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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 name Club Atlético Boca Juniors
Nickname(s) Xeneizes (I Genovesi)
Azul y Oro (Blue and Gold)
La Mitad Más Uno (Half plus One)
Founded 3 April 1905; 118 years ago (1905-04-03)
Ground La Bombonera
La Boca, Buenos Aires
Ground Capacity 54,000
Chairman Jorge Amor Ameal
Manager Hugo Ibarra
League Primera División
2022 1st. (champion)
Third colours

Club Atlético Boca Juniors (Spanish pronunciation: [kluβ aˈtletiko ˈβoka ˈʝunjoɾs]) is an Argentine sports club headquartered in La Boca, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The club is mostly known for its professional football team which, since its promotion in 1913, has always played in the Argentine Primera División. The team has won 73 official titles, the most by any Argentine club. National titles won by Boca Juniors include 35 Primera División championships, and 16 domestic cups. Boca Juniors also owns an honorary title awarded by the Argentine Football Association for their successful tour of Europe in 1925.

Internationally, Boca Juniors has won a total of 22 international titles, with 18 organised by CONMEBOL 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 (28) and Egyptian side Al Ahly (25). Boca Juniors' international achievements also include Tie Cup, Copa de Honor Cousenier, and Copa Escobar-Gerona, 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). Boca was named by the IFFHS as the top South American club of the first decade of the 21st century (2001–2010). It was designated by FIFA as the twelfth best Club of the Century, in December 2000, occupying the same place as Liverpool of England, Inter of Italy, or Benfica of Portugal, among others. Boca Juniors is also known to be one of the most popular football clubs in Argentina, along with River Plate.

Boca Juniors has always had a fierce rivalry with River Plate. Matches between them are known as the Superclásico, and are 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 Oscar Ruggeri, Sebastián Battaglia, Nicolás Burdisso, Carlos Tevez, Éver Banega, Rodrigo Betancur and Fernando Gago, who have played or are playing for top European clubs.

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, futsal, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, handball, martial arts (judo, karate and taekwondo), swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

History

Bocajuniors-primerafoto
The first recorded photo of Boca Juniors taken in 1906, after winning the Liga Central championship

On 3 April 1905, a group of Greek and 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 Ioannis (Juan) and Theodoros (Teodoro) Farengas from Chios and Konstantinos Karoulias from Samos. Other important founders members include Arturo Penney, Marcelino Vergara, Luis Cerezo, Adolfo Taggio, Giovanelli, Donato Abbatángelo, Bertolini.

In 1913, Boca 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.

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. The club is one of the most successful teams in Argentine football, having won 47 domestic titles (34 league titles and 13 national cups). At international level, Boca Juniors have won 22 titles, with 18 competitions organised by CONMEBOL and four by the Argentine and Uruguayan Associations together.

Kit and badge

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. 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.

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. The first version had a yellow diagonal band, which was later changed to a horizontal stripe.

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. 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. 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). Other models were a black and white striped jersey (similar to Juventus FC) and a purple model, 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. 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). As a replacement for the pink model, Nike designed a fluorescent yellow shirt launched that same season.

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

Adidas is the club's current kit supplier since January 2020. 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.

Kit evolution

Uniforms worn by the team through its history:

1905
1905–06
1906–07
1907–12
1913–present

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Camisetas Boca Jrs
Some jerseys exhibited at "The Passion for Boca Juniors Museum".
PrimerasCamisetasBoca
The first jerseys used by the team in the 1900s.
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsors
1905–80 None
1983 Adidas 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
2012–14 BBVA & Total
2014–16 BBVA & Citroën
2016–18 BBVA & Huawei
2018–19 Qatar Airways & Axion
2020– Adidas Qatar Airways & Axion

Badge

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 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. Nevertheless, the stars would not appear until 1943, on a Report and Balance Sheet.

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

The emblem with the stars was rules in 1932 but it has regularly appeared on Boca Juniors uniforms since 1993.

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.

Stadium

Alberto J Armando
La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' current venue
Tribuna oficial viejo estadio boca
Official grandstand of Estadio Ministro Brin y Senguel, where Boca Juniors played from 1916 to 1924
Boca stadium 1925
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 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. 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). 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 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.

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. A third level was added in 1953, originating then its nickname La Bombonera ('The Chocolate Box'). 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)

La Bombonera currently has a capacity of around 54,000. The club's popularity make tickets hard to come by, especially for the Superclásico game against River Plate. There are further improvements planned for the stadium, including measures to ease crowd congestion, use of new technology and improved corporate facilities.

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) and Ferro Carril Oeste stadium (1938–40, while La Bombonera was under construction).

