Situated in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, Boca Junior’s have attracted attention from around the world. Whether it is their famous La Bombonera Stadium (The chocolate box), their fierce rivalry with River Plate or their decorated history, the Italian immigrants who founded them back in 1905 have done something right in creating one of the most competitive and loved clubs in the world. From their young El Diez (Maradona) to their fanatical fans this article will look at the journey that has made this club the most garnished team in South America.
Boca was set up by a group of young Greek and Italian boys with dreams of creating a professional team that would make football more popular in their region. “Boca” was taken from La Boca the Italian neighbourhood of Buenos Aires and “juniors” was a nod to the young English railmen that worked in Argentina and introduced football to Buenos Aires. After eight years of playing, Boca made it into the Primera División, a league inhabited by Argentina’s elites and Boca had achieved it in a magnificently short period of time.
Just 14 years after the club was founded, they earned their first league title. This reinvigorated the squad and they went on to surpassed most team’s in becoming one of Argentina’s greatest sides, but it didn’t end there. With brilliant players and a set of proud working-class fans they continued to exceed expectations in reaching unprecedented levels and achievements that young Italian and Greek boys were proud of.
After years of success, when during the late 1970s a young and talented Diego Maradona joined Boca Juniors playing football that both stunned and blessed the Boca fans. He brought flair and passion to possibly the biggest rivalry in the world, Boca vs River the Superclasico, and the fans loved it. But all good things come to an end and when Maradona left, the club entered a pit of debt whilst falling short on the pitch. So with the boardroom in tatters and the team in a winless slump, Boca appointed a new chairman. Antonio Allegre, a man who breathed blue and gold. An ex-construction worker and Boca fan, Allegre sold his own assets and settled 153 law suits ending Boca from insolvency.
A new approach to spending was initiated, as they decided to spend their money on academy players and buying players from inferior teams. This strategy has since been adopted by many clubs and the Boca fans treasure their own system which has brought through past players such as Carlos Tevez, Ever Banega and Fernando Gago in recent years.
Since their drop of form in the 1980s and their miraculous comeback from near bankruptcy, Boca have continued feeding academy players into the Argentinean national side in the hope of creating another Argentinean idol like Antonio Rattin. Although it hoped that the next idol will resist the temptation of protesting a red card by sitting in the Queen’s royal box.
Boca’s achievements have extended outside Argentina, winning the Copa Libertadores six times making them second behind Atlético Independiente. They also secured a total of 18 international titles equalling European mammoths, AC Milan. It is astonishing to see how far Boca have come since their street beginnings amidst one of the most populous of footballing cultures.
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