Boca Juniors

Boca Juniors
A Blue shield with a golden border. Inside the shield, 67 stars inside the shield with the golden letters "CABJ" (meaning "Club Atlético Boca Juniors") printed around the center, separating the stars
Full nameClub Atlético Boca Juniors
Nickname(s)Xeneize (Genoese)
Azul y Oro (Blue and Gold)
La Mitad Más Uno (Half plus One)
Short nameBoca
Founded3 April 1905; 119 years ago (1905-04-03)
GroundLa Bombonera
Capacity57,200[1]
ChairmanJuan Román Riquelme
ManagerFernando Gago
LeaguePrimera División
20237th
Websitebocajuniors.com.ar
Current season

Club Atlético Boca Juniors (Spanish pronunciation: [kluβ aˈtletiko ˈβoka ˈʝunjoɾs]), more commonly referred to as simply Boca Juniors, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Boca, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The club is best known for its men's professional football team which, since its promotion in 1913, has always played in the Argentine Primera División. The team has won 74 official titles, the most by any Argentine club.[2][3] National titles won by Boca Juniors include 35 Primera División championships,[4][5] and 17 domestic cups.[6] Boca Juniors also owns an honorary title awarded by the Argentine Football Association for their successful tour of Europe in 1925.[7][8]

Internationally, Boca Juniors has won 22 major titles,[9][10][11] with 18 organised by CONMEBOL[12] and the rest organised jointly by the Argentine and Uruguayan Associations. Consequently, Boca is ranked third in the world in terms of number of complete international titles, after Real Madrid (33) and Egyptian side Al Ahly (26).[13] Boca Juniors' international achievements also include one Tie Cup,[14] one Copa de Honor Cousenier,[15] and two Copa Escobar-Gerona,[16] organized jointly by AFA and AUF together. Their success usually has the Boca Juniors 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).[17] Boca was named by the IFFHS as the top South American club of the first decade of the 21st century (2001–2010).[18] It was designated by FIFA as the joint twelfth-best Club of the Century, in December 2000, occupying the same place as Liverpool of England, Internazionale of Italy, and Benfica of Portugal, among others.

Boca Juniors has a fierce rivalry with River Plate, and matches between them are known as the Superclásico. It is the most heated rivalry in Argentina and one of the biggest in the world, as the clubs are the two most popular in the country.[19][20] Boca's home stadium is the Estadio Alberto J. Armando, better known colloquially as La Bombonera. The youth academy has produced many Argentine internationals who have played or are playing for top European clubs, such as Oscar Ruggeri, Sebastián Battaglia, Nicolás Burdisso, Carlos Tevez, Éver Banega, Fernando Gago, Leandro Paredes, and Nahuel Molina.

In addition to men's football, Boca Juniors has professional women's football and basketball teams. Other (amateur) activities held in the club are: bocce, boxing, chess, field hockey, futsal, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, handball, martial arts (judo, karate, and taekwondo), swimming, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.[21] As of January 2023, Boca Juniors ranked first among the clubs with the most members in Argentina, with 315,879.[22][23]

History

[edit]
The first recorded photo of Boca Juniors taken in 1906, after winning the Liga Central championship

On 3 April 1905, a group of Italian boys (more specifically from Genoa) met in order to find 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 Farenga and Teodoro Farenga .[24] Other important founding members include Arturo Penney, Marcelino Vergara, Luis Cerezo, Adolfo Taggio, Giovanelli, Donato Abbatángelo, and Bertolini.

In 1913, Boca was promoted to Primera División after some previous failed attempts. This was possible when the Argentine Association decided to increase the number of teams in the league from 6 to 15.[25]

In 1925, Boca made its first trip to Europe to play in Spain, Germany and France. The squad played a total of 19 games, winning 15 of them. For that reason Boca was declared "Campeón de Honor" (Champion of Honour) by the Association.

During successive years, Boca consolidated as one of the most popular teams of Argentina, with a huge number of fans not only in the country but worldwide.[26][27][28]

Kit and badge

[edit]
The first three jersey models used by the team in the 1900s, exhibited at the Boca Juniors Museum
Some jerseys worn in the 1990s–2000s also in exhibition

According to the club's official site, the original jersey colour was a white shirt with thin black vertical stripes, being then replaced by a light blue shirt and then another striped jersey before adopting the definitive blue and gold.[29] Nevertheless, another version states that Boca Juniors' first jersey was pink, although it has been questioned by some journalists and historians who state that Boca, most probably, never wore a pink jersey, by pointing out the lack of any solid evidence and how this version stems from, and is only supported on, flawed testimonies.[30]

