Pending the club’s official announcement, the new technical director arrived in La Bombonera on Sunday and began his duties in Ezeiza on Monday.
While no statement has appeared on the club’s channels, nothing had been finalized as of Saturday night. Boca Juniors has reportedly appointed a new head coach: there is no formal signing yet, but the name has circulated as a top option that Juan Román Riquelme has always considered.
The team had been left without a coach a week earlier after Hugo Ibarra was dismissed to pave the way for an appointment that would lead the squad into the Copa Libertadores. The most talked-about target was Marcelo Bielsa, who declined, prompting a broader search. Mariano Herrón’s interim spell, initially planned for a single match, extended to three games as the club evaluated options.
Speculation about Almirón’s possible arrival began on Thursday when the newly appointed coach returned from Spain and crossed paths with Boca’s squad returning from Venezuela. At the time, both parties quickly denied the rumors. In the end, after consultations, the club settled on a coach who had won the 2016 league title with Lanús and reached the 2017 Copa Libertadores final. His recent coaching stints at Independiente, Atlético Nacional de Medellín, San Lorenzo, el Garnet, and Elche have been widely discussed in the press.
HOW DID THE PRESENTATION AND PRESS CONFERENCE UNFOLD?
Following an informal agreement on the arrival, the football council planned a formal Monday afternoon press conference. With a tight schedule ahead of a midweek game against San Lorenzo, the new DT visited La Bombonera on Sunday to watch Herrón’s team defeat Colón 2-1, then led his first training session at Ezeiza the next morning.
Later in the day, around 5 p.m., the coach appeared at Casa Amarilla alongside club president Jorge Amor Ameal and Chicho Serna to address the media for the first time.
Several notable remarks were shared during the briefing:
- “Yesterday I went to watch the game and today I met everyone. I’m excited, I see great talent, there are great players. There isn’t much time to dwell on the past, we must move forward and recover quickly. I’m grateful for this opportunity and for Román who had direct contact.”
- “It’s moving to see the fans welcome me inside the stadium. Their support is unconditional, and they expect improvements. We will deliver. By Wednesday we must show it.”
- “This club and its people demand results; the players know we are at the biggest club in the country and we must live up to that.”
- “The team has to adapt to frequent matches with little recovery time. Boca players must adjust to a different rhythm. Everyone wants to win on this field, and finals mindset is essential.”
- “Herrón built an alternative squad and, with a coach who sought peak condition for all, he prioritized the club and the players.”
- “I feel I am at a great moment and I am ready. There is a strong personal desire to come here and acknowledge the club’s importance.”
- “I knew I was coming here; it was a personal dream. A few years ago I took a photo of myself because I believed this moment would arrive. I am ready to commit fully and I hope to share that old photo when I officially take charge.”
HOW LONG IS THE CONTRACT?
Details were expected to be released with the official announcement. It was indicated that the coach would sign a contract for the minimum period defined by the league’s collective agreement for coaches. With elections scheduled for December, a clause will allow termination at year-end if the new leadership desires.
Source: Goal