Sid Lowe: Pellegrino Matarazzo, a 48-year-old New Jersey native with a Columbia University math degree, has transformed Real Sociedad from relegation candidates to Copa del Rey finalists in just four months. His unorthodox journey—from playing in Germany’s fourth tier to coaching Bundesliga teams—has defied expectations. After a rocky start to the 2025-26 season, Matarazzo’s arrival sparked a 12-game unbeaten run, including a dramatic El Clásico win over Barcelona.

His mantra, *poliki* (Basque for ‘slowly’), belies the team’s rapid resurgence, with fans dubbing him a ‘savior’.