| Full name | Club Atlético Boca Juniors | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Xeneizes (The Genoese) La Mitad Más Uno (Half Plus One) Azul y Oro (The Blue and Gold) El Rey de Copas (The King of Cups) Rey Mundial De Clubes (World King of Clubs) |
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| Founded | April 3, 1905 | ||
| Ground | Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera), La Boca, Buenos Aires (Capacity: 57,754) |
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| Chairman | Daniel Angelici | ||
| Manager | Julio César Falcioni | ||
| League | Primera División | ||
| 2011 Apertura | 1st | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Although many activities are hosted by the club, Boca Juniors is mostly known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Argentine Primera División. Boca Juniors is the current champion of football in Argentina, and is historically considered one of the greatest football clubs in the world.
Boca Juniors is the most successful football team in Argentina and one of the most in the world, having won 51 official titles at the national and international level. Boca's last official title obtained is the 2011 Apertura tournament. Internationally, the team has won eighteen international titles,[1] a record shared with A.C. Milan. Their international trophy haul includes six Copa Libertadores,[2] four Recopa Sudamericana, three world club titles (Intercontinental Cup),[3] two Copa Sudamericana, one Copa Oro, one Supercopa Sudamericana, and one Supercopa Masters. Boca Juniors is also one of only eight teams to have won CONMEBOL's treble (the others being Olimpia, São Paulo, Independiente, Vélez Sársfield, Cruzeiro, Internacional and LDU Quito). Their success usually has Boca ranked among the IFFHS's Club World Ranking Top 25, which they have reached the top position six times (mostly during the coaching tenure of Carlos Bianchi).[4] Boca was also named by the IFFHS as the top South American club of the 1st decade of the 21st century (2001–2010).[5]
The club was founded on April 3, 1905 by five Italian immigrants. Boca has always had a fierce rivalry with River Plate, also from Buenos Aires and currently playing in the second division. Matches between the two clubs are known as the Superclásico and is one of the most heated rivalries in Argentina and the world as both clubs are the two most popular in the country. Boca's home stadium is Estadio Alberto J. Armando, which is colloquially known as La Bombonera. The youth academy has produced many Argentine internationals such as Nicolás Burdisso, Carlos Tévez, Ever Banega, and Fernando Gago, who have played or are playing for top European clubs.
In addition to football, Boca Juniors also has a professional basketball team and amateur teams in futsal, basketball, martial arts (judo, taekwondo, karate), wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, aerobic), swimming, and weightlifting.
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On April 3, 1905, five Italian boys met in order to found a club. The house where the meeting was arranged was Esteban Baglietto's and the other four people who attended were Alfredo Scarpatti, Santiago Sana and brothers Juan and Teodoro Farenga. After some hours of discussions Baglietto's father threw the boys out of the house and they had to continue with the project in the Plaza Solís, which is recognized today as the place where Boca Juniors was finally founded.[6] [7]
Other important founders members include Arturo Penney, Marcelino Vergara, Luis Cerezo, Adolfo Taggio, Giovanelli, Donato Abbatángelo, Bertolini.[8] The use of English language in football team names was commonplace, as British railway workers had originally introduced association football into Argentina.[9]
On 1908, the affiliation request sent by Boca (through Juan Farenga and Bartolomé Gariboldi) to the Argentine Football Association was accepted. Boca Juniors' first stadium was located in the Isla Demarchi. Juan Brichetto was one of the many fans who donated money to finish the construction.
Boca Juniors debut as part of the Association was in the Segunda de Ascenso division, playing a match against Club Belgrano that Boca won 3–1. The squad finished in the first place (among eight teams) and qualified for the next stage, the semifinals, which Boca played against Racing Club: Boca was defeated by 1–0 and was eliminated.
The 1908 team roster was: De Los Santos, Vergara, Cerezo, Ryan, A. Penney, Priano, Penney, Moltedo, Pratt, J. Farenga, Eloiso and Pastor. That year Boca played the Copa Bullrich and was eliminated after being defeated by Atlanta by 5–0
On 1910 Boca plays the semifinals against Racing Club and lost by 2–1, also losing not only the match but the promotion to Argentine Primera División. The team roster was formed by Bellocq, Cerezo, Garibaldi, Piralini, Vergara, Bonatti, Spinelli, Arturo Penney, Pastor, Taggino, Giovanelli and Moltedo. The following year, Boca is eliminated in the first round, in spite of the team players were the same than 1910.
