Odriozola's emotional homecoming as daughters watch him shine at Anoeta
The Real Sociedad full-back fulfilled his dream of having his twin daughters see him play at Anoeta Stadium after a turbulent period at the club.
After a summer where he seemed more out than in at Real Sociedad, Álvaro Odriozola has completed his heartwarming comeback story by fulfilling his most cherished wish - having his young daughters watch him play at Anoeta.
From outcast to emotional comeback
Back in September, after finally getting minutes under new manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, Odriozola made a statement that tugged at the heartstrings of football fans everywhere: “My dream is to have my daughters see me run at Anoeta.”
The context makes this moment even more special. The Donostia-born defender had been completely frozen out under the previous management, to the point where:
- He was placed on the transfer list during the summer
- The club stripped him of his number 2 shirt, giving it to Jon Mikel Aramburu
- He was eventually assigned the number 20 jersey when no transfer materialized
- He faced the real possibility of leaving in January
A father’s dream realized
Odriozola and his wife Inés Laffón welcomed twin daughters in December 2024, but the defender’s lack of playing time meant the little ones hadn’t seen their dad in action at the Reale Arena. In fact, Odriozola had only played one home match in all of 2025 due to injuries and being out of favor.
But football, like life, loves a good comeback story. Against Celta Vigo on Sunday, not only did Odriozola continue his renaissance under Matarazzo with another strong performance, but he did so with his twin daughters watching from the stands.
The afternoon kick-off time (rather than an evening match) allowed for the perfect moment, with Odriozola’s daughters later joining him on the hallowed Anoeta turf after the game.
Matarazzo’s impact
It’s worth noting how dramatically Odriozola’s fortunes have changed under the new gaffer. His season debut only came in the seventh La Liga matchday against Barcelona, when he was thrust into action after Aramburu picked up an injury during the warm-up and with Elustondo unavailable.
Since Matarazzo’s arrival, Odriozola has delivered three impressive performances against Osasuna, Barcelona and Celta - all at Anoeta. It’s a proper Bobby Dazzler of a comeback for a player who seemed destined for the exit door just months ago.
Nine years after his spectacular emergence at the top level, Odriozola is once again thriving at the stadium where it all began - now with his biggest fans watching from the stands.