List of Boca Juniors venues
Field / Venue District Period
Dársena Sud La Boca 1905–07
Isla Demarchi Puerto Madero 1908–12
Wilde Wilde 1914–15
Ministro Brin y Senguel La Boca 1916–24
Brandsen y Del Crucero La Boca 1924–38
La Bombonera La Boca 1940–present

Supporters

Hinchada de Boca desplegando sus telones
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.

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%, 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. Out of their 338 previous meetings, Boca have won 126, River have won 107 and there have been 105 draws. 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.

Nicknames

Boca Juniors vs. Pumas
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.

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.

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

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") "La doce" is a criminal organization similar to other "barra brava" gangs associated with football clubs in Argentina. Illegal activities by La doce include assault, drug sales and trafficking, extortion, and murder. La doce finances its activities by selling parking, reselling club tickets as well as extorting commission 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.

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".

International

Peñas (fan clubs) exist in a number of Argentine cities and abroad in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Israel and Japan. 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 Tevez.

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.

Rivalries

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. 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.

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 338 games all time against each other, with Boca winning 126, River winning 107 and 105 draws. In the First Division Professional Era the two clubs have played 198 games with Boca winning 72, River 66 and 60 draws.

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

Current squad

No. Position Player
1 Argentina GK Agustín Rossi
2 Argentina DF Facundo Roncaglia
3 Argentina DF Agustín Sández
4 Argentina DF Nicolás Figal
6 Argentina DF Marcos Rojo (captain)
7 Argentina FW Exequiel Zeballos
8 Argentina MF Guillermo Fernández
9 Argentina FW Darío Benedetto
10 Paraguay MF Óscar Romero
11 Argentina MF Martín Payero (on loan from Middlesbrough)
12 Argentina GK Leandro Brey
13 Argentina GK Javier García
14 Argentina MF Esteban Rolón
15 Argentina GK Ramiro García
16 Argentina MF Aaron Molinas
17 Peru DF Luis Advíncula
18 Colombia DF Frank Fabra
No. Position Player
19 Argentina DF Valentín Barco
20 Argentina MF Juan Edgardo Ramírez
22 Colombia FW Sebastián Villa
23 Argentina MF Diego González
25 Argentina GK Sergio Romero
27 Argentina FW Nicolás Orsini
29 Armenia FW Norberto Briasco
32 Argentina MF Agustín Almendra
33 Argentina MF Alan Varela
35 Argentina DF Nahuel Genez
36 Argentina MF Cristian Medina
38 Argentina FW Luis Vázquez
39 Argentina DF Gabriel Aranda
40 Argentina DF Lautaro Di Lollo
41 Argentina FW Luca Langoni
57 Argentina DF Marcelo Weigandt

Out on loan

No. Position Player
21 Colombia MF Jorman Campuzano (at Giresunspor until 30 June 2023)
Argentina GK Agustín Lastra (at Aldosivi until 31 December 2023)
Argentina DF Renzo Giampaoli (at Rosenborg until 31 December 2023)
Argentina DF Oscar Salomón (at Tigre until 31 December 2022)
Argentina MF Ezequiel Fernández (at Tigre until 31 December 2022)
Argentina MF Gonzalo Maroni (at San Lorenzo until 31 December 2023)
No. Position Player
Argentina MF Rodrigo Montes (at Central Córdoba (SdE) until 31 December 2022)
Argentina FW Lucas Brochero (at Arsenal (S) until 31 December 2022)
Argentina FW Tomás Fernández (at San Martín (SJ) until 31 December 2022)
Venezuela FW Jan Hurtado (at Bragantino until 30 June 2023)
Argentina FW Agustín Obando (at Tigre until 31 December 2023)
Argentina FW Mateo Retegui (at Tigre until 31 December 2023)

Reserves and Academy

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

Records

Most goals

Martin Palermo
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: 22 Sep 2021 – Los 10 máximos goleadores at Sports.es

Most appearances

Mouzo en boca
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: 6 July 2016 – Top 10 most appearances of all time at historiadeboca.com.ar