On 1913 Boca obtained the promotion to Primera División that the team had longed for many years. This was possible due to the Asociación Argentina de Fútbol decided to increase the number of teams in the league from 6 to 15.[10] The other teams that went to Primera were Ferro Carril Oeste, Platense, Banfield, Olivos, Comercio, Ferro Carril Sud and Riachuelo. Boca Juniors' roster was: Virtú Bidone, Garibaldi, Lamelas, Martínez, Elena, Valentini, P. Calomino, González, Leal, Taggino, Abbatángelo, Bruzzan, Giraldi, Romano, Vergara and Bertolini.
On January 20, 1920, Boca Juniors reached its first championship (which belong to 1919 season).[11] after defeating Sportivo de Almagro by 4–0. The match was played in Boca stadium, located in Ministro Brin and Senquel streets. Boca Juniors line-up was: Tesoriere; Cortella, Ortega, López, Busso, Elli; Calomino, Bozzo, Garasini, Martín, Miranda. Miranda and Martín were the scorers of the match (2 goals each).[12] Boca Juniors obtained a new title the following year (corresponding to the 1920 season but played in 1921), after a victory of 2–0 against Banfield. The next championship achieved was in 1923 and it took 4 matches to decide which team (Boca or Huracán) would be the champion, so Boca won the first match but was defeated in the 2nd game; the 3rd match finished in a tie and a 4th game had to be played (at Sportivo Barracas stadium, on April 27, 1924), finally won by Boca 2–0 obtaining a new title. Both goals were scored by Garasini.
Boca was the unbeaten champion of the 1924 season, winning 18 matches over 19 disputed. The team finished with a total of goals scored of 67 (an average of 3.52 per game) and only received 8.
In 1925 Boca made its first trip to Europe to play many friendly matches there (more specifically in Spain, Germany and France). Boca disputed a total of 19 games, winning 15 of them. Some of the rivals defeated were Real Madrid, Celta de Vigo and Deportivo La Coruña. On June 28, 1926, in a meeting held at the Association Argentina de Football, Boca Juniors was declared "Campeón de Honor" (Champion of Honour) of 1925 season, and each member of the team received a commemorative medal. The players were: Tesoriere, Bidoglio, Mutis, Tarascone, Busso, Elli, Médici, Garasini, Antraygues, Cerroti, Pertini and Posso.[13]
Boca Juniors won a new championship in 1926, having finished unbeaten (same as 1924 season) after 17 games played. Boca Juniors and Independiente were to play off for unified title following the unification of the two leagues (Asociación Argentina de Football and Asociación Amateurs de Football), but after their match (played on Feb 20, 1927) was halted due to a spectator invasion, and a replay on Mar 3, 1927, finished 0–0, no further match was played due to the start of the new season.[14]
The last amateur championship was obtained in 1930 (which ended on March 22, 1931) when Boca defeated Atlanta 4–1. This was its 6th. title in the amateur era and the line-up that attended the match was: Mena, Bidoglio, Mutis; Moreyras, Pedemonte, P. Suárez; Penella, Kuko, Tarascone, Cherro, Alberino.
During the amateur era, Boca won a total of six championships (1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, and 1930).[15]
With the introduction of professional football in Argentina, Boca won its first title in 1931, defeating its main rival, River Plate by 3-0 in the last fixture. Boca totalized 50 points, with a total of 22 victories, 6 ties and 6 games lost. [16]
In 1934 Boca won its second professional title, although they lost 7 matches and received 62 goals. The key was in the power of the forwards, who totalized 101 goals. Boca Juniors became the first team which scored more than 100 goals in a tournament. Boca achieved a new title in 1935, becoming the first bi-champion of the professional era. The team also scored 100 goals and only received 29.
During the decade of the 1930s, some footballers such as Juan Yustrich (nicknamed "El Pez Volador"), Pedro Arico Suárez, Delfín Benítez Cáceres, Domingo Tarasconi, Roberto Cherro and Francisco Varallo were not only big stars but Boca Juniors great idols.
