American Coach Matarazzo Leads Real Sociedad to Copa del Rey Glory Pellegrino Matarazzo, an American coach with a mathematics degree, has achieved his first career title, leading Real Sociedad to a dramatic Copa del Rey victory over Atletico Madrid. Matarazzo, who previously managed in Germany, transformed the team from near relegation to cup champions in under four months. Pellegrino Matarazzo, an American coach with a background in mathematics from Columbia University, has etched his name into the history of Spanish football club Real Sociedad. The 48-year-old guided the Basque outfit to their fourth Copa del Rey title on Saturday, overcoming Atletico Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout. This victory marks the first career trophy for Matarazzo, whose journey to management began with an ambition to play professionally. He eventually found his calling as a coach in Germany, a path he embraced after his playing aspirations didn't fully materialize. The impact of Matarazzo's arrival at Sociedad has been profound. Hired in December, he inherited a team precariously close to the relegation zone, just two points above it. In less than four months, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, steering the club to safety in the league and leading them on an impressive Copa del Rey run. Matarazzo, who grew up in New Jersey and was inspired by watching Diego Maradona play for Napoli, described the triumph as an 'unbelievable journey.' He expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to manage Real Sociedad, emphasizing that the success is a collective achievement. 'Just the feeling you have of ‘wow, wow, this happened, we did it, we did it,’' he shared, still processing the magnitude of the victory. Despite the extraordinary turnaround, the soft-spoken coach consistently downplayed his individual role, attributing the team's resurgence and title success to the players' skill, character, and the hard work of the entire staff. 'I'm very grateful to be manager of this club, very very grateful,' Matarazzo stated. 'Being part of its history now is, of course, something special, and I'm also very grateful to have this team, these players, this staff, this club. It’s a product of the work we've done together in the past weeks.' Matarazzo's family has Italian roots, with his parents emigrating to the United States for work. His first language was Italian before he attended school. His early fascination with football was cultivated by watching Serie A matches on a small television, particularly during Maradona's era at Napoli. He acknowledged that while football was not a prominent sport during his upbringing in the US, his passion for it remained strong. Before venturing into coaching, Matarazzo pursued a degree in mathematics at Columbia University. He believes his academic background, while seemingly unrelated to football, has aided him as a coach, even though he recognizes that managing a team ultimately centers on human dynamics rather than just numerical analysis. His initial attempt to play professionally led him to Italy, but a series of broken promises from agents prompted his return to the United States. A friend's invitation then propelled him to Germany in his early twenties, a country where he knew no one and spoke no German. He ultimately remained in Germany for 25 years, building a substantial career in football. He began his playing career in the fourth division before transitioning to coaching roles with youth and reserve teams at Nuremberg. Matarazzo's coaching trajectory saw him serve as an assistant to Julian Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim in 2018. He then took on the managerial role at Stuttgart in December 2019, successfully guiding them back to the Bundesliga on his first attempt and securing a respectable finish in their subsequent top-flight season. His tenure at Stuttgart concluded in late 2022, followed by a move to Hoffenheim until the end of 2024, where he was dismissed after a challenging season. His immediate success at Real Sociedad has sparked optimism for a prolonged and fruitful tenure. Matarazzo expressed his hope for continued ambition, with seven league games remaining in La Liga and potential for further achievements. 'I hope that we continue to stay ambitious because we still have seven games left in La Liga and we can do more,' he declared. 'I'm not done yet, and hopefully we are not done yet.'