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New York Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Club World Cup team guide – Boca Juniors: A global brand, Cavani and a coach returning for his third stint
Not many South American clubs can boast widespread brand recognition outside of their own continent. Boca Juniors can. Maybe it's the kit, that striking golden band across princely blue. Maybe it's the stadium, a powder keg in the shape of a chocolate box, the kind of place to which people make pilgrimages. Maybe it's the badge, the constellation of stars and the collegiate lettering. Maybe it's the power of woozy, half-baked memories — of Diego Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo, romantic figures of all different persuasions. It is, of course, all of these things, plus a few more intangibles. Boca are just one of those mythic, mystical sporting entities, revered not only by their fans but by people who have never even seen them play. Follow the Club World Cup on The Athletic this summer… Boca have won 35 domestic league titles. They have won the Copa Libertadores (South America's premier continental competition) six times — four since the turn of the millennium — and the old Intercontinental Cup, which was succeeded by the old Club World Cup, on three occasions. Their trophy cabinet speaks for itself. Advertisement The last couple of years have been difficult, however, defined by friction behind the scenes and underperformance on the pitch. Defeat against River Plate in the Superclasico in April brought everything to a head: Riquelme, now club president, sacked coach Fernando Gago and, a month later, turned to veteran Miguel Angel Russo in a bid to put Boca back on track. It is fair to say that the Club World Cup is not coming at the best time. Boca snuck in via the back door, taking the sixth and final South American qualification spot courtesy of their place in the CONMEBOL confederation's four-year ranking of its clubs. Boca only appointed Russo at the start of June, so the likelihood is that they will still be feeling their way into his methods when the Club World Cup begins. The 69-year-old is a pragmatist, generally favouring simplicity, in both formation — 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 are his usual bankers, although 4-3-1-2 may suit this squad better — and style of play. Expect a broadly defensive approach, with a renewed emphasis on grit and physicality — qualities that some Boca fans feel have been missing in recent years. Russo has plenty of credit in the bank with the Boca fans: this is his third stint in charge at La Bombonera and during his first spell, they won the 2007 Libertadores. He is seen as a manager of the old school: demanding, passionate, much more of a player-whisperer than a tactical whizz. His intimate knowledge of Boca is seen as a big plus, as is his friendship with Riquelme. The hope is that he will have the personality to unite a squad that has not always been the most harmonious. In a fairly joyless 2024 campaign, Boca's brightest light was Edinson Cavani. Now 38, the former Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker is understandably not the athlete he once was. He does, however, retain killer instincts in the penalty box, as well as the never-say-die attitude that made him such a hit in European football. His form has dropped away a little this year, but if Boca need someone to rise to the occasion in the U.S., Cavani still looks their best bet. The fans are most excited about Milton Delgado, a central midfielder who broke into the senior squad last season. While not the most physically impressive — he looks like he would have to run around in the rain to get wet — the 19-year-old is an excellent all-rounder, capable of breaking up attacks on the edge of his own box and dictating the play when Boca have possession. He is energetic, has good technique and reads the game extremely well. One of the most popular — and less profane — songs at La Bombonera is Boca Mi Buen Amigo. It goes like this: Boca, my good friend, This campaign, we will be with you again, We will cheer for you with all our hearts, These are your fans who want to see you as champions, I don't care what they say, What others say, I follow you everywhere, I love you more and more. Easy one: River Plate. Like so many rivalries, this comes steeped in its own lore and stereotypes: River the rich kids from the Belgrano neighbourhood, Boca the plucky upstarts, street fighters from the wrong side of the tracks. The animosity between the two clubs — Argentina's biggest by a margin — usually translates to heated, red-card-strewn matches. Sadly, violence has been a theme off the pitch, too; the chaotic scenes ahead of the second 2018 Copa Libertadores final, which led to the match being relocated to Madrid, shocked the wider world but were far from out of the ordinary. The architecture of La Bombonera — three tiers sweeping around three sides of the ground, plus a vertical fourth wall of viewing boxes — is so iconic that it's hard to imagine it being any other way. That fourth side, though, to the east, was more of a fudge than a design choice: the residents of what is now Del Valle Iberlucea street were not willing to allow their homes to be bulldozed to make way for a stand, so architects had to be creative. Even now, 85 years after the stadium opened, there are occasional whispers that it may one day be 'completed' — ie, turned into a full bowl. Because they like former Manchester United players? Boca have no fewer than four: Cavani, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero. Beyond that, with no real promise of absorbing football, it's ultimately going to come down to vibes. Honestly, just look at that kit, still magnificent all these decades later, and try to keep your heart from speeding up. (All kick-offs ET/BST) (Top photos: SOPA Images, Alejandro Pagni/Getty; design: Kelsea Petersen/The Athletic)
CNA
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Russo will return as Boca Juniors coach, club spokesman confirms
BUENOS AIRES :Miguel Angel Russo is set to return as coach of Boca Juniors ahead of the Club World Cup, a club spokesman confirmed on Monday. Russo will take the reins for his third stint with the Argentine giants, having previously coached the team in 2007 and 2020-2021, leading them to win four titles, including the Copa Libertadores. After leaving Boca, the experienced 69-year-old coach spent time at Rosario Central and most recently at San Lorenzo, with whom he suffered elimination from the Argentine league semi-finals on Sunday. "Miguel and I have come to an agreement. All he has to do now is officially sever his ties with San Lorenzo, which should be easy for him," the spokesman told Reuters, declining to offer further details. Russo will replace Fernando Gago, who was sacked last month after Boca lost the Argentine Superclasico against arch-rivals River Plate and had a poor run including getting knocked out of the Libertadores in the preliminary round. Boca start their Club World Cup campaign on June 16 in the United States, where they will compete in Group C against Bayern Munich, Benfica and Auckland City.