Notable players

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

1905–1930s

  • Máximo Pieralini (1909–18)
  • Argentina Francisco Taggino (1910–15)
  • Argentina Pedro Calomino (1911–13; 1915–24)
  • Argentina Enrique Bertolini (1912–23)
  • Argentina Alfredo Elli (1916–28)
  • Argentina Alfredo Garasini (1916–28)
  • Argentina Américo Tesoriere (1916–27)
  • Argentina Pablo Bozzo (1918–23)
  • Argentina Mario Busso (1918–27)
  • Argentina Antonio Cerroti (1920–29)
  • Argentina Ramón Muttis (1923–32)
  • Argentina Ludovico Bidoglio (1922–31)
  • Argentina Ángel Médici (1922–31)
  • Argentina Domingo Tarasconi (1922–32)
  • Argentina Roberto Cherro (1926–35)
  • Argentina Mario Evaristo (1926–31)
  • Argentina Estaban Kuko (1926–33)
  • Argentina Gerardo Moreyras (1927–33)
  • Argentina Donato Penella (1928–32)
  • Argentina Antonio Alberino (1929–34)
  • Argentina Pedro Arico Suárez (1929–42)

1930s–1970s

  • Argentina Francisco Varallo (1931–39)
  • Paraguay Delfín Benítez Cáceres (1932–38)
  • Argentina Juan Yustrich (1932–37)
  • Argentina José Manuel Marante (1934–38; 1940–50)
  • Argentina Ernesto Lazzatti (1934–47)
  • Argentina Víctor Valussi (1935–36; 1938–45)
  • Argentina Juan Alberto Estrada (1938–43)
  • Argentina Claudio Vacca (1938–40; 1942–50)
  • Argentina Segundo Gregorio Ibáñez (1939–42)
  • Argentina Jaime Sarlanga (1940–48)
  • Argentina Mario Boyé (1941–49; 1955)
  • Argentina Pío Corcuera (1941–48)
  • Argentina Carlos Sosa (1941–51)
  • Argentina Natalio Pescia (1942–56)
  • Uruguay Severino Varela (1943–45)
  • Argentina Obdulio Diano (1944–53)
  • Argentina Rodolfo Dezorzi (1945–48)
  • Argentina Héctor Raúl Otero (1948–56)
  • Argentina Marcos Busico (1949–54)
  • Argentina Herminio Antonio González (1949–54; 1956–59)
  • Argentina Juan Carlos Colman (1950–57)
  • Argentina José Borello (1951–58)
  • Argentina Federico Roberto Edwards (1951–59)
  • Argentina Juan Francisco Lombardo (1952–60)
  • Argentina Eliseo Mouriño (1953–60)
  • Argentina Julio Musimessi (1953–59)
  • Argentina Antonio Rattín (1956–70)
  • Argentina Juan José Rodríguez (1956–62; 1964)
  • Argentina Osvaldo Nardiello (1958–62)
  • Argentina Ernesto Grillo (1960–66)
  • Argentina Silvio Marzolini (1960–72)
  • Argentina Antonio Roma (1960–72)
  • Brazil Heleno de Freitas (1948–49)
  • Brazil Paulo Valentim (1960–64)
  • Brazil Almir Pernambuquinho (1961–62)
  • Brazil Orlando (1961–65)
  • Argentina Alberto Mario González (1962–68)
  • Argentina Norberto Menéndez (1962–67)
  • Argentina José María Silvero (1962–66)
  • Argentina Carmelo Simeone (1962–67)
  • Argentina Ángel Clemente Rojas (1963–71)
  • Uruguay Alcides Silveira (1963–68)
  • Argentina Óscar Pianetti (1964–71)
  • Argentina Alfredo Rojas (1964–68)
  • Argentina Norberto Madurga (1966–71)
  • Italy Nicolás Novello (1966–72; 1974)
  • Argentina Armando Ovide (1966–76)
  • Argentina Ramón Héctor Ponce (1966–74)
  • Argentina Miguel Nicolau (1967–72; 1974–75)
  • Argentina Rubén Omar Sánchez (1967–75)
  • Argentina Rubén Suñé (1967–72; 1976–80)
  • Peru Julio Meléndez (1968–72)
  • Argentina Roberto Rogel (1968–75)
  • Argentina Jorge Coch (1969–71; 1980)
  • Uruguay Orlando José Medina (1969–72)
  • Argentina Rubén Peracca (1969–73)

