Columbia men’s soccer alumnus Pellegrino Matarazzo ’99CC led Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey title, according to an April 27 announcement. Matarazzo, who became manager of the La Liga club in December, is the first United States-born soccer coach to win a major trophy in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Real Sociedad won against Atlético Madrid in the final on April 18 at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain. The match ended 2-2 and was decided by penalties, with Real Sociedad winning 4-3. This marks the fourth time that Real Sociedad has claimed the historic Spanish football cup.
“I generally stay focused on the day-to-day work and improvement, but moments like this help you realize the bigger picture,” Matarazzo told Columbia Athletics. “Knowing that many people in the U.S., the Columbia community, and other soccer communities follow Real Sociedad and feel connected to my journey is really special. It’s something I don’t take for granted, and it motivates me to continue representing them in the best possible way.
“There are a number of people I’m really grateful to from my time at Columbia. My coaches and teammates played a huge role in shaping my character and mindset. I’d also like to give a special shoutout to Jackie Blackett. She had a very positive influence on my development during two key moments of my time at Columbia. I’ll always be grateful for her support and for the incredible work she’s done with all student-athletes.”
Matarazzo’s coaching career began when he was appointed manager at VfB Stuttgart in 2019 where he earned promotion for his club into Germany’s Bundesliga during his first season before achieving ninth place there during 2020-21; he remained until October 2022 before taking over TSG Hoffenheim early in February 2023 for nine months prior to joining Real Sociedad as manager late last year.
Giuseppe Commisso ’06SEAS, President of ACF Fiorentina said: “Pellegrino Matarazzo’s victory is a moment of pride for Columbia, for American soccer, and for the Italian-American community… By leading Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey, becoming the first American coach to win a major trophy in one of Europe’s top five football countries, he has not only made history but has also opened doors for future generations.”
The article highlights that Matarazzo comes from a family deeply involved with Columbia men’s soccer; both his younger brothers Leopoldo ’01CC and Antonio ’16CC were All-Ivy League honorees while Antonio was selected by Orlando City SC during MLS SuperDrafts after graduation.
“My time at Columbia was incredibly formative both on and off field,” added Matarazzo. “Being part of men’s soccer program challenged me… The experience strengthened my sense of teamwork while teaching me tenacity resilience… It provided me with strong foundation as person not just player which continues helping navigate intricacies demands professional football.”
