The moment Boca Juniors touched down in Buenos Aires after their Libertadores final setback against Fluminense, the news of the coach’s departure was already circulating among fans and observers.
Jorge Almirón entered the decisive match with a lot at stake beyond the title itself. His contract stretched through the end of the season, and his standing with the club hinged on a powerful performance in the Maracanã. After the loss, the pressure did not intensify in silence; it accelerated toward a resignation, coming only 24 hours after the final whistle blew in Rio de Janeiro.
When the team arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday evening, the departure story was already breaking. The overwhelming displays of affection from thousands of supporters who gathered at Ezeiza in a show of solidarity could not bend the coach’s resolve. He made the choice to step away, taking a rare and difficult path just days before he would be seven months into his tenure as Boca’s head coach.
Around 11 p.m., the club released a concise message across its social channels to confirm the decision: Boca Juniors informs members and supporters that Jorge Almirón reported this Sunday, after 9 p.m., that he and his technical staff, under a contract that runs through the end of the season, had elected not to continue in their roles. The club thanked them for their services and wished them success in the future.
The official statement reflected the professional courtesy of a club that understands the emotional weight of such a change while recognizing the commitment of those who guided the team through a turbulent stretch. It marked the end of a chapter in which the coaching staff faced heightened scrutiny, and it signaled a new moment of transition for Boca Juniors as the season moved forward.
Almirón’s era concluded without a dramatic return to the field that might have flipped the narrative. While the team showed resilience during risky phases, it was the penalty shootouts and goalkeeper Sergio Romero who kept Boca competitive when it mattered most in the decisive moments of the year. Beyond reaching the Libertadores final and advancing to the semi-finals of the Argentine Cup, Boca found itself outside the title contention in the domestic league, slipping from the top four in the league standings and exiting the Libertadores for the 2024 campaign as the season finished. The broader competition remained unforgiving, leaving the club with important questions about consistency, squad balance, and leadership decisions as the calendar moved forward.
In summary, the departure of Jorge Almirón came as the club navigated a delicate transition. It underscored the high stakes at Boca Juniors, where managers face intense scrutiny from supporters, media, and the board—especially when performance in continental competitions shapes the longer-term outlook for players, coaching staff, and the club’s ambitions in both national and international contests. The focus now shifts to how Boca will recalibrate, rebuild trust with the fan base, and chart a path toward future success in a crowded and competitive landscape. (Goal)