2013–14 Real Sociedad season

Real Sociedad
2013–14 season
Chairman Jokin Aperribai
Manager Jagoba Arrasate
Stadium Anoeta Stadium
La Liga 7th
Copa del Rey Semi-finals
UEFA Champions League Group stage (4th)
Top goalscorer League:
Antoine Griezmann (16)
Carlos Vela (16)

All:
Antoine Griezmann (19)
Carlos Vela (19)
Home colours
Away colours

The 2013–14 season was Real Sociedad's 67th season in La Liga. Real Sociedad finished 7th in the league and reached the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. The Basque failed to make it out of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Season summary

Philippe Montanier, who left for Rennes, was replaced by Jagoba Arrasate, his assistant manager.[1] The club's pre-season was marked by the shock sale of Asier Illarramendi to Real Madrid.[2] Real Sociedad lost the player that had been its most influential midfielder during the previous season. The club signed Haris Seferović,[3] Esteban Granero[4] and José Ángel [5] on loan.

Participation in the UEFA Champions League

In the Champions League preliminary round draw, Real Sociedad were not seeded and were to face seeded opponents from Europe's biggest leagues.[6] They were drawn against Lyon, with the second leg to be played in Anoeta. Preparations for the Champions league play-off round were marked by the long-term injuries of Mikel González, Imanol Agirretxe and Diego Ifrán.

Pre-season consisted of matches against lower division Basque clubs, Sporting CP and English clubs. These matches were disappointing for Real Sociedad in both results and quality of play.

The first official game of the season was played at home against Getafe. The Madrilians were easily beaten[7] a few days before travelling to Lyon. At the Stade Gerland, Real Sociedad inflicted the hosts a shock defeat with a 0–2 result. After an unremarkable draw at Elche that weekend, Real Sociedad welcomed Lyon. Once again, the French were convincingly beaten with a 2–0 scoreline, thus securing progression to the 2013–14 Champions League group stage for the Basques.[8]

With no European participations in its five preceding seasons, Real Sociedad were seeded in pot 4. In the draw, they grouped with Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayer Leverkusen, the first two clubs being holding champions of their respective leagues.

The Champions League had a bitter outcome for Real Sociedad. The first two matches were fairly balanced, but late goals in both games meant being bottom right before a double confrontation with Manchester United. As expected, Real Sociedad was comprehensively outplayed in both matches against the Red Devils. However, they only conceded one goal, in Manchester. With a single point after four matches, their chances of surviving this stage looked slim, eventually losing their last two matches.[9]

Copa del rey

Thanks to being in the Champions League Real Sociedad entered the second pot in the Copa del Rey. This meant they faced an opponent from Segunda División B or Tercera División in the round of 32. Algeciras was easily beaten on a 5–1 aggregate while resting some of the main players. In the quarterfinals Real Sociedad faced Villareal. Both sides played with many substitutes in their starting lineups. Real Sociedad went through on a 0–1 aggregate score. A bizarre tie against Racing de Santander followed. The Cantabrians refused to play the second leg unless their club’s governing body resigned. The match wasn’t played and Real sociedad advanced to the next round. Barcelona awaited in the semi-finals, in a prestigious tie that was eventually won by the Catalans. Refereeing in the first leg was surrounded by controversy.

Reaching the semifinals was the best performance in the cup since 1988.

League

In the league Real Sociedad started slowly but stabilized in the sixth position in late November. Exiting European competition only helped the club, focusing efforts on domestic duties. The last game played in 2013 was the derby against Athletic Bilbao. Real Sociedad emerged victorious from a very physical battle. At that point it seemed like Real Sociedad would fight for fourth spot with Athletic Bilbao. An emphatic 5–1 demolition at the hands of Villarreal right after the derby created doubts.

January and February

January and February were very positive and fourth spot still appeared attainable. The highlight of this period was the convincing 3–1 victory over Barcelona in Anoeta. This happened after Barcelona's controversial victory in the Copa del Rey and was seen by many as a revenge.

