La Liga
Real Sociedad has decided to make a significant change in the middle of the season after confirming the dismissal of Sergio Francisco, a decision made after several weeks of internal reflection and inadequate results.
The txuri-urdin team is currently in fifteenth place in LaLiga, far from the objectives set at the beginning of the season, and the board believes that the project needed a profound change to avert further troubles and regain competitiveness.
The departure of Sergio Francisco is not only due to a temporary bad streak but to the widespread feeling of sporting stagnation. The team has lost solidity, identity, and consistency, qualities that have always been the hallmark of Real Sociedad. With the transfer market and the schedule tightening, the club understood that maintaining the current course posed excessive risks.
Real Sociedad and the end of Sergio Francisco's era
The project led by Sergio Francisco was born with the intention of maintaining a recognizable idea, based on the academy and an orderly style of football. However, the lack of results and the disconnect between plan and performance ended up weakening his position. Real Sociedad considered the context, the standings, and the internal atmosphere before making a decision that, while tough, is deemed necessary.
The club insists that the decision was made solely thinking about the immediate future and the need to reactivate. The squad, comprising established players and promising youngsters, requires clear leadership to compete every weekend without complexes or doubts, something that was not being achieved regularly.
Thiago Motta, the strategic signing for the dugout
In this scenario, the name of Thiago Motta emerges strongly as the leading candidate to take charge of the team, as reported by Kike Marín. Real Sociedad sees in the Italo-Brazilian coach a modern profile, with clear ideas and the ability to build competitive teams through organization and intensity. His potential arrival is seen as a key signing, beyond just names or schemes.
Thiago Motta is appreciated for his tactical approach, his focus on high pressure, and his skill in enhancing collective performance. His adaptability to demanding situations and his ability to get the best out of young squads are particularly valued in the philosophy of Real Sociedad.
Everything points to Thiago Motta becoming the new coach of #RealSociedad According to what I'm told, the deal would be closed. pic.twitter.com/pnc1x6uC1b
— Kike Marin** (@Kike_Marin_) December 14, 2025
A project looking towards the market and the immediate future
The hiring of Thiago Motta is not seen as a short-term fix but as the start of a new cycle. The sporting management believes that this appointment in the dugout could set the team's course for the coming years, as long as it is accompanied by coherent decisions in the market and a clear roadmap.
The winter transfer window presents an opportunity to adjust the squad, address deficiencies, and strengthen key positions. Real Sociedad does not anticipate a revolution but strategic moves that allow the new coach to work with greater flexibility and competitiveness from day one.

Context, pressure, and expectations at Anoeta
The pressure surrounding Real Sociedad has increased significantly. The fans demand answers and a recognizable team, while the board seeks stability without sacrificing ambition. The potential arrival of Thiago Motta creates anticipation but also responsibility, given the narrow margin for error.
The new coach must face a demanding schedule, regain the trust of the squad, and guide the team back to a position in the table that aligns with its potential. The challenge is considerable, but the club believes that the change was essential to reinvigorate a season that had dangerously strayed off course.
With Sergio Francisco's era finished and the focus on the signing of Thiago Motta, Real Sociedad is gearing up for a turning point that could define its present and immediate future in LaLiga.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La Real Sociedad ya tiene al sustituto de Sergio Francisco
