Boca Juniors โคCoach Miguel โครngel Russo Dies at 77
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Miguel โฃรngel Russo, โฃthe โขArgentineโ football coach who lead โBoca Juniors โto a Copa Libertadoresโ title in 2007 and enjoyed a decades-long career managing clubs โacrossโ South America, Spain, Mexico, and saudi Arabia, has died. He was โฃ77. Estudiantes de โคLaโฃ Plata, the club where Russo began his professional playing career, announced his death Wednesday. โ
Russo’s passing promptedโ an outpouring of tributes from โขclubs and fans across the continent. Estudiantes de La Plata described him asโฃ a “prodigalโ son and football glory,”โข while Rosarioโ Central remembered him as “aโฃ warriorโ of life,a warrior โขof Central.” Colombian club Millonarios expressed “eternal thanks” and hailed him as a “legend and champion.”
Born in Buenosโฃ Aires, Russo’s managerial career spanned over 30 years.โ He coached Boca Juniors across three separate stints, most recently begining in June 2023. His most celebrated achievement came duringโ his first tenure with Los Xeneizes, securing the 2007 โขCopaโข Libertadores with a team featuring a โdominant Juan Romรกn Riquelme. Riquelme’s talent flourished under russo’s guidance, with โขthe coach later returning to Boca โat Riquelme’s urging, the โformerโข Barcelona and Villarreal playerโ becoming a โขkey leader for โขthe club. โข
While unable to replicate the 2007 success, Russo led Boca to the 2020 Liga Profesional title. His health had beenโค a recurring concern, particularlyโ around his most recent appointment. โ
Beyond Boca, Russo โฃmanaged teams including Universidad de Chile, Monarcas Morelia of Mexico, salamanca in Spain, Millionarios of Colombia,โข Alianza Lima of Peru, โCerro porteรฑo of Paraguay, and Al Nassrโค of Saudi Arabia. he accumulated numerous first and second division titlesโ throughout his career.