Pellegrino Matarazzo extends Real Sociedad deal after Copa del Rey triumph

Pellegrino Matarazzo during pre-season training
Pellegrino Matarazzo during pre-season trainingUnai Zabaleta / ZF Photography / Alamy / Profimedia

Real Sociedad have extended head ⁠coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's contract until the end of the 2027/28 ‌season, the La Liga club said ‌on Tuesday, rewarding the ‌American for leading them to ‌the Copa del Rey title ‌in his first months in charge.

That made the 48-year-old, who ‌joined the Basque club in ⁠December, ‌the first American head coach to ​win a major trophy in one of Europe's ​top five leagues. The win over Atletico Madrid also secured ⁠the club ​a place in next season's Europa League.

Matarazzo took charge with Sociedad near the LaLiga ‌relegation zone, and he guided them to a 10th-place finish on 46 points.

"I connected very well with the people of Gipuzkoa, with the players, with the people at the club. I share similar ‌values with them, which makes ​it easier to connect," Matarazzo ‌said in a statement.

Sociedad begin their 2026/27 La Liga campaign away to Real Madrid on August 17th at the ⁠Santiago Bernabeu.