In his new role, Apache prepares to face the team where he delivered iconic Superclásicos as a Boca legend
Already serving as coach, Apache is set for a second meeting with the club he electrified as a Boca Juniors icon. Carlos Tevez remains one of the defining symbols ofmouth, whose saga spans a trail of triumphs, dramatic returns, and a lengthy European chapter that culminated in a late-career return to Argentine shores. From seizing titles in 2001 to his reformative 2015 homecoming before a third comeback, and then a quieter retirement after the pandemic, Tevez has left an indelible mark. His coaching journey, however, began far from La Ribera, first taking root at Rosario Central before landing him as the manager of Independiente.
CARLITOS’ RECORD AS INDEPENDIENTE’S MANAGER
Regardless of the chapter, Tevez’s narrative is intertwined with his fiercest rivals. He is set to visit the Monumental next Wednesday for the tenth date of the Professional League Cup, a clash that places top spot in Zone A on the line between Rojo and Millonario. On the bench at Avellaneda, the Apache has not tasted defeat yet this season and hopes to snap a recent home-run streak that has kept Demichelis’ squad strong in front of their fans.
GOAL now revisits Tevez’s journey against River Plate in both capacities—player and coach.
TEVEZ AS A PLAYER AGAINST RIVER
During his playing days, Tevez was a constant presence on Boca’s right flank, though his career also included a stint at Corinthians before his long European spell. Across three spells with Boca, the Apache logged 20 official Superclásicos, a tally that reads unfavorably for those moments when River outpaced him. While wearing the Corinthians jersey, he managed two wins over the Millonario in the 2006 Copa Libertadores Round of 16 series.
There are games that remain vivid in memory. One standout came in the dramatic Libertadores semifinal of 2004, where Tevez sparked the Monumental with a notable strike, even though Boca initially fell short in regular time and later advanced by penalties. Another memorable night was the 4-2 win during the 2016-17 season, when Tevez found the net twice at Núñez. Yet the path is not without heartbreak: runner-ups in the Argentine Super Cup 2018 with a loss in Mendoza, the 2018 Copa Libertadores final that was decided elsewhere, and a brief appearance in Madrid during the 2019 edition left a mix of pride and frustration in Boca’s camp.
TEVEZ AS A COACH AGAINST RIVER
Tevez began his coaching career in June 2022 with Rosario Central, stepping into a new leadership role with resolve. His only prior encounter with River Plate as a manager came on October 16, during the 26th round of the season, when Canalla claimed a 2-1 victory at the Monumental. It was Marcelo Gallardo’s farewell home game in charge of Millonario. The night carried a fitting tribute to Muñeco, even as Tevez secured the three points with Alejo Veliz scoring a brace.
This narrative, chronicled by Goal, frames Tevez as a figure who transitioned from player to coach and continues to influence one of Argentina’s fiercest rivalries. The upcoming clash will test the lessons of his coaching debut and the strategic evolution he has shown on the bench.
Source: Goal