Six years ago everything changed at Real Sociedad

A day like today but six years ago changed the modern history of Real for the second time, after the significant coming to power of Afternoon in 2008. On December 26, 2018, the realistic club announced the permanent acquisition of Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea as the team’s first coach after Asier was dismissed Garitano. What happened from there is history. La Real is another after the work of Imanolwho held office for six uninterrupted years, perhaps at his worst moment, without disaster. La Real, despite everything, is seventh in the League, twelfth in Europe and alive in the Cup.

But, obviously, to evaluate the Oriotarra phase we must look at the global calculation. Their numbers are impressive despite 2024 being lower than previous years.

Way to be the greatest

It’s not crazy to think of Orio’s captain as a candidate for being the greatest in history. In a time of inequality among the greats, he achieved full European qualifications, a great participation in the Champions League, a total connection with the fans and gives a lot of value to a Cup he won to break a 34-year drought.

He is also the fourth most games played in the club’s history, with 308, he will overtake Ormaetxea this year, and has the second most matches in the First Division (238), behind Toshack. This is not some nonsense data.

A win away from home

Imanol established himself as a winner. He has 146 wins, an excellent 47.4%, a percentage less than Ormaetxea (48.46%) and Benito Diaz (49.36%). Where he shines the most is in the Cup, where he has an excellent 2.42 points per game ratio. They lost just 82 games, a 26.62% that only gets better Ormaetxea (24.69%) and due to recent heavy losses. Oriotarra also changed the realistic aspect at home, although at the cost of worsening the home numbers. He has the most wins away from home in the club’s history in number (74) and percentage (46%), where he destroys others.

Lived as long as almost no one else

The ability Imanol to “hold on to the chair,” as he said several times. There are changes in football and he is still at Real. He is currently the sixth longest-serving major league coach. He is simply superior to them Schmidtin Heidenheim (17 years old), Simeone (12 years old), Guardiola and Gasperini (eight and a half years) and Thomas Frank at Brentford (just over six years). In Spain it is the second after the change of scenery in Arrasate. And, more importantly, it’s the second in Real’s history. 2,192 days, just behind 2,556 of Ormaetxea. Against Ponferradina, on January 5, he will play his 300th consecutive match.

26 foals were promoted

Imanol began his phase characterized by his taste in promoting youth players and establishing them. Most of them were players who passed through his hands. Over the years, almost no one who didn’t train him was organized, but his debutant numbers were still valuable. There were 26 foals that he made their debut, most of them homegrown and others with an asterisk. They stand out Zubimendi, Aihen, Turrientes or the latter Beitia, Mariezkurrena, shelf, Ruperez and Goti.

Now he claims to be excited about making a team as young as the current development. But he doesn’t have a contract for next season, for now.

He will enter 2025 without renewing his contract

Imanol He’ll spend the year in the worst sporting situation since he took over the team, as detailed in Tuesday’s edition of MD, but he’ll also do so in a specific contractual situation: without renewing his contract, which expires in June 2025. It is not the best first part of the year to sign a renewal, but the confidence shown publicly by various members of the club, from players to advisers, including the president and the director of football, suggested that it was closed. But it’s not like that. Just not Olasagasti either Traore entering the last six months of their contract, as well as the royalist boat skipper.
The technician drags his feet whenever they ask him questions and belittles them. Although during the last press conference he confirmed that he wants to renew. “Not because of desire. “I’m excited to grow with this team after so many changes,” he said. Olabe In Vigo he revealed that the coach does not want to renew yet. “For me, I would have renewed, but I understand that it takes its time,” he said. The one from Gasteiz left the club in June, leaving ‘only’ Imanol for the first time, if it finally renews. Afternoon He has said on multiple occasions that he will be meeting shortly with Oriotarra’s agents and that there will be no problem signing. That meeting has already taken place and the coach has met himself. But so far there is no official announcement.