Reuters
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Miguel Angel Russo will be Boca Juniors' new coach, club spokesman confirms
BUENOS AIRES, May 26 (Reuters) - Miguel Angel Russo is set to return as coach of Boca Juniors ahead of the Club World Cup, a club spokesman confirmed on Monday. Russo will take the reins for his third stint with the Argentine giants, having previously coached the team in 2007 and 2020-2021, leading them to win four titles, including the Copa Libertadores. After leaving Boca, the experienced 69-year-old coach spent time at Rosario Central and most recently at San Lorenzo, with whom he suffered elimination from the Argentine league semi-finals on Sunday. "Miguel and I have come to an agreement. All he has to do now is officially sever his ties with San Lorenzo, which should be easy for him," the spokesman told Reuters, declining to offer further details. Russo will replace Fernando Gago, who was sacked last month after Boca lost the Argentine Superclasico against arch-rivals River Plate and had a poor run including getting knocked out of the Libertadores in the preliminary round. Boca start their Club World Cup campaign on June 16 in the United States, where they will compete in Group C against Bayern Munich, Benfica and Auckland City.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
⏳ Boca Juniors await Miguel Ángel Russo
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. After San Lorenzo's elimination, the 'Xeneize' aims for the coach to start his third cycle at the club as soon as Boca Juniors Football Council has chosen Miguel Ángel Russo to become their new coach following the departure of Fernando Gago. With San Lorenzo's elimination against Platense in the semifinals of the 2025 Torneo Apertura, the 'Xeneize' directors aim to finalize his arrival in the coming hours. Russo was at the helm of San Lorenzo in the last championship and may have coached his last game this Sunday in the 1-0 defeat against Platense at the Nuevo Gasómetro. The 'Ciclón' failed to advance to the final, so he could leave immediately. "I don't have to talk about that. I will speak when I decide, want to, and have fulfilled everything I need to go through," said the coach in the press conference after the match. "VOY A HABLAR CUANDO YO QUIERA." Miguelo Russo evitó hablar sobre Boca.📺 #ESPNF10 | #DisneyPlus — SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) May 25, 2025 Although his arrival is not yet official, Boca Juniors has everything prepared for Miguel Ángel Russo to have his third cycle as the first team's coach at the institution. The coach would match Mario Fortunato, José D'Amico, and Carlos Bianchi as the coaches who have led the team in three different stages. ¿EL ÚLTIMO PARTIDO DE RUSSO EN SAN LORENZO? 🤔El Ciclón cayó en las semifinales del #TorneoApertura ante Platense, en lo que podría marcar el último partido de Miguel, el elegido de Riquelme para dirigir a #Boca, al mando del equipo azulgrana. — TyC Sports (@TyCSports) May 25, 2025 Everything indicates that Russo, 69, will sign his release from San Lorenzo in the coming hours and will present himself to the Boca Juniors squad on Tuesday to start training for the Copa Argentina and the FIFA Club World Cup. 📸 Marcelo Endelli - 2025 Getty Images
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Boca Edge Lanus on Penalties to Reach Apertura Quarter-finals amid Fan Unrest
Boca Juniors claimed a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Lanus on Saturday to reach the Argentine Apertura tournament quarter-finals, following a tense 0-0 draw under a cloud of fan dissatisfaction at the La Bombonera stadium. Boca goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin, who was pivotal in preserving the deadlock during the match, gave Boca an early advantage in the shootout by saving Alexis Canelo's opening kick. Lanus winger Dylan Aquino then blazed a shot over the bar while Boca held their nerve, converting their first three penalties with confidence. Substitute Milton Gimenez stepped up to convert the decisive spot-kick, sealing Boca's place in the next round where they will meet either Independiente or Independiente Rivadavia. Despite the win, the mood at La Bombonera was far from festive, as local fans voiced their frustration with a series of underwhelming performances, directing chants at both the players and club management, Reuters reported. "We definitely need to improve, but we achieved what we wanted to achieve, which was to get through the round. From here, we now have to work to improve," interim Boca coach Mariano Herron, who replaced sacked coach Fernando Gago last month, told reporters. "We understand the fans' anger. We need to work to improve, but it's understandable that they weren't satisfied." On the pitch, the match itself was low on quality, with neither side managing to assert dominance or create significant scoring opportunities. Lanus had the best chance of the first half, with Ramiro Carrera's powerful long-range effort just before halftime, but Marchesin was on hand to make a crucial save. "Fans can tell you how the match is going," Lanus captain Carlos Izquierdoz told ESPN. "We attacked, we were well positioned, and the fact that their fans started to jeer means that we were doing things right. We were confident." The Boca goalkeeper, however, continued to thwart Lanus, denying Marcelino Moreno early in the second half and making a series of interventions to keep the scoreline level, setting the stage for Boca's successful penalty shootout. In the other Saturday last 16 fixtures, San Lorenzo secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Tigre, while Rosario Central made the most of their home advantage to knock Estudiantes out with a 2-0 victory. Platense pulled off a major upset by claiming a late 1-0 win at Racing Club.
