Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad de Futbol, founded on September 7, 1909, is a professional football club based in San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain. The club plays its home matches at the Reale Arena, formerly known as Anoeta, a 32,076-capacity stadium that was extensively renovated between 2017 and 2019. Real Sociedad has won La Liga twice, in the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons, with a team composed almost entirely of Basque players, making those victories emblematic of the region's footballing identity. The club also won the Copa del Rey in 1909, 1987, and 2020, with the 2020 triumph coming under coach Imanol Alguacil. Real Sociedad famously maintained a Basque-only player policy until 1989, when Irish forward John Aldridge became the club's first non-Basque signing. The club's youth academy, Zubieta, is regarded as one of the finest in Spanish football, having produced world-class talents including Xabi Alonso, Antoine Griezmann, Asier Illarramendi, and Mikel Oyarzabal. The Basque Derby against Athletic Bilbao is one of the most culturally significant rivalries in Spanish football. The club's blue and white striped kit has remained consistent throughout its history.