Kenyan midfielder Job Ochieng made history on Saturday evening as he made his long-awaited La Liga debut for Real Sociedad, helping the Basque side to a 3–1 victory over Elche at the Anoeta Stadium.
The 22-year-old attacker, who has impressed for Sociedad’s B team this season, was handed his first taste of Spanish top-flight football after coming on in the 65th minute to replace Portugal international Gonçalo Guedes.
Ochieng delivered a calm and composed performance, earning a 6.6 match rating and showing that he is ready to compete at the highest level.
Match Summary
Real Sociedad opened the scoring in the 24th minute through Luka Sučić, with Guedes providing the assist.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when captain Mikel Oyarzabal found the back of the net.
Elche responded just before the break, as André Silva pulled one back shortly before halftime.
However, substitute Orri Óskarsson sealed the win in the 82nd minute, finishing off Sociedad’s third goal to secure all three points.
Kenyan Football History
Ochieng’s appearance marked a major milestone, as he became:
- The second Kenyan to feature for Real Sociedad in La Liga after McDonald Mariga
- The third Kenyan to play in Spain’s top division, alongside Mariga and Michael Olunga
Rising Star Journey
Ochieng’s journey to La Liga has been built on steady progress:
- Left Ligi Ndogo FC for Spain in 2019
- Developed at Maspalomas’ youth academy for three seasons
- Trialled with Las Palmas before joining Real Sociedad in 2022
- Worked his way through Sociedad’s C team before promotion to Sociedad B
In May 2025, he signed a two-year contract with Sociedad B, moving even closer to the first-team setup.
His former academy, Ligi Ndogo FC, received a development fee of over Sh20 million, a significant boost for Kenyan grassroots football.
Player Profile
A versatile forward capable of playing as a striker or winger, Ochieng has been praised in Spain for his:
- Pace and dribbling
- Technical quality
- Strong physical presence
- Defensive work rate
Spanish outlet La Provincia has even compared his style to former Sociedad star Alexander Isak.
After featuring in the preseason last year, Ochieng will now be pushing to earn a permanent spot in Real Sociedad’s senior squad.
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