Buenos Aires
Boca Juniors coach Miguel Ángel Russo, one of Argentina’s most respected football figures, has died at 69 after a long battle with cancer, the club announced on Wednesday. “Miguel leaves an indelible mark on our institution and will always be remembered for his joy and dedication,” Boca said in a statement.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, Russo returned for his third stint with Boca Juniors in June 2025, having previously managed the club in 2007 and 2020–2021. His final match was on September 21 against Central Córdoba at La Bombonera before health issues forced him to step aside.
Over an illustrious career spanning more than a dozen clubs, Russo managed teams in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia, including San Lorenzo, Racing Club, Millonarios, and Al Nassr. A former Estudiantes de La Plata midfielder, he spent his entire playing career there, winning league titles in 1982 and 1983 before retiring in 1988.
