city is top-class; everything is immaculately maintained. Every evening I enjoy a truly fantastic culinary experience. The food is outstanding, and the people are down-to-earth and respectful. This culture really resonates with me,” Matarazzo told Sport Bild. His car sits “near the beach. Every morning I breathe deeply and look out to sea to focus on the day ahead. When I need to gather my thoughts, I go for a walk on the beach, watch the water and think about football too.”

The standout moment of his tenure arrived during the cup semi-finals against Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao. “As early as 6:30 in the morning, fans on the street are telling me we have to beat Athletic. When I go out for dinner, they remind me again.” Both legs were won 1-0, making Matarazzo even more popular with Real Sociedad’s supporters.

Seven of the starting line-up in the final against Atlético are homegrown, including Spanish international Oyarzabal and goalkeeper Unai Marrero. The 24-year-old, born in San Sebastián and with “La Real” since the age of 15, is the club’s second-choice goalkeeper in the league, but Matarazzo entrusted him with the cup duties. Marrero repaid that faith by saving two penalties in the shoot-out against Atlético.

Matarazzo’s assistant manager embodies this blend of external freshness and internal loyalty. Surprisingly, he recruited former Bundesliga defender Ömer Toprak—who previously played for Leverkusen and Dortmund—despite Toprak’s lack of coaching experience.

“We first met at a Champions League game between Leverkusen and Inter Milan, stayed in touch and often discussed football,” Matarazzo told Sport Bild, explaining his decision. “His experience as a pro helps him connect with the squad, and he’s already making a big impact.”

Matarazzo good-naturedly accuses the former Turkish international of one “minor” untruth: “Ömer told me he spoke Spanish. It was a bit of an exaggeration. We laugh about it now… He does know some Spanish, but we’re racing to see who masters it first.”

The supporters preferred the Basque he recited during the cup celebration. He has also drafted in John Maisano, an assistant who speaks fluent Spanish, Italian and English. Matarazzo has set himself the target of being able to “do everything in Spanish by the start of next season”. His contract runs until summer 2027, and riding the high of the Copa triumph, he vows to keep aiming higher.

He has already guided Real Sociedad out of relegation trouble, to a trophy, and back into European contention. After 32 matchdays, the club sits eighth, and the cup win has booked a spot in next season’s Europa League. Should fifth-placed Real Betis hold their position, Sociedad are only seven points adrift, so a return to the Champions League remains feasible. The run-in looks manageable: apart from the direct meeting with Betis, Matarazzo’s side face only teams in the bottom half of the table.

Either way, the club’s AI has long since proved “the man of miracles”—as Marca dubbed Matarazzo after the triumph over Atlético—wrong. After the Copa del Rey semi-final win over Bilbao in early March, president Aperribay revisited the original AI analysis. This time, the algorithm rated Matarazzo “excellent” for the job.