Boca won 3 more titles in the 1940s, the same as the last decade. The first was obtained in 1940 tournament, the same year that Boca Juniors Stadium was inaugurated. The key match was against Independiente, which Boca won 5-2 and proclaimed new champion. Boca totalized 24 games won, 7 ties and 3 lost.
In 1941 Boca would be (for the second time in its history) bi-champion, after winning 3-0 its last match in River Plate stadium (because the Bombonera had been temporarily closed by hooliganism incidents). The record was 19 won, 8 tied and 3 lost. The line-up is still remembered as one of the greatest Boca all-time teams: Vacca, Marante, Valussi, Sosa, Lazzatti, Pescia, Boyé, Corcuera, Sarlanga, Varela, Sánchez.
In 1944 Boca remained unbeated for 26 consecutive matches, which was a record in the professional era until Racing broke this landmark when remained 39 matches without being defeated in 1966. The last fixture Boca won over Racing 3-0, again in River stadium and Boca was proclaimed champion again.
On the other hand, Boca was near to being relegated to Segunda División in 1949 but could keep its place in Primera with a victory over Lanús in the last fixture.
In 1954 Boca won its first title after 9 unsuccessful years. The key match was against Huracán, which Boca defeated 3-1 obtaining the championship. The top scorer was José "Pepino" Borello (19 goals). Other outstanding player was Julio Musimessi, nicknamed "El arquero cantor" ("The singer goalkeeper").
Boca finished 8th in 1959 although the team won the two "Superclásicos" (5-1 and 3-2 after a partial lost of 0-2).
On December 9, 1962, Boca won a legendary match defeating River Plate 1-0, with the highlight of goalkeeper Antonio Roma stopping a penalty shot by Delem when lasted only 6 minutes to the end of the match. Boca finally won its first title of the decade in the next fixture with a great victory (4-0) over Estudiantes de La Plata, becoming new champion. During the 1960s, Boca Juniors totalized 5 championships.
The following title obtained was in 1964, with Antonio Roma as a decisive player again due to the fact he kept the goal structure undefeated during 742 minutes, receiving only one goal in 14 matches. In 1965 Boca became bi-champion for the 3rd. time in professional era. The key matches were the victory over River Plate (2-1) and Atlanta in the last fixture.
In the 1968 Metropolitano championship during a Superclásico that ended 0-0, 71 Boca Juniors' supporters died squashed to a exit door of the River Plate stadium, which remained closed at the moment of the fans left the stadium. This is still remembered as The Tragedy of the Door #12 (La Tragedia de la Puerta 12).
In 1969 an official tournament named Copa Argentina was disputed. Teams included were those playing the Metropolitano and others outside Buenos Aires. Boca Juniors proclaimed champion after defeating Atlanta by goal average (the matches ended 3-1 and 0-1). Boca Juniors played a total of 10 matches, winning 7, with 1 tied and only 1 lost.
During the same year Boca played its last match of the Nacional championship visiting River Plate at the Monumental. The match ended 2-2 (Norberto Madurga scored twice) proclaming Boca as the new champion. The Xeneizes totalized 29 points, winning 13, with 3 tied and only 1 defeat and were coached by Alfredo Di Stéfano.
In 1970 Boca won another title defeating Rosario Central in the final match of the Nacional tournament. In 1976 Juan Carlos Lorenzo arrived to the club. He would became one of the most successful coaches in the history of Boca Juniors, winning 5 official titles within 3 years. First of them was the 1976 Metropolitano, which Boca obtained after defeating Unión de Santa Fe 2-0.
The following tournament (1976 Nacional) Boca played a historic final match against River Plate, winning 1-0 through a free-kick goal scored by Rubén Suñé. That championship qualified Boca Juniors to play the 1977 Copa Libertadores, having reached the final match against Cruzeiro. After a victory 1-0 in Buenos Aires and a defeat in Belo Horizonte by the same score, it was necessary to play a third game, hosted in Montevideo where Boca finally obtained the Libertadores for the first time, after a dramatic penalty shoot-out where Hugo Gatti stopped the last shot by brazilian player Vanderley.
The next title Boca won was the Intercontinental Cup, facing Borussia Mönchengladbach: the first match played in Buenos Aires ended 2-2 but Boca won the second game 3-0 in Karlsruhe, Germany and brought the trophy back to Argentina.