Legend has it that in 1906, Boca played Nottingham de Almagro. Both teams wore such similar shirts that the match was played to decide which team 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 a Swedish ship, therefore the yellow and blue of the Swedish flag were adopted as the new team colours.[31] The first version had a yellow diagonal band, which was later changed to a horizontal stripe.[29]

Through Boca Juniors history, the club has worn some alternate "rare" models, such as the AC Milan shirt in a match versus Universidad de Chile (whose uniform was also blue) in the 1963 Copa Libertadores.[32] When Nike became official kit provider in 1996, the first model by the company introduced two thin white stripes surrounding the gold band, causing some controversy.[33][34] The brand also introduced a silver jersey designed exclusively for the 1998 Copa Mercosur. For the 100th anniversary of the club, Nike launched commemorative editions of several models worn by the club since its foundation, including a version of the 1907 shirt with the diagonal sash, which was worn in two matches during the 2005 Torneo de Verano (Summer Championship).[35] Other models were a black and white striped jersey (similar to Juventus FC)[36] and a purple model,[37] worn in the 2012 and 2013 "Torneos de Verano," respectively.

Nevertheless, no shirt caused more controversy than the pink model released as the away jersey for the 2013–14 season, which was widely rejected by the fans.[38] Because of that, the introduction of this model (to be initially worn v. Rosario Central) was delayed until the last fixture when Boca played Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP).[39][40] As a replacement for the pink model, Nike designed a fluorescent yellow shirt launched that same season.[41][42]

In 2016, the club wore a black jersey for the first time in its history, originally launched as the third kit.[43] Although the President of the club, Daniel Angelici, had stated that the black kit would never be worn,[44] the kit debuted in a match v. Tigre, only four days after the announcement.[45]

Adidas is the club's current kit supplier since January 2020.[46] The agreement (which will remain in force until 2029) was signed for US $10,069,000 plus 40% in royalties per year for the club.[47]

Kit evolution

[edit]

Uniforms worn by the team through its history:[48]

1905–06
1906–07 [note1 2]
1907–12 [note1 3]
1913–present
Notes
  1. ^ Some sources state the first shirt was pink, as so did the club itself,[49] although further revisions established the striped black and white as the first shirt adopted by the club.[29] Nike released some versions based on this model, first in 2005 (although only for sale at stores)[50] and then in 2012, although this model was only worn during the Torneo de Verano.[51]
  2. ^ A similar model was used as the alternate kit in the 2006–07 season, 100 years after it was worn by the first time.
  3. ^ According to photographic document of those times, the diagonal sash was displayed in both ways, from left to right and vice versa.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

[edit]
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsors
1980–83 Adidas
1983 Vinos Maravilla
1984 Dekalb
1985–89 Fate
1989–92 FIAT
1992-93 Parmalat
1993–95 Olan
1996 Quilmes
1996 Topper [n 1]
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
2012–14 BBVA & Total[53][54]
2014–16 BBVA & Citroën
2016–18 BBVA & Huawei
2018–19 Qatar Airways & Axion
2020–21 Adidas
2021–22 Qatar Airways
2022–23 None
2023– Betsson & Directv
Notes
  1. ^ After Olan was taken over by Topper, the brand (then owned by Alpargatas) was the kit suppier just for one month, until the contract with Nike entered into force in September 1996.[52]

Badge

[edit]

The club has had five different designs for its badge during its history, although its outline has remained unchanged through most of its history. The first known emblem dates from 1911, appearing on the club's letterhead papers. In October 1932, the club stated that one star would be added to the badge for each Primera División title won.[55] Nevertheless, the stars would not appear until 1943, on a Report and Balance Sheet.[56][55]

A version with laurel leaves appeared in a magazine in 1955 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club,[56] although the club never used it officially.[55]

The emblem with the stars was announced in 1932, but it has regularly appeared on Boca Juniors uniforms since 1993.[56]

In 1996, the Ronald Shakespear Studio introduced a new badge (with the horizontal band suppressed) as part of a visual identity for the club. The new Boca Juniors image also featured new typography and style.[57][58]

Notes
  1. ^ Used only in report and balance sheets and member cards. It is not listed as official on club's website.[59]
  2. ^ In 1932, the club stated that the badge should include one star per title won to date. Nevertheless, the stars were not included until 1943.[55]

Stadium

[edit]
Official grandstand of Estadio Ministro Brin y Senguel, where Boca Juniors played from 1916 to 1924
The Boca Juniors stadium in Brandsen and Del Crucero, inaugurated in 1924. It was later demolished to build La Bombonera, in the same place

