Real Sociedad’s number one member José Joaquín Arroniz celebrates 84 uninterrupted years as a season-ticket holder | OneFootball

José Joaquín Arroniz, 92, is Real Sociedad’s longest-serving season-ticket holder, renewing every year since 1 September 1942. After 84 uninterrupted years he now carries membership number one. He never misses a match, often from home.

According to Diario Vasco, he plans his days around La Real, but late kick-offs at nine are too late for him. Earlier games see him take two buses to Anoeta and sit in the East Stand’s first ring level with halfway.

He first went to Atotxa when the railings were wooden, spending about half a century there before the 1993 move to Anoeta. Around then he received the club’s gold badge for 50 years of loyalty.

Recent memories stand out most, such as Barrenetxea’s late winner at Mestalla. He has witnessed six of the club’s seven trophies, all but the 1909 Cup, and relished the 2021 and 2026 Copas, recalling Marín’s left-footed strike into the top corner.

He would like La Real to be champions of League and Cup again, though he is not sure it will happen. He sees an erratic streak, which he links to a youthful squad, and accepts that as part of the identity.

Arroniz rates head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo and trusts him, yet thinks the language gap may mean some players do not fully understand him. He enjoys Oyarzabal, who he feels looks tired, admires Sucic’s spectacular goals, and once played up front himself. His message to the dressing room is to give everything and fight for the club.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”