Pellegrino Matarazzo just became the first American manager to win a major trophy in Spanish football, steering Real Sociedad to Copa del Rey glory on penalties against Atletico Madrid. Let that land for a second.
The 48-year-old from New Jersey arrived in San Sebastián in December, having turned down MLS overtures and spent time recalibrating after leaving Hoffenheim. Fourteen La Liga games in, his side have lost just three. Add a Copa del Rey title and you have the most quietly compelling American coaching story in decades.
"I feel that this is just the beginning," Matarazzo said post-match. He's probably right — and if Sociedad earn a Europa League spot next season, which their form suggests is realistic, this project is only going to grow.
The USMNT job that got away — and may come back around
Context matters here. Matarazzo was a genuine candidate for the USMNT job when Gregg Berhalter left in 2024. U.S. Soccer went with Mauricio Pochettino's bigger name instead. Nobody could argue with that logic at the time. But Matarazzo's trajectory in Spain is going to make that conversation impossible to avoid the next time the national team job opens up.
He said all the right things when passed over: "Pochettino is an excellent choice... a big name like Pochettino can absolutely do" what U.S. Soccer needed emotionally heading into a home World Cup. Gracious, measured — and now also the most successful American coach working in Europe's top five leagues.
The rest of the USMNT picture
While Matarazzo thrives, Christian Pulisic is stuck. Still no goals or assists in Serie A this calendar year. Milan beat Hellas Verona on Sunday, but Pulisic didn't register a shot on target or create a single chance. The beard is new. The output is not.
Weston McKennie, by contrast, keeps delivering. His assist for Khephren Thuram-Ulien's goal in Juventus' win over Bologna was the standout moment in another complete midfield performance — the kind Pochettino can build around without a second thought.
And then there's Folarin Balogun, who simply will not stop scoring. A penalty in Monaco's comeback draw with Auxerre made it eight goals in eight Ligue 1 matches — ten in ten across all competitions. That form, combined with Haji Wright's Coventry City reaching the Premier League and Ricardo Pepi finding the net again for PSV, means Pochettino's striker options are healthier than they've looked in years.
- Brenden Aaronson assisted in Leeds' 3-0 win over Wolves and faces Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday
- Malik Tillman and Bayer Leverkusen host Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal semi-final on Wednesday
- Daryl Dike scored his first goal of the season for West Brom — timely, with a relegation scrap still very much alive
Pulisic vs. McKennie in Milan vs. Juventus on Sunday is the week's main event for USMNT watchers. One of them desperately needs a performance. You know which one.
