Matarazzo, Ansotegi y Sergio Francisco, a trio chasing Copa del Rey history | OneFootball

Real Sociedad could become the first club in 124 years to lift the Copa del Rey with three different coaches involved in the run, if they beat Atlético Madrid at La Cartuja in Seville on Saturday. The trio are Sergio Francisco, Jon Ansotegi and now Pellegrino Matarazzo. They face Diego Pablo Simeone, the model of continuity with 15 straight seasons in charge.

Diario Vasco notes that only 18 of the 122 champions won the cup with a coach different to the one who began the season, a mere 14.75%. Doing it with a third coach who also took charge in the competition has never happened.

Real Madrid set the first precedent in 1934, beating Valencia 2-1 under Paco Bru after Robert Edwin Firth was replaced following matchday seven. Only four more sides did so across the next 35 years. In 1983 Barcelona achieved it with their third coach, César Luis Menotti, after Udo Lattek and a one-match caretaker, José Luis Romero, who only oversaw a 1-1 league draw at El Helmántico, then they eliminated Real Sociedad and beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the final.

At the turn of the century it resurfaced. Espanyol in 2000 under Paco Flores after replacing Miguel Ángel Brindisi, Zaragoza in 2001 with Luis Costa after Juanma Lillo, and Zaragoza in 2004 with Víctor Muñoz, successor to Paco Flores, all lifted the trophy after changes. Valencia in 2008 did so with Ronald Koeman as their third coach, then he was sacked five days after the 3-1 final over Getafe following a 5-1 defeat at San Mamés, with Voro finishing the season.

The last instance was Sevilla in 2010, who dismissed Manolo Jiménez after matchday 28 with the side fifth and already in the final, then won it under Antonio Álvarez against Atlético Madrid. Since then, no team changing coach has taken the cup. Real Sociedad’s tilt is singular because each of their three coaches has worked in the ties, Sergio Francisco ousted Negreira and Reus, Jon Ansotegi beat Eldense in the last 32, and Matarazzo eliminated Osasuna, Alavés and Athletic.

Source: Diario Vasco