Sergio's Sad Farewell: 'My Real Sociedad Dream Didn't Go As Planned'
Former Real Sociedad boss Sergio Francisco pens emotional goodbye letter after his dismissal, reflecting on 11 years at the Basque club that ended in disappointment.
Sergio Francisco has called time on his Real Sociedad journey with a heartfelt letter, admitting his dream job in San Sebastián didn’t quite work out despite giving it his all.
11 Years of Service Ends in Disappointment
After more than a decade at Zubieta, La Real’s training complex, Francisco’s tenure has come to a rather unceremonious end. The gaffer, who worked his way up through the club’s ranks, described his departure as the end of a “vital cycle” that allowed him to grow both personally and professionally within the txuriurdin family.
In his goodbye message, Francisco made sure to thank several key figures who backed him along the way:
- Luki Iriarte - “the first who believed in me”
- Roberto Olabe - Former sporting director
- Erik Bretos - Academy director
Notably absent from his thank you list was club president Jokin Aperribay, which might raise a few eyebrows among the Anoeta faithful. Reading between the lines, it seems Francisco had minimal dealings with the top brass at boardroom level.
The Journey Through the Ranks
Francisco’s Real Sociedad CV is quite the impressive read, having managed:
- Easo (youth team)
- Real Sociedad C
- Real Sociedad B (Sanse)
- And finally, the first team
What makes his story particularly gutting is how he’d found success at every level before the top job. As he put it himself, despite giving his absolute best, “it didn’t work out as we wanted” with the senior squad.
Memorable Moments
In his farewell, Francisco highlighted some of his career highlights at the club:
- The promotion in Pasaia
- Playoff battles with Eldense and Alcorcón
- Sanse’s promotion at Zubieta
- The “GORRO goal” in the Basque derby
He also made sure to thank the supporters: “Eskerrik asko afición” (Thank you fans) for their “unconditional support, even in the most complicated moments.”
Looking Forward
Francisco closed his letter by looking to the future, though he admitted it would be “impossible to be, feel and enjoy” football elsewhere as he did at Real Sociedad.
It’s a proper shame how things turned out for the Irun-born coach. After climbing the ladder for over a decade, his time in the hot seat was brief and unsuccessful. Still, he leaves with his dignity intact and a wealth of experience that should serve him well in his next role, wherever that may be.
For La Real, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to get their season back on the right track. As we say in London, they’ll need to find their way out of Barney Rubble soon if they want to avoid a relegation scrap.