An XI of ex-Real Sociedad players from the 21st century: from Merlin to Bundesliga invincible | OneFootball

Since returning to Spain’s top division over a decade ago, Real Sociedad has established itself as a force to be reckoned with.

Under the leadership of Imanol Alguacil, they’ve consistently finished inside La Liga‘s top 10 and recently tasted Champions League football.

A club steeped in history, having famously won back-to-back league titles (1981 and 1982), like their Basque Country rivals Atheltic Bilbao, Real Sociedad have turned developing footballers into an art form.

Some of the more prominent names are currently turning out for them every week (Mikel Oyarzabal and Martín Zubimendi), while they don’t have a restrictive transfer policy. This means talents from across Spain and the globe have represented La Real, including Mikel Merino, who is set for a Premier League return with Arsenal, managed by one-time Real Sociedad midfielder and namesake Mikel Arteta.

This century has seen a number of celebrated names, many of whom are currently excelling or have already excelled in Europe’s biggest leagues. With that said, we’ve compiled a Real Sociedad 21st Century XI, albeit not featuring those still with the club but past academy graduates and former players.

Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo

While donning the colours of Real Sociedad, whom he joined from Colo-Colo, Claudio Bravo represented Chile at back-to-back World Cup finals (2010 and 2014). At the latter tournament, he earned a move to Barcelona (after registering 76 clean sheets for La Real) and subsequent Champions League success. From there, he joined Pep Guardiola’s revolution in Manchester City, but Ederson’s arrival ultimately ended his four-year stay with English football’s newest force.

Right-back: Andoni Gorosabel

A graduate of the club’s esteemed youth setup, Andoni Gorosabel would turn professional on loan at Real Unión before eventually breaking into La Real’s first team during the 2017/18 season. The full-back would soon become a mainstay and was part of the club’s successful 2020 Copa del Rey winning team, Real Sociedad’s first major piece of silverware in 33 years. Still active, Gorosabel is now plying his trade at Athletic Bilbao following a season at Alavés after ending a near decade-long association with his boyhood club.

Centre-back: Iñigo Martínez

Standing six feet tall, Iñigo Martínez immediately became a problem for La Liga forwards after coming through at Real Sociedad, where he eventually made over 200 league appearances. A short move to Athletic Bilbao preceded this, and it was there that his stock continued to rise. Barcelona, needing defensive reinforcements, acquired Martínez’s services through free agency. He penned a two-year contract with a €400 million release clause.

Centre-back: Robin Le Normand

2024 will go down as a pivotal year for Le Normand, who enjoyed European Championship success with Spain before securing a notable year for Atlético Madrid. That move ended a six-year stay with Real Sociedad, from where he initially joined from Brest. Born in the French commune of Pabu (in the Côtes-d’Armor department of Brittany), he was granted Spanish nationality in 2023 after living in Spain for almost seven years, meaning he would be eligible to play for La Roja. The rest is history.

Left-back: Theo Hernández

His time in San Sebastián was brief, but Theo Hernández needed regular playing time after struggling to get a look-in while representing Real Madrid after they met his Atlético Madrid release clause of €24 million. A rejuvenated Hernández would leave Spanish football and join AC Milan, during which time he would become a mainstay for the French national team.

Central midfielder: Xabi Alonso

A famed Antiguoko amateur youth club member, Xabi Alonso soon relocated to Real Sociedad and immediately turned eyes. He was part of the club’s 2002/03 runners-up finish in La Liga, during which they set a club record for their highest-ever points total and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

The following season, a disappointing one, would be his last as Liverpool became his new home. Alonso would enjoy five illustrious years at Anfield, where he famously lifted the Champions League, scoring in their incredible comeback win over Milan before enjoying further successes at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Always considered a cerebral midfielder, many felt he would end up coaching, which he has subsequently done. A stint managing Real Sociedad’s “B” team earned him a return to Bundesliga football by coaching Bayer Leverkusen. A challenging start has since led to what many have dubbed ‘Neverkusen’ becoming German football’s newest champions. Alonso won the club’s first Meisterschale while going unbeaten, a feat that has never been done before in the Bundesliga since its inception.

Central midfielder: Asier Illarramendi

It’s hard for those who are impressionable to resist the pull of Real Madrid (see another former Real Sociedad midfielder, Sergio Canales) and Asier Illarramendi is no different. Los Blancos agreed with the many assessments of Asier Illarramendi’s potential and pounced, but like so many times in the past, a lack of consistent playing time stunted his growth. He would soon join Real Sociedad for a second spell before leaving for MLS outfit FC Dallas in 2023, where he currently plays his football.

Right-winger: Martin Ødegaard

Touted for great things before turning 16, many of Europe’s powerful clubs began scouting Norwegian wunderkind Martin Odegaard. In the end, Real Madrid won his signature, but chances of playing time would be remote. He would continue his development in the Netherlands with Vitesse and Heerenveen before enjoying a solitary campaign on loan at Real Sociedad, where the first signs of his maturation were displayed.

La Real would have been keen on a permanent stay, but Odegaard was again on the move, joining Arsenal temporarily before making that stay long-term. Now captain of the Gunners, the promise many saw has been fully realized. Odegaard is now widely considered among the finest midfielders playing in England’s top flight, and what’s scary is he’s only 25 and nowhere near his peak.

Attacking midfielder: David Silva

It was David Silva’s former Manchester City teammate Joleon Lescott who coined the nickname ‘Merlin’ to describe the Spaniard’s wizardry on the ball. An incredibly successful decade with Man City came after turning out for Valencia, where he broke through as a professional. After leaving Guardiola and company, Silva returned to Spain, but with Real Sociedad, where he helped guide a team on the rise that eventually led to a top-four finish and Champions League football.

Left-winger: Antoine Griezmann

Given the closeness of France’s border to San Sebastián, which is 12 miles away, it’s no surprise that Real Sociedad has been home to many French players. Arguably the most prominent of these players is Antoine Griezmann, whose professional career began here. Griezmann joined from UF Mâconnais’ youth team and spent a couple of years in Sociedad’s developmental system before emerging like a supernova. Before leaving for Atlético Madrid, where supporters have had a love-hate relationship with him, Griezmann made over 200 appearances while scoring 52 goals. A spell at Barcelona came between his two stints in the Spanish capital.

Striker: Alexander Isak

Another talent from Scandinavia who got his burgeoning career back on track at Real Sociedad after enjoying a loan spell in the Eredivisie. Swedish marksman Alexander Isak joined Borussia Dortmund but hardly saw playing time; he would go on to scoring 13 goals across 16 league appearances for Willem II, before La Real signed him and helped the Solna-born striker develop into a goal machine. He’s since relocated to Newcastle where Premier League defenders have often struggled against him.