Argentine football came together on Thursday to honor one of its revered figures, Miguel Ángel Russo, the former Boca Juniors manager who passed away at the age of 69. Supporters lined up from the early hours at the club’s iconic Bombonera stadium to pay their respects in a moving farewell.
Russo, who left an indelible mark on Boca Juniors across three separate managerial spells, also enjoyed successful stints with Rosario Central, Estudiantes de La Plata, and Velez Sarsfield, cementing his reputation as a coach capable of reviving struggling teams.
While the club kept details of his health private, Argentine media reported that Russo, diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, had recently contracted an infection that worsened his condition. Despite agreeing to take the reins at Boca Juniors in June, he had been absent from the touchline since September 21.
His coffin, draped in the colors of both Boca Juniors and Estudiantes, symbolized a life fully devoted to football, from his playing days to his managerial career. Fans, some with tattoos of the club crest and slogans like “from the cradle to the grave,” paid tribute with heartfelt messages.
“Forever in our hearts,” read one banner featuring Russo’s image, capturing the sentiment of thousands gathered at the stadium.
Russo’s career spanned more than half a century, and while his trophy cabinet may not have been overflowing, his talent for revitalizing teams was legendary. He claimed his first top-division title with Velez Sarsfield in 2005 and later led Boca Juniors to glory in the 2007 Copa Libertadores at Diego Maradona’s request—an achievement widely regarded as the pinnacle of his managerial career.
He also twice saved Rosario Central from relegation, winning the League Cup in December 2023, and in 2017 guided Colombian side Millonarios to a championship title just a day after undergoing chemotherapy.
Fans traveled from far and wide to honor him, including Luis Conrado, 67, who recalled Russo’s impact at Lanus, where the coach had taken a struggling side from the B division back to prominence.
As a player, Russo was equally remarkable. At Estudiantes, where he played from 1975 to 1988, he formed part of one of the most memorable midfields in Argentine football alongside Alejandro Sabella, Marcelo Trobbiani, and Jose Daniel “Bocha” Ponce. Though he earned a place in the national team, he missed out on the 1986 World Cup, a bittersweet note in an otherwise storied career.
Thursday’s tribute at the Bombonera reflected the passion, respect, and love that Argentines have for a coach who gave his all—on the field, from the sidelines, and to the sport itself. A legend gone, but never forgotten.
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