Real Sociedad de Fútbol - last updated on 20 January 2009
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D.
Foundation: 1909
City: San Sebastián
Colours: Blue and white
Website: www.realsociedad.com
Honours:
La Liga - 2 (1981, 1982)
Copa del Rey - 2 (1909, 1987)
Supercopa de España - 1 (1982)
A bit of 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 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 "Cuqui" 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 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. 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), and a Dutch goalkeeper (Sander Westerveld). 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.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Real Sociedad de Fútbol - Founded in 1909
