‘Pure joy’ for Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after Copa del Rey triumph
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Real Sociedad players celebrating with the trophy after they beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time in the Copa del Rey final on April 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SEVILLE – Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was elated after his side defeated Atletico Madrid to win the Copa del Rey on April 18, making him the first American coach to claim a major trophy with a club from Europe’s top five leagues.
La Real triumphed 4-3 in the shoot-out following a pulsating 2-2 draw after extra time, winning the trophy for the third time under the club’s current name.
When Matarazzo was appointed in December 2025, the Basque team were hovering above the relegation zone in La Liga, but he has driven them up the table and now to cup glory.
“It’s probably the first (major trophy) for an Italian-American,” said Matarazzo, a New Jersey native born to Italian immigrant parents.
He said it was not until Pablo Marin’s decisive penalty in the shoot-out hit the back of the net that he could really begin to take anything in.
“That was the moment where I realised this is real. It’s happening,” added the coach.
“You visualise success and you believe in it and you trust the players, but until you cross the finish line you don’t really have the feeling that what is happening, and then it happens.
“And with that penalty, it took a couple of moments to realise, but it’s just pure joy.”
Sociedad’s players – many of them came through the club’s youth system – were also overjoyed.
“I’ve never walked on water but it has to be like this,” said striker Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored a penalty to put his team 2-1 up before half-time.
“It’s tricky to win a trophy with the team of your life. After this, my career is complete and I can die happy.”
The 28-year-old Spain international also netted from the spot in the 2019-20 Copa del Rey final to win it for his club, but it was without fans in the stadium because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who last led his team to the Copa del Rey title in 2012-13, rued the opportunities his side wasted to win the game before penalties.
“The chances didn’t want to go in,” said the coach.
The Rojiblancos still have a chance to lift a trophy in 2026 when they face English Premier League leaders Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Champions League, a competition the La Liga giants have never won.
However, Simeone said he needed time to absorb the cup defeat in Seville.
“I’m not thinking about Arsenal. What happens today hurts me a lot. We needed to win and we couldn’t win,” he said. AFP
