On Monday, over 100,000 fans filled the streets of San Sebastian, Spain, to commemorate Real Sociedad‘s victory in the Copa del Rey, their first major trophy since 2021.
The Basque team triumphed over Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout on Saturday, marking a historic achievement for American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. He claimed his first trophy just four months after taking the helm, becoming the first U.S.-born manager to win a major European tournament.
Matarazzo received a grand reception during the celebrations, further charming local fans by delivering a speech in Euskara, the Basque language.
“We are champions! I’ll do my best to speak in Basque, and I apologize for any mistakes,” he remarked from the balcony of San Sebastian’s town hall. “This is a wonderful beginning on our journey together. With your support, these players can achieve incredible things.”
The crowd, dressed in blue and white, chanted “Rino, Rino, Rino Matarazzo.” The 6’6″ coach humorously responded, saying no one lifted the trophy as high as he did, reflecting his pride in the achievement.
Another exhilarating moment came when club captain Mikel Oyarzabal raised the trophy aloft. The Spain international expressed gratitude to the fans, who frequently interrupted him with chants of “Ballon d’Or.”
“Thank you all for being here with us. It’s fantastic to see your joy,” Oyarzabal stated. “Once again, we can proudly say we are the champions of the Copa del Rey.
Matarazzo, who previously managed Stuttgart and Hoffenheim in Germany, took charge of Real Sociedad during a challenging period last December. Under his leadership, the team has climbed to seventh place in La Liga and secured a major trophy.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.