Editing Real Sociedad (section)

===The success of the 1980s===
The team finished as runners-up in La Liga for the first time in [[1979–80 La Liga|1979–80]], gaining 52 points compared to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]'s 53, and 13 points clear of third-placed [[Sporting de Gijón]]. Real Sociedad won its first ever Primera División title at the end of the [[1980–81 La Liga|1980–81 season]], denying Real Madrid a fourth-consecutive title because although both clubs earned 45 points and Madrid had the superior goal difference Sociedad were better in the head-to-heads.<ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist7989.html |title=Spain 1980/81 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> This qualified La Real for the [[1981–82 European Cup]], where they were eliminated in the first round by [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]] of Bulgaria, who hosted and won the first leg 1–0. The second leg in Spain was a 0–0 draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1981/matches/round=1028/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205161441/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1981/matches/round=1028/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 5, 2011|title=UEFA Champions League 1981/82 - History - 1st – UEFA.com|work=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>

[[File:Real sociedad jarraitzaileak 0002.JPG|thumb|224x224px|Real Sociedad supporters at the streets of [[San Sebastián]]]]
The club retained the Liga title the [[1981–82 La Liga|following season]], beating Barcelona by 47 points to 45, under the management of [[Alberto Ormaetxea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://footballcraze.contentcreatorz.com/performance-record-of-real-sociedad-football-club/|title=Performance record of Real Sociedad football Club|work=contentcreatorz.com|access-date=2011-12-21|archive-date=2011-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417202831/http://footballcraze.contentcreatorz.com/performance-record-of-real-sociedad-football-club/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Forward [[Jesús María Satrústegui]] was the club's top scorer for 1980–81 with 16 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1980.html|title=Real Sociedad 1980–1981|work=free-elements.com|access-date=2011-12-21|archive-date=2011-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225123751/http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1980.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He scored 13 the following season as [[Pedro Uralde]] was the top scorer, with 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1981.html|title=Real Sociedad 1981–1982|work=free-elements.com|access-date=2011-12-21|archive-date=2011-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225083251/http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1981.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The club reached the semi-finals of the [[1982–83 European Cup]], defeating [[Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur|Víkingur]] of Iceland, [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and [[Sporting Clube de Portugal]] before losing 3–2 on aggregate to eventual champions [[Hamburger SV]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63866--hamburg-vs-real-sociedad/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2025-03-22 |archive-date=2024-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227082518/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63866--hamburg-vs-real-sociedad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Real Sociedad won the [[Supercopa de España]] at the beginning of the [[1982–83 La Liga|1982–83 season]], overturning a 1–0 defeat in the first leg to defeat Real Madrid 4–1 on aggregate.

On 11 March 1987, Real Sociedad set a record for most goals in a quarter-final of the Copa del Rey after defeating [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] 10–1. In the semi-finals of the [[1986–87 Copa del Rey|same tournament]], it beat its [[Basque derby|Basque rivals]] [[Athletic Bilbao]] 1–0 over two legs. On 27 June 1987, Real Sociedad won its first Copa del Rey title, defeating [[Atlético Madrid]] 4–2 on penalties after drawing 2–2. The match was held at [[La Romareda]] in [[Zaragoza]], [[Aragon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1987.html |title=Copa del Rey 1987 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> In the following season's Copa del Rey, Real Sociedad defeated Atlético Madrid again after defeating them in the quarter-finals. It then beat Real Madrid 5–0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, but lost 1–0 in the final to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] at Real Madrid's [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]] on 30 March 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1988.html |title=Copa del Rey 1988 |website=rssf.com |access-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> In the [[1987–88 La Liga]], Real Sociedad were runners-up for the first time since its lost its title – with 51 points to Real Madrid's 62 – and three points clear of third-placed Atlético Madrid.<ref name="rsssf.com"/>

[[File:John Aldridge.JPG|thumb|left|144x144px|The Republic of Ireland international [[John Aldridge]] was Real Sociedad's first non-Basque player, and was the club's top scorer during both of his seasons from 1989 to 1991]]
For many years, Real Sociedad followed the practice of its Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao of [[Athletic Bilbao signing policy|signing only Basque players]]. It abandoned the policy in 1989 when it signed [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Irish international]] [[John Aldridge]] from [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2007/04/25/john_aldridge.shtml|title=BBC – Oxford – Oxford Inspires - John Aldridge|work=bbc.co.uk|access-date=2011-12-22|archive-date=2023-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813182124/https://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2007/04/25/john_aldridge.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Aldridge scored 16 goals in his first season to be the club's top scorer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1989.html|title=Real Sociedad 1989–1990|work=free-elements.com|access-date=2011-12-22|archive-date=2011-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225131739/http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1989.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and fourth-highest scorer of the entire league as La Real finished fifth.<ref name="rsssf.com1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist8999.html |title=Spain, Final Tables 1989-1999 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023191722/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist8999.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, La Real signed an English striker, [[Dalian Atkinson]] of [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfp.es/default.aspx?tabid=113&Controltype=plan&IDEquipo=32&IDTemporada=090&IDDivision=1&language=en-GB|title=Página web Oficial de la Liga de Fútbol Profesional – Liga de Fútbol Profesional|work=lfp.es|access-date=2011-12-22|archive-date=2011-06-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110606121543/http://www.lfp.es/default.aspx?tabid=113&Controltype=plan&IDEquipo=32&IDTemporada=090&IDDivision=1&language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref> who therefore became the club's first black player.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/feb/25/aldridge-richardson-and-atkinson-at-real-sociedad-goals-class-red-ferrari |title=Goals, class, a red Ferrari: Aldridge, Richardson and Atkinson at la Real |author-link=Sid Lowe |last=Lowe |first=Sid |work=The Guardian |date=25 February 2021 |access-date=25 February 2021 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204158/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/feb/25/aldridge-richardson-and-atkinson-at-real-sociedad-goals-class-red-ferrari |url-status=live }}</ref> He scored 12 goals in his first season, second at the club only to Aldridge's 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1990.html|title=Real Sociedad 1990–1991|work=free-elements.com|access-date=2011-12-22|archive-date=2011-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225073827/http://free-elements.com/Spain/Goals/Res/Res1990.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That was Aldridge's final season at La Real, and he left to play in the English 2nd tier at [[Tranmere Rovers]], while Atkinson left to join top-flight [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].

In [[1997–98 La Liga|1997–98]], Real Sociedad finished third, its best finish since being runners-up for the first time since 1988. Its total of 63 points was 11 less than champions Barcelona but just two less than runners-up Athletic Bilbao. The club finished higher in the table than Real Madrid due to a superior goal differential.<ref name="rsssf.com1"/> Yugoslav striker [[Darko Kovačević]] scored 17 times that season, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://free-elements.com/Spain/Seasons/E1997.html|title=La Liga Top Scorers – 1997–1998|work=free-elements.com}}</ref> The third-place finish qualified La Real for the [[1998–99 UEFA Cup]], where it beat [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] and [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] before being knocked out in the third round by Atlético Madrid.