REAL SOCIEDAD
SPANISH CUP WINNERS 1987
REAL SOCIEDAD of San Sebastian
have little in common with the other
famous Real of Spanish football, Real
Madrid.
Not for San Sebastian the heavy spen
ding on foreign stars; not for San Sebastian
the glamour of European success; nor, in
deed, the collection of domestic and in
ternational trophies.
But for all that, Sociedad are as impor
tant a part of the fabric of Spanish football
as Madrid and their players are driven
quite as much by pride in their club. And
not only pride in the club, but pride in the
region they represent. For Sociedad, from
the northern province of Guipuzcoa, rely
exclusively on Basque region players - a
policy which provides the club with a
regional identity the fans love.
Twice winners of the Spanish league,
they come to Glasgow as current holders
of the Spanish cup - having beaten
Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2
draw in last season's final in Zaragoza. That
was the first time Sociedad had ever won
the cup, a marvellous achievement to
celebrate with Welsh team manager John
Toshack and star players who include
Spain's 1982 World Cup goalkeeper and
captain, Luis Arconada.
Yet Sociedad also had a hand in history,
as one of the early clubs to popularise
football in Spain.
Foundation date was September 7, 1909
- the club set up under .the presidency of
one Adolfo Saenz Alonso, who led a
breakaway group of members from an
older San Sebastian team, Club Ciclista -
even though Ciclista had only recently
won the cup.
At first the new club was simply the
Sociedad de Foot-ball. But three years
later the football-mad King Alfonso XIII
granted the cub the honorary prefix
'Royal'in Spanish, of course, Real.
These pioneers played their early mat
ches on a piece of waste land near the
popular Ondarreta beach and did not
have the beginnings of a stadium of their
own until 1913, when the club moved into
the modest little Atocha pitch - which is
still the home of Real Sociedad today
(though plans are afoot for a new stadium,
at last). The inaugural match was against
Basque derby rivals Bilbao, and also
served as a testimonial game for retiring
skipper and coach, Jose Berraondo, a
legendary figure in Spanish football
history.
It was not, however, until 1928 that
Sociedad's progress was marked by
national achievement - an appearance in
the cup final in Santander against
Team Coach John Toshack
powerful Barcelona. It was to prove one of
the most dramatic of all. The first match
ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time; two
days later the replay again finished 1-1,
even though Sociedad goal-scorer Kiriki
was sent off!
Seven days later Sociedad went down
3-1 in the second replay. But although they
emerged with nothing tangible for their
efforts, the saga of that cup final had
established Sociedad as a club with
national identity.
Their timing could not have been better,
since that autumn saw the launching of the
Spanish league championship with
Sociedad among the ten founder
members. They finished fourth in 1929,
seventh in 1930 and then, in 1931, came
within a hair's breadth of the title.
Sociedad had - temporarily - a new
name, Donostia, following the republican
government's replacement of the
monarchy. But that made no difference
to the players and after a superb
season, under English manager Henry
Lowe, they finished level on points with
Bilbao and Santander but missed the title
on goal aggregate. It would be SO years
before they reached such dizzy heights
again.
The following years saw Sociedad
worrying more about relegation than
titles. They see-sawed between the first
and second divisions, going down in 1935,
in 1941, in 1944 and in 1948. A year later
they popped back up and were cup final
runners-up (again to Barcelona) in 1951.
This time, too, they held on in the first
division until 1961-62 when they were
surprisingly relegated despite having
taken the Swedish World Cup star, Agne
Simonsson, on loan from Real Madrid in
exchange for international goalkeeper
Jose Araquistain.
It was five years before they again
graced the first division. But no-one has
been able to shift them since.
Under president Jose Luis Orbegozo in
the mid-1970s, Sociedad reorganised the
playing and administrative base of the
club. A second division side, Sanse, was
taken fully under their wing as a nursery
team and outstanding international
players developed such as goalkeeper
Luis Arconada, midfielder Jesus Zamora,
winger Roberto Lopez Ufarte and centre-
forward Jesus Satrustegui.
In 1979-80 they should have won the
championship for the first time. But on the
penultimate round of matches they suf
fered their first defeat of the season, going
down 2-1 to Sevilla, even though their op
ponents had two players sent off. Real
Madrid took advantage to overtake and
Sociedad finished one point adrift.
They had revenge next season. But
again the drama went right to the end.
Sociedad began their last game, away to
Gijon, one point ahead of Madrid but
knowing they had a better goal aggregate
in matches between the two teams -
which is what counts in Spain. A 2-2 draw
therefore proved enough for Sociedad in
Gijon - but it was not until the last minute
of the match that Zamora scored the all-
important equaliser with a swerving shot
from 30 yards! Madrid won 3-1 at
Valladolid to finish level on points but, of
course, that was not enough.
A year later and Sociedad were again
champions, this time finished two points
clear of Barcelona.
Such success is important as the key to
enter the prestigious, exclusive Cham
pions' Cup. Sociedad's first season saw
immediate elimination at the hands of
CSKA of Bulgaria. But in 1983 they reached
the semi-finals (beating Celtic 2-0, 1-2 on
the way) before losing out to eventual
champions Hamburg.
President Orbegozo decided it was
time to hand over the reins and so did
long-serving coach Alberto Ormaechea.
Thus it is under the new partnership of
president Inaki Alkiza and coach Toshack
that Sociedad have at last won the cup this
last season. Third time lucky - and long
overdue!
PAGE TWELVE
