The 1996-97 campaign delivered a season of solid mid-table consolidation for Real Sociedad as urdinak secured a respectable 8th-place finish in La Liga under manager Javier Irureta. This season was notably the last to be played with 22 teams before the league structure was reduced. Leading the charge as joint top scorers were the popular Romanian striker Gheorghe 'Gică' Craioveanu and the homegrown left-midfielder Javier 'Javi' de Pedro, who each netted 8 crucial goals. Craioveanu's attacking threat and de Pedro's thunderous left-foot strikes proved vital in a campaign that set a stable foundation for the club's push toward European qualification the following year.