C.D. Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad
Full name	Club Deportivo Real Sociedad
Nickname(s)	La Realeza (The Royalty); Los Aceiteros (The Palm Oilers)
Founded	1986; 38 years ago
Ground	Estadio Francisco Martínez Durón; Tocoa, Colón
Capacity	6,000
Owner	Ricardo Elencoff
Manager	Mauro Reyes
League	Liga Nacional
2019 Apertura	Liga 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

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

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.

Liga Nacional

Runners-up (4): 2012–13 C, 2013–14 A, 2014–15 A, 2015–16 C

Segunda División / Liga de Ascenso

Winners (2): 2011–12 A, 2018–19 A

Runners-up (3): 1997–98, 2010–11 C, 2011–12 C

Domestic history

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