1970s–1990s

  • Argentina Hugo Curioni (1970–73)
  • Argentina Enzo Ferrero (1971–75)
  • Argentina Roberto Mouzo (1971–84)
  • Argentina Osvaldo Potente (1971–75; 1979–80)
  • Argentina Jorge José Benítez (1973–83)
  • Argentina Vicente Pernía (1973–81)
  • Argentina Alberto Tarantini (1973–77)
  • Argentina Marcelo Trobbiani (1973–76; 1981–82)
  • Argentina Carlos García Cambón (1974–77)
  • Argentina Abel Alves (1975–83)
  • Argentina Darío Felman (1975–78)
  • Argentina Hugo Gatti (1976–88)
  • Argentina Ernesto Mastrangelo (1976–81)
  • Argentina Jorge Ribolzi (1976–78, 1980–81)
  • Argentina Francisco Sá (1976–81)
  • Argentina José María Suárez (1976–82)
  • Argentina Carlos Veglio (1976–78; 1980)
  • Argentina Mario Zanabria (1976–80)
  • Argentina Hugo Alves (1977–84)
  • Argentina Hugo Perotti (1977–82; 1982–84)
  • Argentina Carlos Héctor Córdoba (1978–84)
  • Argentina Ricardo Gareca (1978–80; 1982–84)
  • Argentina Oscar Ruggeri (1980–84)
  • Uruguay Ariel Krasouski (1981–85; 1986–88)
  • Argentina Diego Maradona (1981–82; 1995–97)
  • Argentina Roberto Passucci (1981–86)
  • Argentina Fabián Carrizo (1983–90; 1994–96)
  • Argentina Ivar Gerardo Stafuza (1983–91)
  • Argentina Luis Abramovich (1985–92)
  • Argentina Alfredo Graciani (1985–91; 1993–94)
  • Argentina Enrique Hrabina (1985–91)
  • Argentina Carlos Daniel Tapia (1985–94)
  • Argentina Jorge Comas (1986–89)
  • Argentina José Luis Cuciuffo (1987–90)
  • Argentina Diego Latorre (1987–92; 1996–98)
  • Argentina José Luis Villarreal (1987–93)
  • Colombia Carlos Navarro Montoya (1988–96)
  • Argentina Walter Pico (1988–92; 1994–96)
  • Argentina Juan Simón (1988–94)
  • Argentina Diego Soñora (1988–95)
  • Argentina Blas Giunta (1989–93; 1995–97)
  • Argentina Víctor Hugo Marchesini (1989–93)

1990s–2000s

2000s–

  • Argentina Marcelo Delgado (2000–03; 2005–06)
  • Argentina José María Calvo (2000–06; 2008–2011)
  • Argentina Clemente Rodríguez (2001–04; 2007; 2010–13)
  • Argentina Rolando Schiavi (2001–05; 2011–12)
  • Argentina Carlos Tevez (2001–04; 2015–16; 2018–2021)
  • Argentina Raúl Alfredo Cascini (2002–05)
  • Argentina Pablo Ledesma (2003—08; 2012–14)
  • Colombia Fabián Vargas (2003–06; 2007–09)
  • Argentina Neri Cardozo (2004–08)
  • Argentina Fernando Gago (2004–07; 2013–18)
  • Paraguay Claudio Morel Rodríguez (2004–10)
  • Argentina Cristian Chávez (2005–2013)
  • Argentina Daniel Díaz (2005–07; 2013–16)
  • Argentina Rodrigo Palacio (2005–09)
  • Argentina Pablo Mouche (2006–12)
  • Argentina Lucas Viatri (2007–14)
  • Argentina Nicolás Colazo (2008–16)
  • Argentina Cristian Erbes (2009–16)
  • Chile Gary Medel (2009–2011)
  • Argentina Juan Manuel Insaurralde (2010–12; 2016–18)
  • Argentina Juan Manuel Sánchez Miño (2010–14)
  • Argentina Walter Erviti (2011–13)
  • Argentina Agustín Orion (2011–16)
  • Argentina Darío Benedetto (2016–19) (2022–)

FIFA World Cup participants

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

Players gallery

Coaches

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). 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.

Miguel Ángel Russo was hired as Ricardo Lavolpe's replacement. Under his coaching Boca Juniors won the 2007 Copa Libertadores with a 5–0 overall rout of Brazilian Grêmio.

Julio César Falcioni led the team to the 2011 Apertura championship, which Boca won unbeaten with only 7 goals conceded in 19 rounds. With Falcioni as coach, Boca also won the 2011–12 Copa Argentina.

Institutional

Executive board

Jorge Amor Ameal is the current President of Boca juniors since December 2019, when he was elected over Christian Gribaudo, getting more than 51% of the votes (a record of 38,000 members went to the club to vote). Ameal returned to the presidency of the club after his first tenure in 2008–11, when he succeeded Pedro Pompilio after his sudden death.

