Real's far-off inspiration

On Saturday David Moyes took his place in the Real Sociedad dugout for the first time. After a faltering start under the orders of Jagoba Arrasate, the side from Donostia has handed the reins to the Scottish manager.

Although hiring a foreign manager for a club that has always valued local talent may seem a little strange, history shows that the Txuri-urdin have often placed their trust in coaches who were born beyond the borders of Spain. After Moyes' debut in the Estadio de Riazor, LFP.es takes a look at the foreign managers who have left their mark in San Sebastián.

Harry Lowe: 1930-1935.  94 matches: 35 won, 10 drawn, 49 lost.  Although the Hungarian Lippo Hertzka was the first foreign manager to lead Real in a professional capacity, the Spanish league had still not been formed. Therefore, Lowe was the first overseas coach at the helm of the Basque outfit in the Liga BBVA. In his first season (1930-31), Lowe took Real to third place, level on points with the champions, but with an inferior goal difference. It was the club's best finish until 1979-80, when they end up in second place.

In the 1920s, Lippo Hertzka became the first foreign manager, but the Spanish league had not yet been formed

In addition, Real have the honour of having had the oldest footballer to play in the Spanish First Division. Lowe felt he had no choice to take part in a league match in the 1933-34 season, when he was 43 years old.

 

John Benjamin Toshack  323 matches: 127 won, 80 drawn and 116 lost. 10 seasons.  First spell, 1985-89. 50 years passed until Real's second foreign manager arrived in the dugout. The Welshman landed in San Sebastián in the summer of 1985, at just 36 years of age. The objective set for JB (John Benjamin) was by no means an easy task, as he had to fill the boots of Alberto Ormaechea, who won Real's only two league titles.

But Toshack quickly won over the club and the city, and despite a difficult first season, in his second he won the Copa del Rey. In his third season he finished as runner-up in the cup and the league, and after his fourth he left Real to train Real Madrid CF.

Welshman Toshack was at the club for a total of ten seasons, spread over three spells

Second spell, 1991-94.  Such was the impression the Welshman left in Donostia, that the club decided to bring him back at the start of the 1991-92 season: Real finished fifth in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup. The following season was a very special one for Real, as it was their last in the legendary Atocha stadium. In their last match of the championship, the Basque side beat CD Tenerife 3-1 to finish in 12th place. In the Anoeta, Real finished in 11th place the next season, and after the eleventh match of the 1994-95 season, Toshack left the Txuri-urdin dugout.

Third spell, 2000-2002. Halfway through the 2001-02 season, Real hired the Welshman once again to get them out of a difficult situation. Toshack found the team propping up the table on matchday 17, and took them to 13th. The following year, Toshack left the club for good (matchday 29), with the team occupying the penultimate spot.  Bernd Krauss: 1997-99.  85 matches: 32 won, 30 drawn and 23 lost.  The German coach surprised everyone during his season in San Sebastián, and Real finished the Liga BBVA in third position. In the following campaign, the team ended up mid-table and lost in the third round of the UEFA Cup to Atlético Madrid. Krauss left the club after matchday nine, when the team were flirting with the relegation zone.

Denouiex was the first French manager in the club's history, the second, Montanier, would come years later.

Reynald Denouiex: 2002-04.  76 matches: 33 won, 23 drawn and 20 lost.  After success with FC Nantes, Denouiex became the first French manager in the history of Real Sociedad. If Krauss' first campaign was outstanding, the Frenchman's debut in the Anoeta dugout was nothing short of spectacular. In a team with players such as Xabi Alonso, Valeri Karpin, Javier De Pedro, Nihat and Darko Kovačević, Real fought for the league title with Real Madrid and only gave up the leadership in the final match.  The following year, after bowing out in the second round of the UEFA Champions League, Real finished in 15th and the Frenchman left the club.

Chris Coleman: 2007-08 (Liga Adelante).  20 matches: 8 won, 7 drawn and 5 lost.  The second Welsh coach in the club's history was neither a disaster nor a success. He joined the side when Real were in the Liga Adelante and the goal was a return to the Liga BBVA, but Coleman resigned in January when the team was just one point from the promotion spots.

Martín Lasarte: 2009-11.  2009-10 (Liga Adelante). 42 matches: 20 won, 14 drawn and 8 lost.  2010-11 (Liga BBVA). 38 matches: 14 won, 3 drawn and 21 lost.  The Uruguayan manager, who had a special tie with Real and Gipuzkoa led the club to the Liga Adelante championship and, with it, the coveted promotion. The following season proved more difficult and he guided the team to 15th in the Spanish topflight.

Philippe Montanier: 2011-13.  76 matches: 30 won, 23 drawn and 23 lost.  After the experience with Lasarte, Real continued to look beyond the Spanish borders and hired Montanier, who had demonstrated his ability at Valenciennes FC. After a quiet first season, the Frenchman managed the team to fourth position in the 2012-13 league, qualifying them for the UEFA Champions League. Montanier left a great impression thanks to his attacking football and his commitment to the 4-3-3 system.