MADRID – A 48-year-old American coach who studied mathematics at Columbia and grew up watching Diego Maradona play for Napoli is now part of the history of Spanish club Real Sociedad in the Basque Country.
Pellegrino “Rino” Matarazzo led Sociedad to its fourth Copa del Rey title on Saturday with a penalty-shootout win over Atletico Madrid. This victory marks a significant milestone as it is the first career title for Matarazzo, who left the United States to pursue his dream of playing soccer professionally, ultimately transitioning into a managerial role in Germany.
“Just the feeling you have of ‘wow, wow, this happened, we did it, we did it,’” exclaimed Matarazzo, reflecting on the remarkable journey that saw Sociedad rise from a perilous position near the relegation zone to lifting the prestigious Copa del Rey trophy in less than four months.
Hired in December when Sociedad was merely two points above relegation, Matarazzo guided the team not only to safety but also on a title run in the Copa, which he described as “an unbelievable journey.”
“If you think about all the games that we played, every game has been very very special since I arrived and I think we finished with a very special game,” the soft-spoken Matarazzo said, soaking in the moment of triumph.
Despite his pivotal role in the team’s resurgence, Matarazzo was quick to credit his players’ talent and character for their impressive performance throughout the tournament. “I’m very grateful to be manager of this club, very very grateful,” he said, emphasizing the collective effort that contributed to their success.
Italian Roots and Early Life
Matarazzo hails from an Italian family whose parents emigrated to the United States for work. He grew up in New Jersey, where his first language was Italian. His passion for soccer was ignited as he watched Serie A matches on a small television in his father’s bedroom during the era of Argentine great Diego Maradona.
Soccer was not widely popular in the United States during his childhood, yet Matarazzo’s enthusiasm for the sport endured. Before moving to Germany to pursue his playing career, he earned a degree in mathematics from Columbia University, a background he acknowledges has assisted him in coaching, although he emphasizes that coaching is fundamentally about people.
Career in Germany
Matarazzo’s journey began with aspirations of playing in Italy; however, broken promises from agents led him back to the United States. A friend’s invitation to Germany opened a new chapter in his life, leading him to stay in the country for over two decades despite not knowing the language initially.
Starting in the fourth division, Matarazzo transitioned into coaching with Nuremberg’s reserves and youth teams. His career progressed as he served as an assistant to Julian Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim, eventually becoming the head coach at Stuttgart, where he successfully led the club back to the Bundesliga.
After being released by Stuttgart in late 2022, Matarazzo briefly coached Hoffenheim before embarking on his latest venture with Real Sociedad. His early success in Spain has sparked hope for a prolonged, fruitful tenure.
“I hope that we continue to stay ambitious because we still have seven games left in La Liga and we can do more,” he stated, reflecting on the road ahead. “I’m not done yet, and hopefully we are not done yet.”
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