When John Aldridge swapped the famous red of Liverpool for the blue and white of Real Sociedad in 1989, he expected fresh challenges on the pitch. What he wasn't quite prepared for was the hostile welcome off it. The move made Aldridge the club's first non-Basque signing in decades. Since their foundation in 1909, Real Sociedad had developed a strong identity rooted in Basque culture, language, and pride. For most of the 20th century, the club adhered strictly to a Basque-only recruitment policy, similar to their fierce rivals Athletic Bilbao.