Pellegrino Matarazzo’s American dream as Real Sociedad win Copa del Rey | OneFootball

Pellegrino Matarazzo has realised his American dream with Real Sociedad, winning the Copa del Rey to become the first American coach to lift a major trophy in Europe’s five biggest leagues.

According to Diario Vasco, the New Jersey native was formed in soccer in the United States, then moved to Germany to play in the lower tiers and develop as a coach before arriving at Real Sociedad.

While the emerging American game has produced stars such as Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie and Johnny Cardoso, its coaches have rarely collected silverware beyond promotions or bright seasons.

In the big five today only Fabian Hürzeler at Brighton & Hove Albion and Matarazzo hold posts, with recent spells for Jesse Marsch at Leeds United and RB Leipzig, David Wagner at Schalke 04, Huddersfield and Norwich City, and Bob Bradley at Swansea.

None had lifted a trophy in those leagues, though Marsch won the Austrian league and cup double with RB Salzburg in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Wagner took Huddersfield up in 2016/17 via the Wembley play-offs by beating Reading.

Matarazzo earlier won promotion with Stuttgart in 2019/20 and four years later guided Hoffenheim into the Europa League. At Real Sociedad he has turned a struggling side into cup winners and possible Champions League contenders, and victory over Atlético de Madrid further raises his stock and that of North American coaches.

Source: Diario Vasco