Real Sociedad

Spanish football team.

Real Sociedad is a professional football club based in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain. Founded in 1909, the club has a rich history and is one of the most respected teams in Spanish football. Real Sociedad plays its home games at the Anoeta Stadium, which has a capacity of 39,500 spectators. The club's colors are blue and white, earning them the nickname "Los Txuri-Urdin" (The White and Blues).

Real Sociedad has won La Liga twice, in the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons, marking the most successful period in the club's history. They have also claimed the Copa del Rey on three occasions, with their most recent victory coming in 2020. The club has been a regular fixture in La Liga, Spain's top division, for most of its existence, with only brief spells in the second tier.

One of the most notable aspects of Real Sociedad's history was its policy of only fielding Basque players, which was maintained until 1989 when they signed John Aldridge from Liverpool. This policy, similar to that of Athletic Bilbao, reflected the strong regional identity of the Basque Country. Despite abandoning this policy, the club still maintains a strong focus on developing local talent through its youth academy.

Real Sociedad has produced several notable players throughout its history, including Xabi Alonso, Antoine Griezmann, and current star Mikel Oyarzabal. The club has also been home to legendary goalkeeper Luis Arconada, who spent his entire career with La Real and is considered one of the best Spanish goalkeepers of all time.

In European competitions, Real Sociedad's best performance came in the 1982-83 European Cup, where they reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Hamburg. The club has also made several appearances in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, with their most recent success being a round of 32 appearance in the 2020-21 season. Real Sociedad's biggest rivalry is with Athletic Bilbao, with whom they contest the Basque derby.