Sociedad to dispense with Arrasate

Real Sociedad will sack manager Jagoba Arrasate this week after the side continued their awful start to the new season. Former Mainz boss Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to take over at the Anoeta, with ex-West Brom and Real Betis manager Pepe Mel also in contention.

The news comes following Sociedad’s weekend draw with Cordoba as La Real conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with the newly promoted side. With that result, Sociedad extended their winless run to seven games and dropped down to 17th place, yet to win since their 4-2 victory over Real Madrid.

Arrasate, who took on the role of first team coach in 2013, has failed to bring Sociedad back to their peak when they qualified for the Champions League last season. He presided over a dismal campaign in Europe as Sociedad won just one point and failed to compete in a group featuring Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk.

A 7th place finish was sealed last season, meaning qualification to the Europa League, though La Real suffered an embarrassing defeat to Kuban of Russia in the qualifying stages. Results have failed to pick up at all this season and Arrasate will soon be released from his duties.

Tuchel is the leading contender to replace Arrasate, though Sociedad will have to work out the complications in his Mainz contract, despite leaving the club in May. Having led Mainz to a Europa League spot in the Bundesliga, Tuchel requested to leave the club, but Mainz rejected this and Tuchel remains contracted to the club. Sociedad will have to compensate Mainz to release Tuchel from his contract despite not managing them this season.

If that fails, Sociedad could move for Pepe Mel,who left West Brom in the summer. Mel led Betis to the Europa League but was sacked as matters turned ugly last season, turning up at The Hawthorns to steer the Baggies to safety. He has been out of work since his six-month stint in England.

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