Real Sociedad appoints Sergio Francisco as manager for two seasons after Imanol Alguacil's decision not to renew

Real Sociedad have completed a change in the first team's coaching staff in just 24 hours and have announced that Sergio Francisco will replace Imanol Alguacil for the next two seasons. Sergio Francisco Ramos (Irún, 1979) has been the current coach of Sanse since the 2022-23 season, when he replaced Xabi Alonso . The coach will lead the reserve team tomorrow in their match against Unionistas de Salamanca, but from Monday he will join the planning for the 2025-2026 campaign alongside the new sporting director Erik Bretos .

Sergio Francisco, former Real Sociedad player and youth team coach, makes the jump to the first team after nearly seven years under Imanol Alguacil. The current Real Sociedad manager announced his decision yesterday, Thursday, to leave San Sebastián, adhering to the timeline he himself had announced for finalizing his future. Alguacil's departure will take place at the end of the current season, so the Orio coach will, in principle, remain in charge while his successor begins planning a revamped sporting project.

Sergio Francisco's promotion to the first team comes as a handover of the sporting directorship also takes place, with Roberto Olabe handing over to Bretos. Bretos has been part of Olabe's team since 2018 after joining Real Sociedad from Eibar. A journalist by profession, Erik Bretos, 35, had no previous experience as a player or coach.

Sergio Francisco, however, did come through Real's youth ranks and made five appearances for the team in 2000. Since 2024, he has been coaching Real's youth teams. His greatest success in the dugout was the promotion of Real's third team to the Second Division of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). He has managed Sanse for the past three seasons, doing a "brilliant job," according to Real's statement confirming his appointment as first-team coach.