C.D. Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad
Full nameClub Deportivo Real Sociedad
Nickname(s)El Gigante del Aguán" (The Giant of Aguán)
La Realeza (The Royalty)
Los Aceiteros (The Palm Oilers)
Founded1986; 38 years ago (1986)
GroundEstadio Francisco Martínez Durón
Tocoa, Colón
Capacity6,000
OwnerRicardo Elencoff
ManagerJhon Jairo López
LeagueLiga Nacional
2019 AperturaLiga Nacional, 9th (regular season)
DNQ (postseason)

Club Deportivo Real Sociedad, commonly known as Real Sociedad (pronounced [ˈkluβ ðepoɾˈtiβo reˈal sosjeˈðað]), is a Honduran football club based on Tocoa, Colón, Honduras.

History

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Real Sociedad reached the Liga Nacional de Ascenso (the Honduran second flight) in 1988, and played there until the 2011–2012 season. Their success in that season saw them earn promotion to the top flight. In their first season, the 2012 Apertura (first season), they finished dead last and were in serious danger of instant relegation. The team's board of directors began replenishing the team with a host of signings. First came Julio César de León, an attacking midfielder and free kick specialist then playing in Italy. Next came midfielder Elkin González, forward Juan Cárcamo, and keeper Sandro Carcamo. All these players were on the older side, but their experience steeled the team. They then secured young striker Rony Martínez on loan and played him alongside quick center forward Diego Reyes. Suddenly, Real Sociedad was a team to be reckoned with.

The clausura tournament saw the Tocoeños surge to the opposite end of the table. Not only were they well clear of relegation, they finished second and earned an automatic berth in the Clausura semi-finals. There, they beat 5–2 on aggregate and earned the right to face Olimpia in the championship finals. No Honduran club has been quite as successful as Olimpia, but Real Sociedad took them to the limit, winning the first leg of the tie 1–0. It wasn't enough, as Olimpia ultimately prevailed 2–1, but Real Sociedad had secured themselves in the top flight.

The suddenly well-stocked team continued to compete, finishing top of the table in the 2013 Apertura regular season. They reached the finals again, only to lose on penalties to Real España. They also qualified for the 2014 Clausura playoffs, losing in the semi-finals. Overall, Real Sociedad's 17 wins in 36 matches made them the most successful team in the 2013–2014 season (although they did not win any championships.

Over the next several years, Sociedad was a regular playoff participant and reached the finals in both the 2014 Apertura and 2016 Clausura. However, the 2017–2018 season saw their form collapse. They finished 7th in the Apertura and dead last in the Clausura. A late season surge by Honduras Progreso doomed them to relegation, ending their first stint in the top flight.

Achievements

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Real Sociedad qualified to their first final just after one year of being promoted into the first division. They defeated Victoria 5–2 aggregate and later faced Olimpia, giving Colón its first final in history.

Runners-up (4): 2012–13 C, 2013–14 A, 2014–15 A, 2015–16 C
Winners (2): 2011–12 A, 2018–19 A
Runners-up (3): 1997–98, 2010–11 C, 2011–12 C

Domestic history

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Season League Post Season Honduran Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Div. Stg. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Pos. GS GA Name League
2012–13 1st Apertura 10th 18 4 5 9 13 21 17 N/A - Rony Martínez 12 Honduras Raúl Martínez Sambulá
Colombia Jairo Ríos
Clausura 2nd 18 8 6 4 23 13 30 Runner-up 6 4
2013–14 1st Apertura 1st 18 8 6 4 29 21 30 Runner-up 6 6 - Rony Martínez 24 Honduras Héctor Castellón
Honduras Mauro Reyes
Clausura 2nd 18 9 4 5 32 21 31 Semi-final 0 1
2014–15 1st Apertura 5th 18 7 6 5 25 18 27 Runner-up 7 7 Round of 16 Osman Melgares 7 Honduras Mauro Reyes
Colombia Horacio Londoño
Clausura 5th 18 4 10 4 14 16 22 Play-offs 0 2

Current squad

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As of 22 July 2023[1]

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 Colombia COL Jefferson Sánchez
2 DF Honduras HON Deyron Martínez
3 DF Honduras HON Marel Álvarez
7 FW Honduras HON Diego Reyes
9 FW Honduras HON Marco Tulio Vega
11 FW Honduras HON Rony Martínez (captain)
12 MF Uruguay URU Álvaro Torres
13 DF Colombia COL Luis Ortiz
14 MF Honduras HON Jorge Cardona
15 DF Honduras HON Michael Osorio
17 MF Honduras HON Kelvin Matute
18 DF Honduras HON Wilmer Crisanto
23 MF Honduras HON Edder Delgado
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF Honduras HON Samuel Pozantes
26 MF Honduras HON Henry Güity
28 DF Honduras HON César Oseguera
30 MF Honduras HON Daniel Rocha
31 DF Honduras HON Klifox Bernárdez
34 FW Honduras HON Brayan Nuñez
35 GK Honduras HON José García
- GK Honduras HON José Pineda
- DF Honduras HON Elder Ramos
- MF Honduras HON Shalton Arzú
- MF Honduras HON Joshua Nieto
- FW Honduras HON Roney Bernárdez

List of coaches

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References

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  1. ^ "Plantilla en la web oficial".
  2. ^ Separado Sambulá; suena Javier Padilla Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine – La Tribuna (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Jairo Ríos no seguirá con Real Sociedad  – Diez (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Héctor Castellón: "No pienso en solo salvar la categoría" – La Prensa (in Spanish)
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