Boca Juniors used several locations before settling on their current ground on Brandsen. Club's first ground was in Dársena Sur[60] of the old Buenos Aires port (currently Puerto Madero) but it was vacated in 1907 as it failed to meet the minimum league requirements. Boca Juniors then used three grounds in the Isla Demarchi area between 1908 and 1912.[61][62] In the first year in the Primera Division (1913) the club hadn't an own stadium and played the home games in the pitches of the other teams, likely in Estudiantes de Buenos Aires in Palermo (on Figueroa Alcorta y Dorrego), but also in Avellaneda (first official derby against the River).[63] Between 1914 and 1915, the club moved away from La Boca for the second time in its history (beyond the 1913), moving to Wilde in the Avellaneda Partido of the Greater Buenos Aires but a relatively poor season[64] and poor attendances in 1915 forced the club to move back to La Boca.

On 25 May 1916, Boca Juniors opened its new stadium at the intersection of Ministro Brin and Senguel streets, playing there until 1924 when the club moved to Brandsen and Del Crucero (Del Valle Iberlucea nowadays) streets, to build a new stadium there, which lasted until 1938 when the club decided to build a totally new venue, made of concrete grandstand instead of wood.[65]

Building of Boca Juniors' current stadium began in 1938, under the supervision of Engineer José L. Delpini. Boca played its home matches in Ferro Carril Oeste's Estadio Ricardo Etcheverry in Caballito until it was completed on 25 May 1940.[62] A third level was added in 1953, originating then its nickname La Bombonera ('The Chocolate Box').[66] The stand opposite the Casa Amarilla railway platforms remained mostly undeveloped until 1996, when it was upgraded with new balconies and quite expensive VIP boxes. Three sides of the Bombonera are thus made up of traditional sloping stadium stands, but the fourth side was built vertically, with several seating areas stacked one on top of the other, the only way that makes it stand into the club premises.

La Bombonera is known for vibrating when Boca fans (La 12) jump in rhythm; in particular, the unique vertical side will sway slightly, leading to the phrase, "La Bombonera no tiembla. Late" (The Bombonera does not tremble. It beats)[67][68]

La Bombonera currently has a capacity of 57,200 after small renovation works in the 2020s. The Boca Juniors usually play their league games in front of capacity crowds. The club's popularity make tickets hard to come by, especially for the Superclásico game against River Plate.[69] There are further improvements planned for the stadium, including measures to ease crowd congestion, use of new technology and improved corporate facilities.[70]

Apart from the venues listed, Boca Juniors also played its home games at Estudiantes de Buenos Aires's stadium (in 1913, then located on Figueroa Alcorta Avenue)[71] and Ferro Carril Oeste stadium (1938–40, while La Bombonera was under construction).[72]

List of Boca Juniors venues
Field / Venue District Period
Dársena Sud [note3 1] La Boca 1905–07
Isla Demarchi [61][74] Puerto Madero 1908–12
Wilde [note3 2] Wilde 1914–15
Ministro Brin y Senguel La Boca 1916–24
Brandsen y Del Crucero [note3 3] 1924–38
La Bombonera [note3 4] 1940–present
Notes
  1. ^ Located on Pedro de Mendoza, Colorado (today A. Caffarena), Sengüel (B. Pérez Galdós) and Gaboto,[73] where the "Usina del Arte" is placed nowadays.
  2. ^ Located behind "Carboneras Wilson".[74]
  3. ^ Del Crucero was later renamed "Del Valle Iberlucea".
  4. ^ Official name: "Alberto J. Armando".

Supporters

[edit]
Boca Juniors' supporters displaying their flags at La Bombonera (north side), 2009

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.[75]

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%,[19][20] still the largest share. They have the highest number of fans, as judged by percentage in their country.

As of early 2023 Boca has a 314,000 member base, which ranks second only to Bayern Munich worldwide, and it is first in Argentina and also first in South America.[76]

The Boca-River Superclásico rivalry is one of the most thrilling derbies in the world.[77] Out of their 338 previous meetings, Boca have won 126, River have won 107 and there have been 105 draws.[78] 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.[79]

Nicknames

[edit]
Boca Juniors supporters during a night Copa Libertadores game v. Pumas

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.[80]

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.[81]

Reflecting the team's colors, Boca's shirt is also called la azul y oro (the blue and gold).[82]

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").[83] The origin of the group dates back to 1925, when the Boca Juniors fanatic "Toto" Caffarena accompanied the team during a tournament in Europe in 1925. From then on, he was considered the "twelfth player", hence the name "La doce". The ultra organization is similar to other "barra brava" gangs associated with football clubs in Argentina.[84] Illegal activities by La doce include assault, drug sales and trafficking, extortion, and murder.[85] La doce finances its activities by selling parking, reselling club tickets, and extorting commissions from the sale of players. La doce also extorts Boca Juniors for transportation to domestic and international events as well as their means of financing their activities. If their demands are not met, they threaten violence at home matches or to take down club officials.[86]

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, thus 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".[87]

International

[edit]

Peñas (fan clubs) exist in a number of Argentine cities and abroad in countries such as Russia, Ukraine,[88] Spain,[89] Israel[90] and Japan.[91] Boca Juniors are particularly popular in Japan, because of the club's success in the early 2000s at the Intercontinental Cup held in Japan.[92] Elsewhere internationally, 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 Tevez.

