Matarazzo Hits the Ground Running: New La Real Boss Shows His Style at Zubieta
Pellegrino Matarazzo's first training session reveals his energetic coaching approach and delegation style, with assistant John Maisano playing a key communication role.
New Real Sociedad manager Pellegrino Matarazzo gave fans their first glimpse of his coaching style during an open training session at Zubieta – and it’s clear the Italian-American isn’t one to take a backseat.
Over 1,000 supporters packed the stands more than half an hour before the scheduled 11:30 start time, demonstrating that the passion for La Real remains strong despite recent struggles.
Communication and Delegation
One of the most notable aspects of the session was Matarazzo’s approach to communication:
- The new boss primarily communicated in English while assistant John Maisano delivered instructions in Spanish
- Maisano appeared to take a prominent role, especially early in the session
- Captain Mikel Oyarzabal helped ensure messages were properly understood by teammates
As the session progressed, Matarazzo’s presence grew more commanding, showing plenty of energy when providing tactical direction and corrections.
Training Structure
The session revealed glimpses of how Matarazzo organizes his training:
- Initially split players into three groups under different coaches (Maisano, Omer Toprak, and Felipe Sánchez Mateos)
- Frequently stopped exercises to make tactical adjustments
- Maintained high intensity throughout the 75-minute session
Retained staff from the previous regime were also visible, including set-piece specialist José Rodríguez, suggesting some continuity amid the change.
Fan Connection
After the session, Matarazzo and players spent time signing autographs and taking selfies with supporters, particularly the younger fans. The crowd had earlier made their feelings known about wanting more open training sessions beyond this special holiday occasion.
The former Hoffenheim and Stuttgart manager appears to be taking a hands-on approach while smartly utilizing his multilingual coaching team to overcome any language barriers – a promising sign as he begins the task of steering La Real back on course.