After his brace against Yokohama, the Icelandic striker is showing great ambition ahead of his second season with the Txuriurdin, after being unable to shine in his first.
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Icelandic striker Orri Óskarsson is approaching his second season at Real Sociedad with newfound confidence, maturity, and hunger for success.
After scoring twice and having a third goal controversially disallowed in a pre-season friendly against Yokohama F. Marinos, the 20-year-old forward seems ready to step up and become a key figure in the Txuriurdin squad and he’s not shy about his goals. He wants to be one of the best not only at Real Sociedad but in the entirety of LaLiga.
This level of ambition marks a significant change from the version of Óskarsson who arrived last summer, full of potential but still adjusting to the challenges of a new league, a new culture, and a new rhythm of football. After a frustrating debut season filled with physical setbacks and limited opportunities, the young striker appears ready to turn the page.
“I feel great,” Óskarsson said after the friendly match in Japan. “Scoring two goals and playing again after months without competitive action gave me a real boost. I was disappointed to miss the first two friendlies because I wanted to show what I can do. But I stayed patient, and being able to contribute now and feel good doing it is very important for me.”
Despite a slow start last year, he believes the struggles of his first season helped build a stronger foundation, both mentally and physically. “It was tough,” he admitted. “I couldn’t reach my best level. I didn’t play many games. But I also learned a lot. Football doesn’t always go the way you want, especially in a new environment. You can either let it frustrate you or use it to grow. I chose the second path.”
He has returned from his summer break with renewed motivation. “I worked very hard during the off-season. I was extremely focused. I’ve never felt this good physically in my entire career. That’s not just words it’s a fact. I feel faster, stronger, and more balanced than ever before, and that gives me a great starting point to fight for a place in the team.”
New head coach Sergio Francisco has noticed. In a recent press conference, Francisco highlighted Óskarsson as a player who could have a breakout year, praising his attitude and goal-scoring instinct. Óskarsson responded with appreciation and ambition.
“I’d love to be a more important player this season,” he said. “I want more responsibility. I want to help the team with goals, pressing, and presence in the box. Last year, I felt a bit lost sometimes, but now I understand better what’s expected of me. My goal is to score at least 10 goals this season hopefully more. I know it’s not easy, but that’s the standard I’m setting for myself.”
His strong desire to improve hasn’t gone unnoticed by teammates either, who describe Óskarsson as dedicated, humble, and eager to learn. Those qualities became essential during the difficult moments of his first campaign moments he now believes helped him mature significantly.
“It’s easy to be happy when things go well,” he reflected. “But when you’re not playing, when you’re injured, when you're adapting to a new country, that’s when your character is tested. I tried to stay focused on training hard every day. I refused to be a bad teammate. Even when I felt things weren’t going right for me, I kept pushing. The injury wasn’t ideal, but it gave me time to reflect and prepare better for this season.”
Adapting off the pitch has also been part of Óskarsson’s journey. Learning Spanish has been a personal challenge but one he’s embraced with creativity. “I try to learn from music Bad Bunny is my favorite,” he smiled. “And I practice with people who don’t speak English, although that’s rare, because most of the people around me just use English. Still, I’m starting to speak a bit of Spanish. Step by step.”
The Icelandic international, who had already shown flashes of his potential at youth level and with his national team, now faces the most important stretch of his early career. With the support of a new coach, the experience of a challenging first season behind him, and physical form at its peak, Óskarsson has all the tools to become one of the revelations of the 2025/26 season in LaLiga.
Whether he achieves his personal target of ten or more goals will depend on many factors minutes on the pitch, team dynamics, consistency but one thing is clear: Orri Óskarsson is no longer just a promising youngster at Real Sociedad. He’s a player on a mission.
Updated: 02:26, 28 Jul 2025