Boca has fans throughout Latin America and also in parts of the United States where there has been Latin immigration. In July 2007, after the club had toured pre-season, it was reported that the club was considering the possibility of creating a Boca Juniors USA team to compete in Major League Soccer.[93]

Rivalries

[edit]

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.[94] 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 (played at La Bombonera) at the top of their list of 50 sporting things you must do before you die.[95]

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 259 official games all time against each other, with Boca winning 91, River winning 85 and 83 draws.[96]

This intense rivalry has not stopped players from playing for both clubs, most notably José Manuel Moreno, Hugo Orlando Gatti, Alberto Tarantini, Oscar Ruggeri, Julio Olarticoechea, Carlos Tapia, Gabriel Batistuta and Claudio Caniggia.

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]
As of 31 August 2024[97]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Argentina ARG Sergio Romero
2 DF Argentina ARG Cristian Lema
3 DF Uruguay URU Marcelo Saracchi
4 DF Argentina ARG Nicolás Figal
5 MF Chile CHI Gary Medel
6 DF Argentina ARG Marcos Rojo (captain)
7 FW Argentina ARG Exequiel Zeballos
8 MF Argentina ARG Guillermo Fernández
9 FW Argentina ARG Milton Giménez
10 FW Uruguay URU Edinson Cavani
11 MF Argentina ARG Lucas Janson
12 GK Argentina ARG Leandro Brey
13 GK Argentina ARG Javier García
15 DF Argentina ARG Nicolás Valentini
16 FW Uruguay URU Miguel Merentiel
17 DF Peru PER Luis Advíncula
18 DF Colombia COL Frank Fabra
19 MF Argentina ARG Agustín Martegani
20 MF Argentina ARG Juan Ramírez
21 MF Argentina ARG Ignacio Miramón (on loan from Lille)
22 MF Argentina ARG Kevin Zenón
23 DF Argentina ARG Lautaro Blanco
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF Argentina ARG Juan Barinaga
30 MF Argentina ARG Tomás Belmonte
33 FW Argentina ARG Brian Aguirre
34 DF Argentina ARG Mateo Mendía
35 FW Argentina ARG Valentino Simoni
36 MF Argentina ARG Cristian Medina
37 GK Argentina ARG Sebastián Díaz Robles
38 DF Argentina ARG Aaron Anselmino (on loan from Chelsea)
39 MF Argentina ARG Vicente Taborda
40 DF Argentina ARG Lautaro Di Lollo
41 FW Argentina ARG Iker Zufiaurre
42 DF Argentina ARG Lucas Blondel
43 MF Argentina ARG Milton Delgado
44 FW Uruguay URU Ignacio Rodríguez
45 MF Argentina ARG Mauricio Benítez
46 MF Argentina ARG Juan Cruz Payal
47 MF Argentina ARG Jabes Saralegui
48 DF Argentina ARG Dylan Gorosito
50 MF Argentina ARG Julián Ceballos
51 MF Argentina ARG Santiago Dalmasso
52 DF Argentina ARG Walter Molas

Other players under contract

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF Argentina ARG Matías Olguín
MF Argentina ARG Kevin Duarte
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW Argentina ARG Juan Baiardino

Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Argentina ARG Ramiro García (at Defensa y Justicia until 31 December 2024)
GK Argentina ARG Agustín Lastra (at Independiente Rivadavia until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Alexis Alvariño (at Amazonas until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Gabriel Aranda (at Banfield until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Balthazar Bernardi (at Arsenal until 31 December 2025)
DF Argentina ARG Nahuel Génez (at Tigre until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Renzo Giampaoli (at Defensor Sporting until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Agustín Heredia (at San Martín (SJ) until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Oscar Salomón (at Platense until 31 December 2024)
DF Paraguay PAR Bruno Valdez (at Cerro Porteño until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Pedro Velurtas (at Barracas Central until 31 December 2024)
DF Argentina ARG Marcelo Weigandt (at Inter Miami until 31 December 2024)
MF Colombia COL Jorman Campuzano (at Atlético Nacional until 30 June 2025)
MF Argentina ARG Julián Carrasco (at Temperley until 31 December 2025)
MF Argentina ARG Brandon Cortés (at Nueva Chicago until 31 December 2025)
MF Argentina ARG Tomás Díaz (at Almirante Brown until 31 December 2024)
MF Argentina ARG Gonzalo Maroni (at Tigre until 31 December 2024)
MF Argentina ARG Rodrigo Montes (at Gimnasia (J) until 31 December 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Argentina ARG Simón Rivero (at Unión until 31 December 2024)
MF Argentina ARG Román Rodríguez (at Estudiantes (BA) until 31 December 2025)
MF Argentina ARG Esteban Rolón (at Belgrano until 31 December 2024)
MF Argentina ARG Gabriel Vega (at Atlanta until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Federico Aguirre (at Barracas Central until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Erik Bodencer (at Atlanta until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Lucas Brochero (at Barracas Central until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Israel Escalante (at Estudiantes (RC) until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Alexander Fernández (at Almirante Brown until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Tomás Fernández (at San Martín (SJ) until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Gastón Gerzel (at Los Andes until 31 December 2024)
FW Venezuela VEN Jan Hurtado (at Goianiense until 30 June 2025)
FW Argentina ARG Gonzalo Morales (at Unión until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Agustín Obando (at Platense until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Nicolás Orsini (at Unión until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Nazareno Solís (at Gimnasia (M) until 31 December 2024)
FW Argentina ARG Maximiliano Zalazar (at Barracas Central until 31 December 2024)
FW Armenia ARM Norberto Briasco (at Gimnasia y Esgrima LP until February 2026)

Reserves and Academy

[edit]

For the reserve and academy squads, see Boca Juniors Reserves and Academy

Records

[edit]

Most goals

[edit]
Martín Palermo, Boca Juniors' all-time top goalscorer
No. Player Pos. Tenure Goals
1 Argentina Martín Palermo FW 1997–01, 2004–11 236
2 Argentina Roberto Cherro FW 1926–38 223
3 Argentina Francisco Varallo FW 1931–39 194
4 Argentina Domingo Tarasconi FW 1922–32 192
5 Argentina Jaime Sarlanga FW 1940–48 129
6 Argentina Mario Boyé FW 1941–49, 1955 123
7 Paraguay Delfín Benítez Cáceres FW 1932–38 114
8 Argentina Pío Corcuera FW 1941–48 97
9 Argentina Pedro Calomino FW 1911–13, 1915–24 96
10 Argentina Carlos Tevez FW 2001–04, 2015–16, 2018–21 94

Last updated on: 31 July 2023 – Los 10 máximos goleadores at historiadeboca.com.ar

Most appearances

[edit]
Roberto Mouzo, Boca Juniors' most capped player
No Player Position Tenure App.
1 Argentina Roberto Mouzo DF 1971–84 426
2 Argentina Hugo Gatti GK 1976–88 417
3 Argentina Silvio Marzolini DF 1960–72 408
4 Argentina Martín Palermo FW 1997–2001, 2004–11 404
5 Colombia Carlos Navarro Montoya GK 1988–96 400
6 Argentina Juan Román Riquelme MF 1996–2002, 2007–14 388
7 Argentina Antonio Rattín MF 1956–70 382
8 Argentina Ernesto Lazzatti MF 1934–47 379
9 Argentina Rubén Suñé MF 1967–72, 1976–80 377
10 Argentina Natalio Pescia MF 1942–56 365

Last updated on: 31 July 2023 – Top 10 most appearances of all time at historiadeboca.com.ar

Notable players

[edit]
This section lists players who have appeared in least 100 matches[98] or scored at least 35 goals[99] for the club.

1905–1930s

[edit]

1930s–1970s

[edit]

1970s–1990s

[edit]

1990s–2000s

[edit]

2000s–

[edit]

Source:[135]

FIFA World Cup participants

[edit]

List of players that were called up for a FIFA World Cup while playing for Boca Juniors. In brackets, the tournament played:

Coaches

[edit]

The first Boca Juniors coach recorded is Mario Fortunato, who had been player before becoming coach of the team. Fortunato led Boca to win a total of five titles (4 league in 1930, 1931, 1934 and 1935) and one National cup (Copa de Competencia Británica in 1946).[136] He had three tenures on the club, coaching Boca Juniors in 1930–1936, 1946 and 1956.

Carlos Bianchi is the most successful coach in Boca Juniors' history, having won nine titles, including Aperturas in 1998, 2000 and 2003, the 1999 Clausura, the Copa Libertadores in 2000, 2001 and 2003, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2000 and 2003.

