SEVILLE: Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was elated after his side defeated Atletico Madrid to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday, making him the first American coach to claim a major trophy with a club from Europe’s top five leagues.

La Real triumphed 4-3 in the shoot-out following a pulsating 2-2 draw after extra-time, to win the trophy for only the fourth time in the club’s history.

Ander Barrenetxea had given Sociedad the lead after 14 seconds but Ademola Lookman levelled in the 19th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal then put the Basque side back in front with a penalty on the stroke of halftime.

Alvarez drew Atletico level with seven minutes remaining to force the extra period in a dramatic final.

Sociedad last won the Cup in 2021, when the delayed 2020 final was also played at the La Cartuja stadium in Seville, but there were no supporters present due to the Covid pandemic.

This time, the Basque side’s fans were behind the goal to witness goalkeeper Unai Marrero save Atletico’s first two penalties from Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez.

Atletico keeper Juan Musso then stopped Orri Oskarsson’s kick but Pablo Marin kept his nerve to net the winning penalty.

When Matarazzo was appointed in December the Basque team were hovering above the relegation zone, but he has driven them up the table and now to cup glory.

“It’s probably the first (major trophy) for an Italian-American,” said Matarazzo, a New Jersey native born to Italian immigrant parents.

Matarazzo said it was not until Marin’s decisive penalty in the shoot-out hit the back of the net that he could really begin to take anything in.

“That was the moment where I realised this is real. It’s happening,” said the coach.

“You visualise success and you believe in it and you trust the players, but until you cross the finish line you don’t really have the feeling that what is happening (is happening), and then it happens. And with that penalty, it took a couple of moments to realise, but it’s just pure joy.”

Matarazzo insisted the team’s success over the past few months was not just down to him but the daily work that everyone put in, and the quality of the players he has available.

“We have fantastic players, unbelievable players on this squad with unbelievable character,” he said. “(Behind the success is) the daily work and the commitment that we all have to this team and for this club.”

Sociedad’s players, many of them who came through the club’s youth system, were also overjoyed.

“I’ve never walked on water but it has to be like this,” said Sociedad striker Oyarzabal. “It’s tricky to win a trophy with the team of your life. After this my career is complete and I can die happy.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who last led his team to the Copa del Rey in 2013, rued the opportunities his side wasted to win the game before penalties.

“The chances didn’t want to go in,” said the coach.

The Rojiblancos still have a chance to lift a trophy this year — they face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, a competition they have never won. However Simeone said he needed time to absorb the defeat in Seville.

“I’m not thinking about Arsenal, what happens today hurts me a lot. We needed to win and we couldn’t win,” said Simeone.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026