Boca Juniors obtained its second Copa Libertadores after defeating Deportivo Cali (coached by Carlos Bilardo) 4-0 in the Bombonera (the first match played in Colombia had finished 0-0).
During the decade of the 1980s Boca only won one title (in 1981). The highlight was the acquisition of Diego Maradona, who came to the club along with Miguel Brindisi, Osvaldo Escudero, Marcelo Trobbiani and former player Silvio Marzolini as coach. Boca was proclaimed champion of the 1981 Metropolitano after an 1-1 against Racing Club. The Xeneize totalized 50 points, with 20 victories, 10 draws and 4 loses.
In 1984 Boca was near to a financial collapse, almost going bankrupt. The same year the squad was hardly defeated at the hands of FC Barcelona, losing 1-9 in a Joan Gamper Trophy match. Antonio Alegre was elected president and under his command Boca settled 153 lawsuits early in his tenure by mortgaging his business assets for US$250,000, and by lending Boca Juniors US$800,000. These and other measures enabled Alegre to recover the club's finances. Boca also sold the land acquired earlier for US$21 million. The club's improved finances led to its revival, and Boca emerged victorious in a number of coveted tournaments in subsequent years, including the 1989 Supercopa Sudamericana, the 1990 Recopa Sudamericana, the 1992 Torneo Apertura, the Copa Master of 1992, and the Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz in 1992.
Former Vélez Sársfield coach Carlos Bianchi arrived to the club in 1998 and under his command, the squad would achieve multiple local and international titles, breaking the record obtained with Juan Carlos Lorenzo in the 1970s. With Carlos Bianchi as coach, Boca totalized 9 titles won.
The first title obtained was the 1998 Apertura, which Boca won being undefeated for the first time. Martín Palermo was the top scorer with 20 goals in 19 matches played. Boca later won a new championship in the Clausura 1999 becoming bi-champion. The team remained 40 matches undefeated, breaking the record of 39 matches achieved by Racing Club in the 1960s. This mark is still a record in the professional era of Argentine football.
2000 was the most successful year for Boca Juniors. The team won the Copa Libertadores after 18 years without winning that trophy, defeating Palmeiras in the finals by penalty-shots after two matches ended in a draw (2-2 and 0-0). Goalkeeper Oscar Córdoba was the most notable player of the final disputed in Sao Paulo. As the new South America champion, Boca went to Tokyo to play the Intercontinental Cup final against Real Madrid, defeating the Merengue team 2-0 (goals by Palermo). The same year Boca won another local title, the Torneo Apertura, totalizing 3 titles in 2000.
In 2001 Boca proclaimed Copa Libertadores champion again, defeating Cruz Azul in the decisive game, with penalty-shot again after winning 1-0 the first final match in Mexico and losing the second game in La Bombonera by the same score. Oscar Córdoba was the most notable player again.
Bianchi left the club in 2002 due to a conflict with the chairman Mauricio Macri, so Oscar Tabárez was chosen as his replacement beginning his second run as team's coach. Nevertheless, Bianchi would return the following year to take care the team again. 2003 was the year that Boca obtained a new title winning the Copa Libertadores for its 3rd time in 4 years. The most notable player of that tournament was Carlos Tévez while Marcelo Delgado was the top scorer with 9 goals. In the finals played against Santos FC, Boca won 2-0 in Buenos Aires and 3-1 in Sao Paulo. Boca Juniors completed another successful year winning the Intercontinental Cup against AC Milan by penalty-shot after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri (who had replaced Oscar Córdoba after his departure to European leagues) was the player of the game.
Boca would reach another Copa Libertadores final in 2004 which finally lost at the hands of Once Caldas. Once the Cup was over, Bianchi resigned, finishing one of the most successful periods in the club history.
After Bianchi's departure from the club, Miguel Brindisi (who had played for the club in the 1980s) was chosen as coach but he soon resigned at the end of the 2004 Apertura, when Boca finished 8th. The successor of Brindisi was Jorge Chino Benítez, another player for Boca in the 1970s and 1980s. Under his coaching Boca won the 2004 Copa Sudamericana defeating Club Bolívar in the finals.