Juan Carlos Lorenzo (1976–79, 1987), El Toto, won five titles with the team, including the Copa Libertadores in 1977 and 1978, the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, and the Metropolitano and Nacional in 1976.

Alfio Basile also won 5 titles along with Mario Fortunato and Toto Lorenzo. With Basile, Boca won two domestic titles, 2005 Apertura and 2006 Clausura and three international (2005 Copa Sudamericana, 2005 and 2006 Recopa Sudamericana), all of them won within two years.

Current coaching staff

[edit]
Position Staff
Head coach Argentina Fernando Gago
Assistant coach Argentina Fabricio Coloccini
Assistant coach Argentina Diego Cogliandro
Goalkeeping coach Argentina Cristián Muñoz
Fitness coach Argentina Roberto Luzzi
Fitness coach Argentina Cristian Aquino
Team doctor Argentina Rubén Argemi
Team doctor Argentina Lucas Logioco
Kinesiologist Argentina Leonardo Betchakian

Last updated: 15 October 2024
Source: Boca Juniors – El Plantel

Institutional

[edit]

Executive board

[edit]

Juan Román Riquelme is the current President of Boca Juniors since December 2023, when he was elected over Andrés Ibarra, getting more than 65% of the votes (a record of 46,400 members went to the club to vote).[137] Jorge Amor Ameal (which was president 2019–23)[138] was elected vice-president of the club.

Staff

[edit]
Presidents of Boca Juniors sections
Section Name
Football Juan Román Riquelme
Basketball Alejandro Desimone
Amateur Sports Pablo Szawarniak
Culture Silvia Gottero

Last updated: 15 October 2024
Source: Autoridades

Honours

[edit]

Senior titles

[edit]
Keys
  •   Record
  • (s) Shared record
Type Competition Titles Winning years
National
(League)
Primera División 35 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1930, 1931 LAF, 1934 LAF, 1935, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1954, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969 Nacional, 1970 Nacional, 1976 Metropolitano, 1976 Nacional, 1981 Metropolitano, 1992 Apertura, 1998 Apertura, 1999 Clausura, 2000 Apertura, 2003 Apertura, 2005 Apertura, 2006 Clausura, 2008 Apertura, 2011 Apertura, 2015, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022
National
(Cups)
Copa Argentina 4
Supercopa Argentina 2
Copa de la Liga 2
Copa Jockey Club 2
Copa Ibarguren 5(s)
Copa Estímulo 1(s)
Copa Británica 1(s)
International Intercontinental Cup [note2 1] 3(s)
Copa Libertadores [note2 2] 6
Copa Sudamericana [note2 2] 2(s)
Recopa Sudamericana [note2 2] 4
Supercopa Libertadores [note2 2] 1
Copa de Oro [note2 2] 1(s)
Copa Master [note2 2] 1(s)
Tie Cup [note2 3] 1
Copa de Honor Cousenier [note2 3] 1
Copa Escobar-Gerona [note2 3] 2

Other titles

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Independent leagues
  • Liga Central de Football: 1906
  • Copa Barone [note2 5]: 1908
Friendly

Reserve and Youth titles

[edit]

For the reserve and academy honours, see Boca Juniors Reserves and Academy

Notes
  1. ^ Organised by UEFA and Conmebol together
  2. ^ a b c d e f CONMEBOL competition
  3. ^ a b c Organised by AFA and AUF together
  4. ^ Title shared with Nacional.
  5. ^ Organised by Liga Albión de Football. After winning this title, Boca Juniors registered to the Argentine Football Association.

Records and facts

[edit]
Armenian stamp honoring club’s 3 Intercontinental Cup titles

Other sports sections

[edit]

Football reserves and academy

[edit]

The reserve and youth academy football teams of the club, currently coached by former club player Rolando Schiavi,[168] who debuted in February 2015.[169] Boca Juniors is the most winning Torneo de Reserva championships with 21 titles won since it was established in 1910.

Notable players from the youth academy include Américo Tesoriere, Natalio Pescia, Ernesto Lazzatti, Antonio Rattín, Ángel Clemente Rojas, Roberto Mouzo, Oscar Ruggeri, Diego Latorre, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Gago, among others.

Women's football

[edit]

The Boca Juniors women's football team plays in the Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino and have won the championship a record 27 times of which 10 were in succession from the 2003 Apertura to the 2008 Clausura.[170]

Though the club has not yet won any international competition, it secured the third place at the 2010 Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino, and in the 2022 Copa Libertadores Femenina finished in second place.

