2011–12 Real Sociedad season

Real Sociedad

2011–12 season
President	Jokin Aperribay
Head coach	Philippe Montanier
Stadium	Anoeta
La Liga	12th
Copa del Rey	Round of 16
Top goalscorer	League: Carlos Vela (12) All: Vela-Agirretxe (12)
Home colours Away colours
← 2010–11 2012–13 →

The 2011–12 season was Real Sociedad's 66th season in La Liga. After managing to stay up in the previous season the Basque club sacked Martín Lasarte and appointed Philippe Montanier as a new coach.

This article shows player statistics and all matches (official and friendly) that the club played during the 2011–12 season.

Season summary

The Season started with the appointment of Philippe Montanier as a coach, and promises from the local media of a new ball-playing approach. The new campaign got off to a good start as Real Sociedad won its first game, away to Sporting Gijón. This optimism would not last, as the club found itself bottom of the table by late November. Talk of Montanier's imminent dismissal became overwhelming but two unexpected victories kept the Frenchman in the job. The first, away against Real Betis, was sealed in extra time when Iñigo Martínez shot from midfield, surprising the goalkeeper. This goal became a hit throughout Europe and was nominated as one of the goals of the season. The second victory, against Malaga, was obtained in extra-time too. It is widely accepted that without these two wins Montanier would have been sacked.

Towards the end of 2011 the Basque club stabilized in higher positions and relegation looked unlikely as Sporting Gijon, Racing Santander and Real Zaragoza looked already doomed. On the 36th round Real Sociedad mathematically avoided an unlikely relegation after defeating Racing Santander at home. The club finished in 12th position, with 47 points. Despite the improvement from the previous season and acceptable point tally, criticism of Montanier was widespread. Sections of the media and fans were disappointed in the style of play and Montanier's alleged lack of ambition. During a home game against Real Betis, a number of fans called for Montanier's resignation while the game was in play, and the score was 1–1.

Copa del Rey

In the cup the club met Granada. A home win was enough to knock the Andalusians out, despite being beaten and thoroughly outplayed in the second leg. Similarly, Mallorca were beaten at Anoeta, but a catastrophic second leg sent Real Sociedad out the competition after being defeated 6–1.

Others

Real Sociedad reached an agreement with Nike, who became the official suppliers of the team's kit and training clothing. Thus Real Sociedad ended a 17-year relationship with basque kit providers Astore ^[1]

Players

Squad information

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  CHI Claudio Bravo 2 DF  ESP Carlos Martínez 3 DF  ESP Mikel González 4 MF  ESP Gorka Elustondo 5 MF  ESP Markel Bergara 7 MF  FRA Antoine Griezmann 8 FW  ESP Joseba Llorente 9 FW  ESP Imanol Agirretxe 10 MF  ESP Xabier Prieto 11 MF  ESP Mikel Aranburu (captain) 13 GK  ESP Eñaut Zubikarai 14 MF  NED Jeffrey Sarpong 15 DF  ESP Ion Ansotegi

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 DF  NOR Vadim Demidov 17 MF  FRA David Zurutuza 18 MF  KEN McDonald Mariga 19 MF  ALG Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba 20 MF  ESP Asier Illarramendi 21 FW  URU Diego Ifrán 22 DF  ESP Dani Estrada 23 FW  MEX Carlos Vela 24 DF  ESP Alberto de la Bella 25 GK  ESP Toño Ramírez 26 DF  ESP Iñigo Martínez 27 MF  ESP Rubén Pardo

^[2]

Start formations

Starting XI

Lineup that started most of the club's competitive matches throughout the season.

The formation above is not the standard lineup during the season. It is unclear whether the team played 4–3–3 or 4–2–3–1. Griezmann and Prieto often switched sides. Carlos Vela played in different attacking positions: wide left, off the striker and as a false nine. Cadamuro-Bentaïba was used as left-back instead of De la Bella as the latter was absent for a long period due to technical decisions and injuries.

The season was marked by the lack of a defined best 11, with constant changes that were not always understood by the local media and fans.

