Arturo Ruiz, the emotional engine behind Real Sociedad’s rise | OneFootball

Arturo Ruiz, Madrid-born in 1997, has driven Real Sociedad’s women to a standout season capped by Champions League qualification. According to Diario Vasco, his arrival in Zubieta last summer reignited a group that had faded.

A pedagogy graduate with psychology studies, he prioritised mood and daily standards, staying cautious in public about targets while projecting ambition. That focus kept La Real in lofty positions for long stretches.

He took coaching badges while studying, worked as a psychologist at Leganés’s boys’ academy, then coached Atlético Madrid’s youth and C teams. Later, after Manolo Cano departed, he led the first team for nine games, posting seven wins, one draw and one defeat to secure a Champions League return after four years.

In summer 2024 he took Granada’s women from the outset, overseeing a historic campaign, fifth on 45 points and a Copa de la Reina semi-final.

Last summer he moved to Donostia and stamped a clear identity on a rebuilt Real. They beat Barcelona at home in the first league meeting, Barcelona’s only defeat this season, and he has played down Atlético links, saying it is not the time to leave.

He also navigated Bayern ending Edna’s loan in the winter window without a replacement arriving. After the latest match he praised the club’s commitment to women’s football and its academy, and said the side’s defined identity makes them proud.

Source: Diario Vasco