Boca Juniors announced a fresh director tecnico for the 2023 campaign, signaling a clear aim to compete for the Copa Libertadores and restore a sense of stability at La Bombonera. The appointment followed a rough start to the season, during which a string of disappointing results put pressure on the club’s leadership to act decisively and set a new course.
The departure of Hugo Ibarra became a pivotal moment, and the transition was influenced by Mariano Herrón’s growth as a coach-in-waiting. In the end, Jorge Almirón was chosen to guide the squad, a decision that surprised some observers given recent form. Yet the board trusted his proven track record, highlighting his most successful period with Lanús from 2016 to 2017 and presenting him as the figure capable of bringing Boca back to the pinnacle of Argentine football while making the club competitive on the continental stage.
The 2023 schedule for Boca Juniors was examined with intense scrutiny. Speculation about potential candidates flowed, but there was a high level of discretion within the Football Council. The final choice reflected a belief that Almirón could deliver not just short-term wins but a longer-range project that would reassert the club’s authority in domestic competitions while laying a foundation for Libertadores glory.
Early results did not instantly align with these expectations. The campaign began with tough losses at the Nuevo Gasómetro and at La Bombonera, where Estudiantes left with three points. Yet the broader arc of the Libertadores campaign showed signs of resilience. Boca did not immediately find consistency, as defeats in early ties against Pereira threatened to derail the continental run. But the late phase of the group stage began to take shape. A decisive away win at Colo-Colo in Chile and a domestic victory over Racing signaled that the team was finding its footing under the new leadership.
Then came the classic test of the Superclásico, a 1-0 loss to River Plate that stung but did not define the season. Immediately afterward, Boca replied with two straight wins, reinforcing the belief that the squad could rebound from setbacks and maintain momentum. The path to the knockout rounds of the Copa Libertadores remained in sight, and Boca pressed on toward qualification while balancing the demands of the league schedule.
As the continental campaign progressed, there was a clear focus on how Almirón would maximize the squad’s strengths and address any vulnerabilities. His approach emphasized organization, a distinct tactical identity, and the ability to adapt to different opponents in high-stakes matches. Even with a demanding fixture list, the team demonstrated the capacity to grow together, leveraging depth in the squad and the leadership of veteran players to guide younger talents toward peak performances.
Looking ahead, Goal provides an evaluative view of the sequence of competitive matches overseen by Almirón at Boca Juniors, examining how the team managed transitions, executed game plans, and adjusted to evolving pressures across domestic and international competition. The analysis considers how early hiccups were overcome and how the squad evolved in the face of both league and Libertadores challenges.
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Attribution: Goal