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.. The 1997-98 campaign was a season of spectacular resurgence for Real Sociedad as urdinak, under coach Bernd Krauss, clinched a magnificent 3rd-place finish in La Liga, their highest in over a decade. This crucial position secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Cup, marking a triumphant return to the European stage. Leading the charge was the powerful Serbian striker Darko Kovačević, whose 17 league goals proved vital in a campaign built on solid defensive work and an attacking platform that delivered a memorable 4-2 victory over rivals Real Madrid at the Anoeta Stadium. It was a golden year that re-established La Real as an elite force in Spanish football and remains a defining chapter in the club's modern history.