After spending 3 seasons in the second tier of Spanish football the Basque club obtained promotion by topping the table in 2010.

In the 2010–11 season, Real Sociedad played in the top division of Spanish football for the first time since being relegated in 2007.

At the end of the season, Lasarte was dismissed on the grounds that he did not give enough of a chance to academy players and that his style of play was rudimentary and unattractive.

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Occasionally, Lasarte changed formation, resorting to a back 5 (Santander away) or in some cases adding a second forward (Levante away).

Up front, Llorente began strongly but after his injury he was replaced by Tamudo, who would eventually start more games and play more minutes.

Joseba Llorente, signed from Villarreal for €2.5 million, although impressive while fit, missed most of the season due to injury.