Pellegrino Matarazzo is back on the sidelines – and how! The former Bundesliga coach is having a dream start in La Liga and has even outsmarted FC Barcelona.
“Pellegrino Matarazzo, the American who stopped Barca,” titled the Spanish AS after Real Sociedad San Sebastián’s 2-1 victory on Sunday evening, once again shining the spotlight on the former Bundesliga coach.
Matarazzo took over the Spanish side at the beginning of the year and immediately had a dream start. A 1-1 draw in his debut against Atlético Madrid was followed by three consecutive victories, including reaching the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and the latest coup against FC Barcelona.
Pellegrino Matarazzo leads Real Sociedad San Sebastián out of crisis
It was a development few observers had anticipated. Two years after San Sebastián had reached the Champions League round of 16, the team was deep in crisis. After 17 La Liga matches, the club had only 17 points and was acutely threatened with further relegation, holding a two-point lead over the relegation zone.
Matarazzo’s Appointment as an “Immediate Turning Point”
Only half a year after Sergio Francisco had taken over from long-serving coach Imanol Alguacil, the Spaniard’s tenure was already over, paving the way for Matarazzo.
However, the appointment of the 48-year-old did not seem like the most obvious option at first glance. Never before had an American coach taken over a team in La Liga. Additionally, after stints at VfB Stuttgart and TSG Hoffenheim, Matarazzo had been without a coaching job since November 2024.
But so far, the appointment seems to be perfectly right. In a very short time, San Sebastián climbed out of the relegation battle to ninth place, can even cautiously eye the European spots and continue to dream in the cup. AS already spoke of a “Matarazzo effect” and titled: “The keys to a team that believes in itself again.”
Matarazzo “revitalized internal competition and restored his players’ belief in themselves,” the sports newspaper continued, analyzing: “The appointment of Pellegrino Matarazzo represented an immediate turning point for Real Sociedad, who had to rediscover their sporting identity.”
AS repeatedly emphasized how the coach managed to form “a deeply committed team that is competitive again in all competitions” in record time by rebuilding the players’ self-confidence.
La Liga: Matarazzo Coaches San Sebastián to Victory Against Barcelona
The victory against league leaders Barcelona, who had previously won eleven consecutive competitive matches, is considered a major statement. The key to success was also a tactical masterpiece by Matarazzo, who rearranged his team into a five-man defense during the match.
Pellegrino Mattarazzo and Barca coach Hansi Flick (r.) already know each other from the Bundesliga
“The game and Real Sociedad’s victory against FC Barcelona – magnificent in value, significance, timing, manner, and merit – cannot be understood without, on the one hand, discussing the tactical adjustments of the txuri-urdin coach,” wrote the Barcelona-based sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo .
According to Mundo Deportivo , three qualities, in particular, stood out under Matarazzo: “Character in reaction, survivability, and – despite some errors – efficiency in attack at the right time. That’s why the team remains undefeated with three wins from four matches despite extremely demanding duels.”
Captain Raves: “Everything He Conveys to Us is Positive”
How much Matarazzo is already valued within the team was evident from the players’ reactions after Sunday’s match. Team captain Mikel Oyarzabal praised the team’s turnaround and explained: “Everyone is pulling a bit harder because it’s a new beginning for everyone. Everything he conveys to us tactically is positive.”
“As a person, he has tried to engage with what defines Real Sociedad and Basque culture. Especially when you come from outside, that is very important,” he further described the coach’s debut.
Goalkeeper Álex Remiro, who led San Sebastián to victory with numerous saves, also raved about this year’s development and said: “We believe more in ourselves and in our teammates; we spare no effort. We place great importance on duels and know how to suffer – that was the case before, but we didn’t know how to do it.”
Matarazzo Remains Self-Critical
However, Matarazzo remained self-critical after his successful start. “The mentality and cohesion as a group are there, but the style we want to play must continue to develop,” he explained and added: “The path is right, but we are not yet where we need to be.”
Starting player Brais Méndez had previously expressed confidence that the team would continue to climb in upcoming matches. “We are very happy with him and try to implement what he demands from us. You see other things, and I believe that we will continue to develop upwards the better we understand him – and he us,” the Spaniard surmised.
Strong Bundesliga CV: Matarazzo Already Stabilized Stuttgart and Hoffenheim
Matarazzo, born in Wayne, New Jersey, already proved at his previous stations that he can quickly stabilize teams. After taking office for the second half of the 2019/20 season, he led VfB Stuttgart back into the Bundesliga and solidified the team in the following season.
After a 15th-place finish in the 2021/22 season and nine winless matches the following year, his time with the Swabians ended.
Still in the same season, Matarazzo signed with Hoffenheim and led the club out of the relegation battle and into the Europa League. After a disappointing start to the 2024/25 season, Matarazzo’s time as coach initially ended – until San Sebastián called.
There, he is already somewhat of a hero. The mayor of San Sebastián, Jon Insausti, even appeared in the club’s locker room after the victory against Barcelona and invited the team, after their success, to inaugurate the city holiday in honor of Saint Sebastian on January 20th.