Apart from Ameal, the Boca Juniors' Executive Board consists of the following members:

  • 1st Vice-president: Juan Román Riquelme
  • General Secretary: Ricardo Rosica
  • Treasurer: Carlos Montero

Staff

Presidents of Boca Juniors sections:

  • Football: Juan Román Riquelme
  • Basketball: Alejandro Desimone
  • Amateur Sports: Martín Mendiguren
  • Culture: Christian Debortoli

Honours

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
División Intermedia 2(s)
1922, 1923
Segunda División 1
1936
Tercera División 3
1912, 1915, 1923
National
(National cups)
Supercopa Argentina 1
2018
Copa de la Liga Profesional 2
2020, 2022
Copa Argentina 4
1969, 2012, 2015, 2019–20
Copa Jockey Club 2
1919, 1925
Copa Ibarguren 5(s)
1919, 1923, 1924, 1940, 1944
Copa Estímulo 1(s)
1926
Copa Británica 1(s)
1946
National
(Other cups)
Copa Bullrich 2(s)
1918, 1934
International Intercontinental Cup 3(s)
1977, 2000, 2003
Copa Libertadores 6
1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007
Copa Sudamericana 2(s)
2004, 2005
Recopa Sudamericana 4
1990, 2005, 2006, 2008
Supercopa Libertadores 1
1989
Copa de Oro 1(s)
1993
Copa Master 1(s)
1992
Tie Cup 1
1919
Copa de Honor Cousenier 1
1920
Copa Escobar-Gerona 2
1945, 1946

Friendly

  • Torneo Triangular Buenos Aires: 1963
  • Torneo Cuadrangular de Montevideo: 1963
  • Mohammed V Trophy: 1964
  • Trofeo Ciudad de San Sebastián (Spain): 1966
  • Copa Rio de la Plata: 1970
  • Trofeo Ciudad de Valladolid (Spain): 1975
  • Cuadrangular de los Grandes: 1985
  • Trofeo Naranja: 1985
  • Trofeo Isla de Tenerife: 1993
  • Vodafone Cup (England): 2004
  • Copa 100 Años de Atilio García (Uruguay): 2014
  • Antonio Puerta Trophy (Spain): 2016
  • Maradona Cup: 2021

Records and facts

  • Seasons in Primera División: 108 (all seasons since the team's debut in 1913).
  • Largest win:
    • Domestic: 11–1 to Tigre, on 7 June 1942.
    • International: 7–0 to Bolívar on 26 April 2007 at 2007 Copa Libertadores
  • Worst defeat:
    • Domestic: 0–7 v San Isidro on 10 October 1915.
    • International: 1–6 v Palmeiras at 1994 Copa Libertadores
  • Worst position in official domestic tournaments: 19th. at 2013 Torneo Final
  • All-time topscorer: Martín Palermo (236 goals)
  • Topscorer in a single tournament: Domingo Tarasconi (40 goals in 33 games during 1923 Primera División)
  • Topscorer at international tournaments: Martín Palermo (43 goals)
  • Topscorer at Copa Libertadores: Román Riquelme (25 goals)
  • Most games unbeaten in domestic tournaments: 40 matches (from 15th fixture of Clausura 1998 to 16th fixture of 1999 Clausura)
  • Most capped player: Roberto Mouzo (426 matches)
  • Player with most titles won: Sebastián Battaglia (17 titles)
  • Goalkeeper with minute-record scoreless goal: Esteban Andrada (864' with no goals allowed)
  • Tied for 4th club in the world with most international cups won (18)

Other sports sections

Football reserves and academy

The reserve and youth academy football teams of the club, currently coached by former club player Rolando Schiavi, who debuted in February 2015. 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.

Futsal

Boca Juniors 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 12 titles, the last won in 2017 after beating Kimberley in the finals.

Basketball

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.

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

Volleyball

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.

In August 2015 it was announced that Boca Juniors's volleyball team would not participate in the Argentine major league (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).

Women's football

The Boca Juniors women's football team plays in the Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino and have won the championship a record 23 times of which 10 were in succession from the 2003 Apertura to the 2008 Clausura.

Though the club has not yet won any international competition, it secured the third place at the 2010 Copa Libertadores de Fútbol Femenino.

In Futsal, Boca has won 6 Championships: 1992, 1993, Clausura 1997, Apertura 1998, Clausura 2003 (Men), and 2004 (women).

Boca representatives also compete in other disciplines such as judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, weight lifting and gymnastics.

Merchandising

CABJ vendor La Boca Buenos Aires
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. In 2005, a funerary company started to produce a line of coffins available for dead fans. The club also opened a "Boca Juniors" exclusive section of 3,000 hectare in the Parque Iraola Cemetery of La Plata Partido in 2006.

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

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.

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

Sponsorships

In racing, Argentine Turismo Carretera stock-car competition league spun off the Top Race V6 category, in which teams were sponsored by football teams. 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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Club Atlético Boca Juniors para niños

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Boca Juniors Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.