March and onwards

In March, the team's performances worsened drastically and the Basques unexpectedly lost to Rayo Vallecano at home (2–3) and Almería away (4–3). Athletic Bilbao comfortably ensured fourth place and Real Sociedad found itself in a fight to avoid seventh place against Villareal and Sevilla. Defeat to Villareal on the last matchday meant Real Sociedad finished seventh and had to play third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League in July 2014.

During this season, Real Sociedad played more matches than ever in its history. This and the early preparations for the Champions League preliminary round were suggested to be behind the drop in stamina that happened from March onwards.

The performances of Carlos Vela and Antoine Griezmann were the highlight of the season. These two ended up as joint top goal scorers and made the difference in many matches.

Others

In November 2013, Real Sociedad and Kazakh club Astana signed a cooperation agreement.[10][11]

On 20 January 2014, it was announced that Carlos Vela had won the La Liga Player of the Month for December and Arrasate the La Liga Manager of the Month.[12] In April 2014, Arrasate had his contract renewed until 2016.[13]

In 2014, Real Sociedad were awarded the 2013–14 Liga BBVA Fair Play Club prize at the 2014 LFP Awards Ceremony.[14]

Annual general meeting

In December 2013, the annual general meeting took place. In addition to approving the new budget and the previous year's accounts a governing body had to be voted. This has to be done every five years and Jokin Aperribay had been voted in during 2008. As expected, Aperribay and the rest of the governing body were comfortably re-elected.[15][16]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Chile GK Claudio Bravo
2 Spain DF Carlos Martínez
3 Spain DF Mikel González
4 Spain MF Gorka Elustondo
5 Spain MF Markel Bergara
6 Spain DF Iñigo Martínez
7 France MF Antoine Griezmann
8 Switzerland FW Haris Seferović
9 Spain FW Imanol Agirretxe
10 Spain MF Xabi Prieto
11 Mexico FW Carlos Vela
No. Position Player
13 Spain GK Eñaut Zubikarai
14 Spain MF Rubén Pardo
15 Spain DF Ion Ansotegi
17 France MF David Zurutuza
18 Uruguay MF Chory Castro
19 Algeria DF Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba
20 Spain DF José Ángel
21 Uruguay FW Diego Ifrán
22 Spain DF Dani Estrada
23 Spain MF Javier Ros
24 Spain DF Alberto de la Bella

Start formations

Starting XI

Lineup that started most of the club's competitive matches throughout the season.

No.
Pos
Nat
Name
MS Notes
1 GK Chile Claudio Bravo 42
2 RB Spain C. Martínez 28
6 CB Spain I. Martínez 46
3 CB Spain González 25
24 LB Spain De la Bella 22
8 MF Spain Pardo 25
5 MF Spain Markel 38
10 AM Spain Prieto 27
11 AM Mexico Vela 45
7 AM France Griezmann 41
9 FW Spain Agirretxe 23

Player transfers

In

N
P
Nat.
Name
Age
EU
Moving from
Type
Transfer
window
Ends
Transfer
fee
Ref.
12 FW Spain Llorente, JosebaJoseba Llorente 33EU Osasuna Loan return Summer N/A
20 LB Spain Jose Angel José Ángel 23EU RomaItaly Loan Summer 2014 N/A Real Sociedad
17 FW Switzerland Seferović, HarisHaris Seferović 21EU FiorentinaItaly Transfer Summer 2017 €2M Real Sociedad
25 CM Spain Granero, EstebanEsteban Granero 26EU Queens Park RangersEngland Loan Summer 2014 N/A Real Sociedad
? AM Spain Canales, SergioSergio Canales 22EU Valencia Transfer Winter 2018 N/A Real Sociedad

Total expenditure: €2 million

Out

N
P
Nat.
Name
Age
EU
Moving to
Type
Transfer
window
Transfer
fee
Source
20 LB Spain Jose Angel José Ángel 23EU RomaItaly Loan end Summer N/A
FW Spain Llorente, JosebaJoseba Llorente 33EU Contract rescinded Summer N/A Real Sociedad
8 CM Spain Illarramendi, AsierAsier Illarramendi 23EU Real Madrid Transfer Summer €38.9M Real Sociedad
19 DF Algeria Cadamuro-Bentaïba, LiassineLiassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba 25EU RCD Mallorca Loan Winter N/A Real Sociedad
21 FW Uruguay Ifrán, DiegoDiego Ifrán 26Non-EU Deportivo La Coruña Loan Winter N/A Real Sociedad