In 2005 (the year of Boca's 100th anniversary) the Xeneize disputed another edition of the Copa Libertadores, being eliminated by Chivas de Guadalajara. In that match Benítez spat a Chiva's player causing such a struggle that the match had to be ended by the referee. Due to this shameful act, Benítez was immediately dismissed by the club. After Benítez's dismissal, Boca hired Alfio Basile as its coach.
With Basile as the coach, Boca won the Recopa Sudamericana (2005 edition) defeating Once Caldas, and the 2005 Copa Sudamericana where the Xeneize won over Pumas from México by penalty-shots after two draws. Roberto Abbondanzieri was the MVP stopping two shots and converting the decissive penalty kick. Boca would won two titles more: the 2005 Apertura and 2006 Clausura becoming bi-champion of Argentine football. Boca Juniors also obtained the 2006 Recopa Sudamericana over Sao Paulo FC.
After the elimination of the Argentina national football team in the 2006 World Cup, Basile was called by the Argentine Football Association to took over the team and left the club under a successful run. Under the coaching of Basile, Boca Juniors totalized 5 titles within two years (2005-06).
Ricardo Lavolpe was chosen to be the coach succeeding Basile. In the 2006 Apertura the team made a good campaign but at the end of the season totalized the same points than Estudiantes de La Plata, so both teams had to play a match in order to proclaim a new champion. Estudiantes defeated Boca 2-1 in Vélez Sársfield stadium and Lavolpe resigned as the coach.
The next coach was Miguel Ángel Russo and Juan Román Riquelme returned to the club. Boca Juniors won the 2007 Copa Libertadores defeating Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense in the finals (3-0 in Buenos Aires and 2-0 in Porto Alegre). Riquelme (who totalized 8 goals) was considered to be the best player of the tournament by journalists and experts. As the South American champion, Boca went to Tokyo to dispute the Intercontinental Cup but was defeated by AC Milan 4-2.
Carlos Ischia was designed as coach after Russo's departure, obtaining the 2008 Recopa Sudamericana (against Arsenal de Sarandí). On the other hand, Boca was eliminated by Fluminense (which would be the champion) in the 2008 Copa Libertadores semi-finals. At the end of that year Boca obtained a new title, the 2008 Apertura. That season ended with Boca, San Lorenzo and Tigre in the 1st position so a new tournament had to be disputed among those 3 teams in order to proclaim a new champion. Boca won that tournament and became new Argentine champion. That same season Boca arch-rival River Plate finished the last for the first time in its history.
Boca finished 14th (over 19 teams) in the 2009 Clausura and Ischia was dismissed by the club (although the managers said he had resigned)[17] [18] and Basile was called to start his second run as coach. Nevertheless, after finishing 11th in the 2009 Apertura, Basile left the club.
For the 2010 Clausura the team was coached firstly by Abel Alves and then by Roberto Pompei,[19] who were working with the youth categories when they were designed to coach the first division. Boca finished 16th so the club decided to hire Claudio Borghi[20] (who had won a title coaching Argentinos Juniors the last season) as team's new coach, but he left the club after 14 matches, due to the bad results obtained.[21] Roberto Pompei was designed to be the coach until the end of the Apertura.[22] Boca finished in the 12th position.
In January, 2011, Boca hired Julio Falcioni who had won a title coaching Banfield in 2009. The team did not a good campaing in the Clausura, although Boca won the Superclásico (the last played before River was relegated to second division) finishing 7th. In the last fixture (when Boca played against Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata) Martín Palermo, the all-time top scorer, retired.[23]
For the 2011 Apertura, Boca acquired goalkeeper Agustín Orión and veteran centre back Rolando Schiavi, who returned after his tenure on Newell's Old Boys. After three years without achievements, Boca proclaimed champion remaining unbeaten at the end of the season, totalizing 12 victories and 7 ties. The team also received the fewer goals (only 6 in 19 matches disputed) which setted a record for short tournaments in Argentina (after Clausura and Apertura championships were established in 1991).[24] [25] [26]
The original jersey colour was pink, but this was quickly abandoned for thin black-and-white vertical stripes.[27] Legend has it that in 1906, Boca played another team that used this strip to decide who would get to keep it. Boca lost, and decided to adopt the colors of the flag of the first boat to sail into the port at La Boca. This proved to be the 4146 ton freighter "Drottning Sophia", a Swedish vessel sailing from Copenhagen.[28] As a result, the yellow and blue of the Swedish flag were adopted as the new team colours.[29] The first version had a yellow diagonal band, which was later changed to a horizontal stripe.[30]
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(1) For the first time since 1913, two white stripes were added to jersey.