Basketball

[edit]

The Boca Juniors basketball team, established in 1929, won several Argentine championships organised by now-defunct bodies "Asociación de Básquetbol de Buenos Aires" and "Federación Argentina de Básquetbol". Since the Liga Nacional de Básquet was created in 1985, Boca Juniors has won the LNB league title three times (1996–97, 2003–04, and 2006–07), five Copa Argentina (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006), and one Torneo Top 4 (in 2004).

At international level, Boca Juniors won three South American Club Championships in 2004, 2005, and 2006.[171][172]

Their home arena is the Estadio Luis Conde, better known as La Bombonerita (small Bombonera).

Field hockey

[edit]

In September 2022, Boca Juniors announced the club would open a field hockey section for men and women.[173] In May 2023, the club inaugurated a hockey field, with Las Leonas all-time top scorer Vanina Oneto as part of the project. Oneto was appointed manager of Boca Juniors Hockey.[174]

Futsal

[edit]

Boca Juniors men's compete in Primera División de Futsal, the top division of the futsal league system and organised by AFA. The club is the 2nd most winning team (after Club Pinocho) of Primera División, with 13 titles. One of those came in 2017 when they defeated Kimberley in the finals.[175] The men's team won those thirteen league championship in 1992, 1993, 1997 Clausura, 1998 Apertura, 2003 Clausura, 2011 Clausura, 2012 Apertura, 2013 Apertura, 2013 Clausura, 2014 Apertura, 2014 Clausura, 2017, 2020–21.[176]

Boca also has a women's futsal team which plays in the Campeonato de Futsal Femenino, they won the inaugural tournament in 2004[177] and they won it again in 2014.

Volleyball

[edit]

Boca Juniors has a men's 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.

In August 2015 it was announced that Boca Juniors's volleyball team would not participate in the Liga Argentina de Voleibol – Serie A1 from 2016. The decision was personally taken by Boca Juniors chairman, Daniel Angelici. The club alleged that taking part in a professional league resulted in a hugh commercial deficit so Boca Juniors declined to participate, although the volleyball department had reached an agreement with several sponsors which would put the money to cover the costs (about A$ 3 million).[178]

On 1 August 2023, it was announced that Boca Juniors after almost 8 years, will once again play in the Liga Argentina de Voleibol – Serie A1.[179]

Boca has a women's volleyball team that plays in the Liga Femenina de Voleibol Argentino and it has won the tournament a record 8 times (2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).[180]

Also

[edit]

Boca representatives compete in other disciplines such as judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, weight lifting and gymnastics, amongst others.[181]

Merchandising

[edit]
Boca Juniors themed street vendor in La Boca

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 broadcast 24 hours a day, featuring sports programs and talk shows. The channel was closed in 2005 due to low audience, returning in 2015 as a website.[182] In 2005, a funerary company started to produce a line of coffins available for dead fans.[183][184] The club also opened a "Boca Juniors" exclusive section of 3,000 hectare in the Parque Iraola Cemetery of La Plata Partido in 2006.[185][186]

Also in 2006, Boca expanded its business launching its own fleet of taxis operating in Buenos Aires,[187][188] as well as its own brand of wine, called "Vino Boca Juniors".[189]

In 2012 Boca Juniors opened in Buenos Aires its first thematic hotel not only in Argentina but worldwide. The hotel was designed by Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott. All the rooms were decorated with the colours of the club, apart from photos and paintings of notable players in the history of the club.[190][191]

There is an Argentine steakhouse in Queens, NYC which is a Boca Juniors theme restaurant.[192][193]

Sponsorships

[edit]