Total revenue: €38.9 million

Net income: Increase €36.9 million

Technical staff

Position Name
First team manager Jagoba Arrasate
1st Assistant coach José María "Txema" Lumbreras
2nd Assistant coach Bittor Alkiza
Goalkeeping coach Roberto Navajas
Physical trainer Karla Larburu

[17][18]

Competitions

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies

La Liga

Main article: 2013–14 La Liga

League table

Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
Head-to-head
6 Villarreal 38 17 8 13 60 44+16 59 2014–15 UEFA Europa League play-off round 1 VIL 5–1 RSO
RSO 1–2 VIL
7 Real Sociedad 38 16 11 11 62 55+7 59 2014–15 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round 1
8 Valencia 38 13 10 15 51 532 49 VAL 2–1 CEL
CEL 2–1 VAL

Source: La Liga
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points;
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 16 11 11 62 55  +7 59 11 4 4 38 19  +19 5 7 7 24 36  −12

Last updated: 13 July 2014.
Source: League matches

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH
Result W D L D D L D L W W D W L W W W W W L D W L D W W L L W L W D L D W W D D L
Position 4 7 8 7 7 12 13 15 12 9 9 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 7

Matches

Copa del Rey

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

UEFA Champions League

Play-off round

Group stage

Team Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
England Manchester United 6 4 2 0 12 3 +9 14
Germany Bayer Leverkusen 6 3 1 2 9 10 1 10
Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 6 2 2 2 7 6 +1 8
Spain Real Sociedad 6 0 1 5 1 10 9 1

See also

Sources

  1. "Arrasate appointed at Sociedad". FOX Sports. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. Real Madrid trigger Illarramendi's buyout clause ; Realsociedad.com
  3. "La Real Sociedad ficha a Haris Seferovic" (in Spanish). Realsociedad.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  4. Esteban Granero loaned to Real Sociedad ; Realsociedad.com
  5. José Angel loaned again to Real Sociedad ; Realsociedad.com
  6. 5 posibles rivales para la Real Sociedad (5 possible opponents for Real Sociedad) ; Marca
  7. Real Sociedad 2 Getafe 0; [[Fox Sports ]] 17 August 2013
  8. Uefa Champions League Play-offs; UEFA
  9. Uefa Champions’ League Group stage; UEFA
  10. Real Sociedad and FC Astana signc cooperation agreement
  11. "Астана" подписывает меморандум с "Реал Сосьедадом"
  12. Premios BBVA a los mejores de diciembre; LFP.es 20 January 2014 (Spanish)
  13. "La Real Sociedad renueva a Jagoba Arrasate (Real Sociedad renew Jagoba Arrasate's contract)". Realsociedad.com. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  14. Real Sociedad, the '2013-14 Liga BBVA Fair Play Club' lfp.es 27 October 2014
  15. Hasta 2018; El Mundo Deportivo (newspaper) 18 December 2013
  16. Definido el Consejo de Administración de la Real Sociedad; Realsociedad.com 3 January 2014
  17. 2013-14 Real Sociedad Technical Staff; RealSociedad.com
  18. Txema Lumbreras and Bittor Alkiza will be Arrasate´s assistants; Realsociedad.com
  19. The London club withdrew from the friendly in the last minute and a new friendly against Histon was hastily arranged ; Realsociedad.com
  20. El juego y el acierto de la Real doblegan a un Valencia sin fútbol mundodeportivo.com October 2013
  21. Full-time report; Uefa.com, 21 August 2013
  22. "Full-time report – Real Sociedad v Lyon" (PDF). UEFA.com. 28 August 2013.
  23. "Full Time Summary – Matchday 5 – Wednesday 27 November 2013" (PDF). UEFA.com. 27 November 2013.
  24. "Full Time Summary – Matchday 6 – Tuesday 10 December 2013" (PDF). UEFA.com. 10 December 2013.

External links

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