(2) This model was worn just for 2 matches during 2005 Torneo de Verano (Summer Tournament) in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the institution.
(3) This model was worn just for 2 matches versus River Plate in 2010 Torneo de Verano
| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| 1980–80 | Adidas | None |
| 1983 | Vinos Maravilla | |
| 1984 | Dekalb | |
| 1985 | None | |
| 1986–88 | Fate | |
| 1989–92 | FIAT | |
| 1992–95 | Olan | Parmalat |
| 1995–96 | Olan / Topper | Quilmes |
| 1996–01 | Nike | |
| 2001–03 | Pepsi | |
| 2003–04 | Pepsi & Goodyear | |
| 2004–05 | Red Megatone & Goodyear | |
| 2006 | Megatone & Goodyear | |
| 2007–09 | Megatone & Unicef | |
| 2009–11 | LG & Total | |
| 2011– | BBVA Banco Francés & Total[32][33] |
The club has had five different designs for its crest during its history, although its outline has remained unchanged throughout its history. In 1955, laurel leaves were added to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary, and the colours were changed to match those on the team's jersey.[34] In 1970, one star was added to the badge for each title won[35] domestically (at the top, above the initials) and internationally (at the bottom). A new star was added to the corresponding section whenever Boca wins a title. To the delight of fans, the crest had to be modified several times in recent years. In 2007, the club changed its crest to include only 3 stars, one for each Intercontinental Cup / Club world title .
Boca Juniors used several locations before settling on their current ground on Brandsen. Their first ground was in la Dársena Sur but it was vacated in 1907 as it failed to meet the minimum league requirements. They then used three grounds in the Isla Demarchi area between 1908 and 1912.[36] Between 1914 and 1915, the club moved away from La Boca for the only time in its history, moving to Wilde in the Avellaneda Partido of the Buenos Aires Province but a relatively poor season[37] and poor attendances in 1915 forced them to move back to La Boca.
On 25 May 1916, Boca opened their new stadium at the intersection of Calle Ministro Brin and Calle Senguel, playing there until 1924 when they moved to their current location on Calle Brandsen and Calle Del Crucero.
Construction work on the concrete structure of their current stadium started in 1938 under the supervision of Engineer José L.Delpini. Boca played their home matches in the Ferrocarril Oeste ground in Caballito until it was completed in 1940.[36] A third level was added in 1953, giving the ground its nickname La Bombonera ('The Chocolate Box').[38] The stand opposite the Casa Amarilla railway platforms remained mostly undeveloped until 1996, when it was upgraded with new balconies and VIP boxes. Three sides of the Bombonera are made up of traditional sloping stadium stands, but the fourth side had to be built vertically, with several seating areas stacked one on top of the other, to stay within the stadium's property. La Bombonera is renowned for vibrating when fans start to jump in rhythm; in particular, the unique vertical side will sway slightly, leading to the phrase, "the Bombonera does not tremble. It beats." (La Bombonera no tiembla. Late.)
The Bombonera currently has a capacity of around 49,000. The club's popularity make tickets hard to come by, especially for the Superclasico game against River Plate.[39] There are further improvements planned for the stadium, including measures to ease crowd congestion, use of new technology and improved corporate facilities.[40]
Boca Juniors is traditionally regarded as the club of Argentina's working class, in contrast with the supposedly more upper-class base of cross-town arch rival Club Atlético River Plate.[41]
Boca Juniors claims to be the club of "half plus one" (la mitad más uno) of Argentina's population, but a 2006 survey placed its following at 40%,[42] still the largest share. They have the highest number of fans, as judged by percentage in their country.
The Boca-River Superclásico rivalry is one of the most thrilling derbies in the world.[43] Out of their 327 previous meetings, Boca have won 121, River 105 and there have been 101 draws.[44] After each match (except draws), street signs cover Buenos Aires at fans' own expense, "ribbing" the losing side with humorous posters. This has become part of Buenos Aires culture ever since a Boca winning streak in the 1990s.
