The fans of Real Sociedad have a distinctive way of marking every goal they score.
Why do supporters celebrate by leaping and embracing with their backs toward the pitch? That question comes up often after each goal by the Spanish club. Real Sociedad followers of San Sebastian share a unique post-goal ritual that has become part of the club’s identity.
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Why do Real Sociedad fans celebrate goals by jumping and hugging with their backs to the pitch?
The goal celebration has grown into a cherished tradition. The scene unfolds with fans facing away from the playing field, arms linked over shoulders, and synchronized small jumps while chanting a familiar chorus. The refrain goes on as long as the verse lasts, and a second pass of the same melody is echoed while the crowd looks outward toward the surrounding landscape.
Scholars note that the tune behind the chant appears to draw inspiration from a classic rhythm heard in Latin American music. The original melody, associated with a 1958 composition by José Manzo Perroni and popularized by Hugo Blanco Manzo, inspired the mood but does not replicate the exact tune. The enduring appeal lies not in rote imitation but in a shared moment of unity that fans of Real Sociedad welcome as part of the game-day experience.
To understand the phrase Dale Cavese, one must travel to Cava de’ Tirreni, a small town in southern Italy within the Campania region. Cavese 1919, a modest club in Italy’s fourth tier, has a storied connection to a memorable incident there.
The tale, recounted by Eduardo Valencia on a dedicated fansite in May 2023, centers on a center-back during Cavese 1919’s promotion to Serie C1 in 2005-2006. The player bonded with the home crowd, and a friendship with a young supporter named Catello Mari grew into a tradition of dedicating goals to the Curva Sud of the Stadio Simonetta Lamberti. The club’s ascent and the emotional ties behind that moment helped nurture a ritual that outgrew its origins.
Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo that clinched promotion, the celebrations continued into the night. Catello Mari, exhausted but inspired, chose to go home, yet fate had other plans. A traffic accident cut short his rising career, leaving a community in mourning. In tribute, Cavese fans renamed the Curva Sud as Curva Catello Mari and adapted a well-known hymn to honor his memory.
The song was reimagined as Dale Cavese, and a widely shared video of the Cavese supporters jumping in unison helped catapult the moment into international recognition. The display resonated with Real Sociedad fans, who began to echo the rhythm as they celebrated goals in their own stadiums, turning the gesture into a shared symbol among supporters in the region.
When the Reale Arena underwent renovations, the Dale Cavese motif found its way into the game-day ritual. A portion of the Aitor Zabaleta crowd embraced the practice, leaping with their backs toward the pitch after a Real Sociedad score. Over time, the practice spread, becoming a common sight among nearby teams and their supporters, creating a bridge between clubs through a simple, expressive gesture.
These moments show how football culture travels—and how a single celebration can become a talking point across leagues and countries. The ritual embodies more than just a goal; it reflects memory, identity, and a sense of belonging that fans carry with them whenever the ball hits the back of the net.
The phenomenon has sparked curiosity, conversation, and occasional debate about what a goal celebration should look like. Yet the persistence of this particular gesture demonstrates how fans craft meaning from the sport they love, turning a routine moment into a shared story that transcends borders and teams.
Note: The tradition is documented in fan perspectives and historical accounts that trace the origins of the chant and its adaptation within Real Sociedad’s culture, illustrating how football rituals evolve as fans connect across communities and generations.