In racing, Argentine Turismo Carretera stock-car competition league spun off the Top Race V6 category, in which teams were sponsored by football teams.[194] Veteran race pilots Guillermo Ortelli and Ernesto Bessone and former Boca player Vicente Pernía drove for the "Boca Juniors" team; Ortelli finally won the first Top Race V6 championship with his car painted in Boca Juniors colors.[195]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "El retoque en el aforo de la Bombonera que se estrenará en Boca-Platense". 18 August 2023.
  2. ^ Ranking de campeones argentinos: así quedó la tabla histórica después del título de Boca, La Nación, 7 Mar 2020
  3. ^ Boca se adueñó de la Superliga y estiró la distancia con River en la tabla histórica de títulos, Infobae, 7 Mar 2020
  4. ^ Campeones de la Primera División on AFA website
  5. ^ En la tabla histórica de títulos, Boca acortó más distancias, Clarín, 9 May 2018
  6. ^ Copas Nacionales – Ganadores on AFA website (retrieved 4 November 2015)
  7. ^ "Boca: Campeón de Honor" Archived 18 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine on TN, 27 September 2011
  8. ^ "Cuando Boca se hizo Boca", Clarín, 3 April 2013
  9. ^ 38 Campeones de Fútbol Argentino by Diego Estévez – Ediciones Continente – ISBN 9789507543692
  10. ^ Independiente vs. Boca: quién tiene más títulos internacionales by Oscar Barnade, Clarín, 8 August 2018
  11. ^ Cuadro total de títulos oficiales Archived 25 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine on Revisionismo del Fútbol, retrieved 29 June 2019
  12. ^ Las competiciones oficiales de la CONMEBOL on Conmebol website, 19 Ago 2015
  13. ^ International Cups Trivia by Karel Stokkermans on the RSSSF, 6 June 2019
  14. ^ Cup Tie Archived 17 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine on RSSSF
  15. ^ Honor Cup Archived 17 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine on RSSSF
  16. ^ Copa de Confraternidad Escobar – Gerona Archived 8 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine on RSSSF
  17. ^ "IFFHS Club World rankings statistics". Iffhs.de. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  18. ^ "South America's Club of the 1st Decade of the 21st Century (2001–2010)". IFFHS.de. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Se cae un mito: la hinchada de Boca no suma la mitad más uno del país" Archived 21 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine – InfoBae
  20. ^ a b "O mais grande" by Sergio Maffei Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Olé, 6 February 2008
  21. ^ "Deportes amateur" at club website
  22. ^ La AFA reveló el ranking de los clubes con más socios: ¿Quiénes lideran la tabla? at noticias.net, 27 Jan 2023
  23. ^ Boca, el club con mayor asistencia y cantidad de socios del 2022 at TyC, 28 Jan 2023
  24. ^ "El Club: Historia at Boca Juniors official website". Bocajuniors.com.ar. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  25. ^ "RSSSF Argentine divisional movements". RSSSF. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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  27. ^ Boca: récord de seguidores y vistas en redes on Olé, 3 May 2022
  28. ^ Tachan de ridículos a mexicanos fans de Boca Juniors al hablar con acento argentino by Jesús Beltrán on Infobae, 29 Sep 2023
  29. ^ a b c "Evolución histórica de la camiseta xeneize". Bocajuniors.com.ar. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  30. ^ Vaca, Javier; Lodise, Sergio. "La camiseta rosa". Revista del CECAD #3 February 2013. Calameo.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  31. ^ Georgina Turner and James Dart (23 November 2005). "Turner, Georgina & Dart, James. "Nicking the shirts off their backs," The Guardian (London, UK), Wednesday 23 November 2005". Football.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  32. ^ Boca fue el Milan contra la "U", Perfil, 14 June 2012
  33. ^ Las camisetas más polémicas de Boca a lo largo de su historia, Diario Popular, 8 December 2013
  34. ^ Interview to Diego Maradona in Planeta Boca Juniors
  35. ^ "La banda amarilla salió a la cancha", Clarín, 15 January 2005
  36. ^ La camiseta nueva, a la venta
  37. ^ Se viene el estreno de la camiseta violeta, Clarín, 11 January 2013
  38. ^ La versión "alternativa" de la camiseta de Boca no gustó, La Razón, 1 July 2013 (Archived 6 January 2016)
  39. ^ Y una tarde, Boca usó la polémica camiseta rosa, La Nación, 8 December 2013
  40. ^ Hinchas de Boca mostraron su repudio a la camiseta rosa, Diario Popular, 8 December 2013
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  44. ^ Bronca en Boca por la nueva camiseta negra: "No la vamos a usar", dijo enojado Angelici, El Día, 7 April 2016
  45. ^ "Boca usó la camiseta alternativa negra con números y vivos dorados", El Liberal, 11 April 2016
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  50. ^ "Boca Xentenario 2005", Imborrable Boca, 27 December 2008
  51. ^ Camiseta edición limitada de Boca by Diego Silber on Marca de Gol, 14 January 2012
  52. ^ Boca Juniors rompe relaciones con Nike y firma contrato millonario con Adidas on El Comercio (Peru), 19 July 2019
  53. ^ "¿Cómo vamos a querer jugar contra River si ellos están en la B? – PlayFútbol". Playfutbol.infobae.com. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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  59. ^ Escudos|El club on Boca Juniors (13 Jul 2022)
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  61. ^ a b "Breve historia de la isla Demarchi" on La Nación Archived 30 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 30 Ago 2012
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  63. ^ "Viejos Estadios: Dársena Sur".
  64. ^ "RSSSF Argentina 1915". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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  68. ^ "Crespo: La Bombonera tiembla, es muy fuerte" on Cancha Llena Archived 6 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, 11 January 2013
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