In 1975, a film (La Raulito) was made about the life of Mary Esher Duffau, known as La Raulito, a well-known Boca Juniors fan. She died at the age of 74 on 30 April 2008, the same day Boca Juniors played a Copa Libertadores match against Brazilian club, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube with the players and fans observing a minute's silence in her memory.[45]
Boca fans are known as los xeneizes (the Genoese) after the Genoese immigrants who founded the team and lived in La Boca in the early 20th century.[46]
Many rival fans in Argentina refer to the Boca Juniors' fans as Los Bosteros (the manure handlers), originating from the horse manure used in the brick factory which occupied the ground where La Bombonera stands. Originally an insult used by rivals, Boca fans are now proud of it.[47]
Reflecting the team's colors, Boca's shirt is also called la azul y oro (the blue and gold).[48]
There is also a society which dedicates all of its activities to supporting the team known as la número 12 or la doce (player number doce or 12, meaning "the 12th player")[49]
The naming of “La 12″ (the twelfth player), by which Boca Juniors' fans became known, dates back to the year 1925, during the European tour they made that year. At that time, the team was accompanied by a Boca fan called Victoriano Caffarena, who belonged to a wealthy family and funded part of the tour. During that tour he helped the team in everything establishing a strong relationship with the players, so they named him “Player No. 12″. When they returned to Argentina, Caffarena was as well known as the players themselves. Nowadays, this nickname is used primarily to name their group of supporters, known as “La 12″.[50]
Peñas (fan clubs) exist in a number of Argentine cities and abroad in countries such as Russia, Ukraine,[51] Spain,[52] Israel[53] and Japan.[54]
Boca Juniors are particularly popular in Japan because of the club's success in recent years at the Intercontinental Cup held in Japan. All over the world, fans are drawn to Boca by the club's international titles, and by the success of Boca players who went on to play in European football such as Hugo Ibarra, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Diego Cagna, Enzo Ferrero, Roberto Abbondanzieri, Nicolás Burdisso, Fernando Gago, Diego Maradona, Claudio Caniggia, Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Román Riquelme and Carlos Tévez.
Boca have fans throughout Latin America and also in parts of the United States where there has been Latin immigration and where in July 2007, after the club had toured pre-season, it was reported that the club were considering the possibility of creating a Boca Juniors USA team to compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) with New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Arizona mentioned as possible locations.[55]
Boca Juniors has had a long standing rivalry with River Plate. The Superclásico is known worldwide as one of world football's fiercest and most important rivalries.[56] It is particularly noted for the passion of the fans, the stands of both teams feature fireworks, coloured confetti, flags and rolls of paper. Both sets of supporters sing passionate songs (often based on popular Argentine rock band tunes) against their rivals, and the stadiums are known to bounce with the simultaneous jumping of the fans. Sometimes the games have been known to end in riots between the hardest supporters of both sides or against the police. The English newspaper The Observer put the Superclásico at the top of their list of 50 sporting things you must do before you die.[57]
The two clubs both have origins in the poor riverside area of Buenos Aires known as La Boca. River however moved to the more affluent district of Núñez in the north of the city in 1923.
Boca Juniors and River Plate have played 327 games all time against each other, with Boca winning 121, River 105 and 101 times the games ended in a draw. In the Professional Era the two clubs have played 184 games with Boca winning 68, River 61 and 55 draws.[58]
This intense rivalry has not stopped players from playing for both clubs, most notably Jose Manuel Moreno, Hugo Orlando Gatti, Alberto Tarantini, Oscar Ruggeri, Julio Olarticoechea, Carlos Tapia, Gabriel Batistuta and Claudio Caniggia.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Current squad of Boca Juniors as of August 13, 2011 ()
Sources: Argentine Soccer
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Manager: Julio César Falcioni
For the reserve and academy squads, see Boca Juniors Reserves and Academy
Last updated on: June 20, 2011 – Top 10 all time scorers at historiadeboca.com.ar
Last updated on: June 20, 2011 – Top 10 most appearances of all time at historiadeboca.com.ar
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Boca's two most successful coaches were Juan Carlos Lorenzo (1976~79, 1987), and Carlos Bianchi, (1998–2002, 2003~04). Toto Lorenzo won five titles with the team, including the Libertadores Cup in 1977 and 1978, the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, and the Metropolitano and Nacional in 1976. Bianchi won nine, including Aperturas in 1998, 2000 and 2003, the 1999 Clausura, the Libertadores Cup in 2000, 2001, and 2003, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2000 and 2003.
