Francisco to replace Imanol as Real Sociedad coach

Real Sociedad have confirmed B team coach Sergio Francisco will step up to lead their first team next season, following Imanol Alguacil’s surprise resignation.

Imanol, who took the reins in December 2018 and led La Real to Copa del Rey glory in 2020, announced on Thursday he will step down at the end of the season.

La Real have never finished lower than sixth in LaLiga in their five full seasons under Imanol, finishing fifth in 2020-21 and going one better in 2022-23, when they made the top four and qualified for the Champions League.

That will almost certainly change this term as they sit 10th in LaLiga with five games remaining, 10 points adrift of the top six but still in with a chance of European qualification.

They were also eliminated from the Europa League in the last 16 by Manchester United, and the Red Devils will face their fierce rivals Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of that competition.

Francisco, who started his playing career with La Real, has coached their C and B teams since reing the club in 2017.

He has signed a contract as first-team head coach to run until 2027 and will take charge of Real Sociedad B for the final time on Saturday, with the side currently fourth in their group at the third-tier level.

Francisco first took charge of the B team in 2022, when former boss Xabi Alonso left for Bayer Leverkusen.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Sergio Francisco will take over as the first-team coach. pic.twitter.com/d7cly3KlMR

— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN) April 25, 2025