Founded in San Sebastian in 1909, Real Sociedad is one of the Basque Country's most prominent clubs. They achieved back-to-back La Liga titles in 1980-81 and 1981-82, and came agonisingly close again in 2003. In recent years, the club has returned to the Champions League and established itself once again among Spain's elite.

The "Basque Derby" against Athletic Club is one of Spanish football's fiercest rivalries. Located in the culinary capital of San Sebastian, the club is deeply rooted in the region's identity.

Reale Arena (formerly Anoeta) opened in 1993 and underwent a major renovation from 2017 to 2019, expanding capacity to 39,500. The transformation removed the old athletics track, bringing fans closer to the pitch and dramatically improving the matchday atmosphere.

In December 2025, Italian-American Pellegrino Matarazzo became the first American manager in La Liga history. He has revitalised a team that had been struggling under predecessor Sergio Francisco, significantly improving the win rate since his appointment. His Bundesliga experience with Stuttgart has provided a tactical foundation that is steadily taking shape.