On 22 August 2006, it was announced that Ricardo Lavolpe would take over the post of coach on September 15, replacing Alfio Basile, who had been selected to manage Argentina National Football Team. Lavolpe failed to continue Basile's chain of success, losing the 2006 Apertura championship in spite of a 4 points advantage with only two rounds to go.
Miguel Angel Russo was hired as Lavolpe's replacement. Boca took second place to San Lorenzo de Almagro in the 2007 Clausura tournament, but went on to win the Copa Libertadores with a 5-0 overall rout of Brazilian Grêmio.
Carlos Ischia was hired after Miguel Angel Russo left to go be San Lorenzo de Almagro's Coach.
Julio Cesar Falcioni is the current head coach of Boca Juniors, managing to take the team undefeated through the 2011 Apertura.
Executive Board 2011–2014[112]
Pedro Pompilio was the club's last elected chairman, succeeding Ing. Mauricio Macri (current Head of Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). Pompilio died during his presidency on October 30, 2008 due to heart attack. His family asked not to send flowers to his funeral and donate money to UNICEF instead. He was 58 years old at that time.[113] He was married and had two children.[114]
Jorge Amor Ameal, 1st vice president during Pedro Pompilio's direction, is the new Boca Juniors president.[115] Boca's most successful president was Mauricio Macri (1996–2008). During his era, the club has won most of its international titles.
Boca Juniors is one of the most successful teams in Argentine football. They have won six amateur title in Argentina's amateur era. In the professional era, they have won 24 league titles, second only to River Plate. In South American and international club football, Boca has won 18 titles, a world record they share with A.C. Milan.
Boca Juniors has expanded its activity beyond sport, providing its fans with a number of other products and services.
In 2003, it became the fifth football club in the world to open its own TV channel. Boca TV broadcasts 24 hours a day, featuring sports programs and talk shows.
There is a line of Boca coffins available for dead fans,[123] as well as an official Boca Juniors cemetery.[124]
Boca has its own fleet of taxis operating in Buenos Aires.[125]
The club also sells its own brand of wine, called Boca Wine.[126]
The Boca Juniors basketball team has won the Argentine league three times (1996/97, 2003/04, 2006/07), five Argentine Cups (Copa Argentina 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), the Argentine Top 4 (2004), and three South American Club Championships (2004, 2005, 2006).[127][128] It also reached the 2004–05 national finals (losing to Ben Hur). Their home arena is the Estadio Luis Conde, better known as La Bombonerita (small Bombonera).
Boca Juniors has a professional volleyball team that won the Metropolitan championship in 1991, 1992 and 1996, and achieved the second place in the 1996/97 A1 season. Because of a lack of sponsors, the team was disbanded, but later it was reincorporated through the coaching of former Boca player Marcelo Gigante; after playing in the second division, it returned to the A1 league in 2005.
The Boca Juniors women's football team plays in the Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino and have won the championship a record 19 times of which 10 were in succession from the 2003 Apertura to the 2008 Clausura.[129]
Though the club has not yet won any international competition, it secured the third place at the 2010 Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino.
Starting 2005, the Argentine Turismo Carretera stock-car competition league spun off the Top Race V6 category, in which teams are sponsored by football teams. Veteran race pilots Ortelli and Bessone and former Boca player Vicente Pernía drive for the Boca team; Ortelli finally won the first Top Race V6 championship for Boca Juniors.
In Futsal, Boca has won 6 Championships: 1992, 1993, Clausura 1997, Apertura 1998, Clausura 2003 (Men), and and 2004 (women).
Boca representatives also compete in other disciplines such as judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, weight lifting and gymnastics.[130]
There is an Argentine steakhouse in Queens, NYC which is a Boca Juniors theme restaurant. http://www.bocajuniorsrestaurant.com/
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