Player stats

Squad stats
Nr.	Player	Games played	Starting	Sub	Subbed	Mins played	Goals	Pens. Won	Pens. Comm.	Fouls suff.	Fouls comm.	Yellow C	Red c	Assists	Passes	Good passes
27	Griezmann	35	28	7	7	2739	7	1	0	29	37	5	0	37	1051	709
17	Zurutuza	33	30	3	12	2618	3	0	0	62	58	4	0	30	1467	1145
	Carlos Vela	35	28	7	15	2573	12	0	0	75	40	2	0	37	1009	730
10	Xabi Prieto	34	25	9	6	2411	2	0	0	59	20	1	0	35	1311	949
22	Estrada	29	25	4	6	2356	2	0	0	25	22	8	0	12	1363	985
3	Mikel González	28	25	3	1	2311	1	0	0	6	25	9	1	3	905	738
	Iñigo Martínez	26	26	0	1	2310	3	0	2	27	38	10	2	6	1086	840
9	Agirretxe	36	27	9	20	2287	10	0	0	45	29	1	0	21	625	389
11	Aranburu	29	26	3	12	2239	2	0	0	33	18	3	0	15	910	702
	Demidov	23	20	3	2	1922	0	0	1	19	11	5	0	1	653	508
24	De la Bella	21	21	0	1	1906	0	0	0	12	16	4	0	18	1019	776
2	Carlos Martínez	21	19	2	2	1763	0	0	1	35	11	2	1	18	972	683
4	Elustondo	17	16	1	2	1461	1	0	0	12	20	6	2	4	691	528
	Illarramendi	18	16	2	6	1456	0	0	0	29	26	3	1	15	779	608
	Cadamuro-Bentaïba	19	13	6	3	1294	0	0	0	13	20	6	0	12	622	453
	Mariga	14	10	4	3	999	0	0	0	12	16	1	0	6	444	356
15	Ansotegi	9	8	1	0	776	0	0	0	7	5	2	0	1	258	199
5	Bergara	11	9	2	4	728	0	0	0	8	12	4	0	2	309	242
21	Diego Ifrán	16	4	12	3	526	1	0	0	12	8	4	0	3	105	59
	Rubén Pardo	15	2	13	2	390	1	0	0	3	7	0	0	9	188	141
8	Joseba Llorente	17	1	16	0	336	0	0	0	2	7	4	0	1	76	49
	Sarpong	3	1	2	1	95	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	43	29
	Javi Ros	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper stats
Dorsal	Jugadores	Games played	Starting	Sub.	Substituted	Minutes played	Goals	Saves	Penalties committed	Fouls received	Fouls committed	Yellow cards	Red cards
1	Bravo	37	37	0	0	3487	51	134	0	0	3	3	1
13	Zubikarai	1	1	0	0	93	1	5	0	0	0	1	0
	Toño	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Transfers

Martín Lasarte had his contract rescinded by the club almost immediately after the end of the season, being paid €50,000 for it.^[3] After some speculation Philippe Montanier was appointed as new coach, for which Valenciennes received €500,000 from Real Sociedad.^[4]

Controversially Diego Rivas was not offered a new contract and abandoned the club. Similarly Raul Tamudo left the club after a successful one-year stay. Experienced centre-half Mikel Labaka signed for Rayo Vallecano on a free transfer, ending a 14-year-long relationship with the club. Sutil was let go to Real Murcia after a season spent mostly on the bench.

Young prospects Borja Viguera, Alex Albistegi and Iñigo Sarasola returned to the club at the end of their loan spells. Iosu Esnaola signed for Noja and Sarasola and Albistegi had their contracts rescinded. Albistegi signed for Logroñes later that summer.

Out

Player	New Team	Fee
Diego Rivas	Hércules CF	Free, end of contract.
Raúl Tamudo	Rayo Vallecano[5]	Free, end of contract.
Iñigo Sarasola		Contract rescinded [6]
Iosu Esnaola	SD Noja[7]	Free[8]
Francisco Sutil	Real Murcia	Free, contract rescided[9]
Alex Albistegi	Logroñés	Free, contract rescided [10]
Mikel Labaka	Rayo Vallecano[11]	Free, contract rescinded

Loan out

Player	Team
Borja Viguera	Gimnàstic de Tarragona[12]
Jeffrey Sarpong	NAC Breda[13]

Jeffrey Sarpong was loaned to Dutch club NAC Breda in the winter transfer window.

Loan return

Player	From
Borja Viguera	Gimnàstic de Tarragona, (who rescinded Viguera's contract in January)
Iñigo Sarasola	Real Unión
Iosu Esnaola	Real Unión, UD Lanzarote (April onwards)
Alex Albistegi	Eibar

Loan in

Player	From
Carlos Vela	Arsenal[14][15]
McDonald Mariga	Internazionale[16]

Loan end

Player	To
McDonald Mariga	Internazionale

McDonald Mariga, who had been signed on loan for a season from Inter Milan, returned to Italy during the winter window after a series of disappointing performances for Real Sociedad. Inter Milan loaned the Kenian again, this time to Parma.^[17]

Pre-season

League

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

King's cup

Round of 32

Round of 16

External links

• Real Sociedad Fixtures and Results 2011–2012

References