Boca Juniors Mourning the Loss of Manager Miguel Angel Russo
Boca Juniors has expressed profound sadness following the passing of Argentine manager Miguel Angel Russo, who died on Wednesday at the age of 69.
Russo had been battling prostate cancer since 2017, which ultimately led him to step down from his daily management duties at the club.
The last match he attended was on September 21, where Boca Juniors drew 2-2 with Central Cordoba in the Argentine Primera Division.
In an official statement, Boca Juniors remarked that Russo "leaves an indelible mark on our club and will always be an example of joy, warmth, and dedication."
Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani also paid tribute to Russo on Instagram, stating, "Thank you, Miguel, for showing us all such an important value that is called 'courage.'"
During Russo's absence, his assistant Claudio Ubeda took over the management responsibilities while maintaining close communication with the coaching staff and the club's leadership.
Russo, who also had a managerial stint with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, had three terms at Boca Juniors. He led the team to victory in the Copa Libertadores final in 2007 and secured the 2019-20 Argentine Superliga title, in addition to guiding them at the Club World Cup earlier this year.
In June, Russo agreed to return as Boca's coach for a third time, four years after being dismissed just six games into a new season.
As a player, Russo made over 400 appearances for Estudiantes and earned 17 caps for the Argentine national team as a midfielder.