Real Sociedad has officially announced the appointment of 48-year-old Pellegrino Matarazzo as the first-team manager. The two sides signed a one-and-a-half-year contract, valid until June 30, 2027.

Matarazzo was sacked by Hoffenheim in November 2024 and has been unemployed since. His most notable achievement during his two seasons managing Hoffenheim was leading the team to qualification for the 2024/25 Europa League.

However, Matarazzo only led the team to a record of 20 wins, 12 draws, and 27 losses in the league. When he was sacked, Hoffenheim was just one point away from the relegation zone.

Besides Hoffenheim, Matarazzo also coached Stuttgart. During his first independent stint as manager, Matarazzo led Stuttgart to 31 wins, 28 draws, and 40 losses.

Earlier, Matarazzo served as an assistant coach to then-Hoffenheim head coach Julian Nagelsmann. He also worked for many years in the youth academies of Nuremberg and Hoffenheim, possessing extensive experience in talent development.

Returning to the coaching post, Matarazzo faces a daunting task of rescuing the team. According to the official statement, he is tasked with "turning things around and injecting new energy into the team."

Real Sociedad currently sits 16th in La Liga with a record of 4 wins, 5 draws, and 8 losses, accumulating 17 points, just 2 points above the relegation zone. As a result, Matarazzo's predecessor, Sergio Francisco, was dismissed, and his position has been temporarily filled by Real Sociedad B team manager Ian Ansotegui since December 14th.