Juan Román Riquelme is the new president of Bocathe 31st number in the history of the club, which was founded in 1905. And he is the fifth former footballer to reach the top of the leadership after Esteban Luis Miguel Baglietto (one of the founders), the Uruguayan Luis Cerezo (he played 98 games between 1905 and 1916), Santiago Pedro Sana (another of the founders, took office in February 1914) and Pablo Gudice, who did not get to play in the First Division. This Wednesday the transfer of the signatures was carried out in the IGJ and also in the club offices, where the “change of command” was finalized, although in reality the mandate will be extended only if Jorge Amor Ameal and Román exchange their roles.
For Riquelme – who was not present in the photo of the new CD that spread on social networks – to reach Boca’s presidency is a dream come true which came to fruition after a tough battle in the media and in the courts against the opposition led by Andres Ibarra y Mauricio Macribut that in the elections that were held in La Bombonera on December 17 there was no room for doubt: Román won the elections with the 65% percent of the votes. He has the support of the members and also the fans – who idolize him – but he will have to validate his management every day in a club that is always at the center of the scene.
Román will command the club from Boca Predio. Boca’s training ground in Ezeiza became the strength of Riquelme and the Football Council that will continue to be made up of Marcelo Delgado, Raul Cascini y Jorge Bermudez. From there, the new president will closely follow the club’s main activity: professional football and the youth divisions. The first step to clarify the outlook for 2024 was taken on Tuesday when the institution announced through its official accounts that it is “working on the contract” of Diego Martinez, the coach who will arrive to lead the professional team to replace Jorge Almirón, who had resigned after the defeat at the Maracaná. For Riquelme and Martínez, the main challenge will be to make the fans fall in love with them, get back to the forefront of local football and play a good role in the South American Cup; but above all things achieve qualification for the Libertadores and the 2025 Club World Cup.
Riquelme’s other focus of attention will be the expansion of the Bombonera. The legendary stadium was too small for a club that has a shareholder mass three times greater than the capacity of the stadium. Román promised to join the “frontists”, that is, the 48 owners who occupy 19 lots on Del Valle Iberlucea Street. “I will sit with them to drink mate,” he had said in the streaming program “El loco y el sane”, when the first precautionary measure of Ibarra and Macri had suspended the elections that were scheduled for December 3. The construction of a new stadium is not in Riquelme’s plans, as the opposition promised during the campaign. In fact, for the ruling party it was not an issue that had priority, however in this new administration, with four years ahead, they will look for a way to expand the capacity of the stadium and there are several projects that are in the pipeline.
On the other hand, as the days go by, the details of how the new Board of Directors will be formed will be known, which will have Riquelme present at its first meeting in 2024. It is known that only half of the 28 members were renewedbetween starters and substitutes. Ricardo Rosica He will be his strong man in Brandsen 805 as secretary of the CD together with Ameal, the vice president. One of the vice presidencies would be for Silvia Gottero, the widow of Roberto Digón, the historic leader who died in 2022, while holding the third vice presidency in the administration that ends. There are also some confirmations in positions that remain (Emiliano Algieri as pro-secretary, Carlos Montero in treasury, Orlando Gimenez in legal, Adriana Bravo in inclusion and Alejandro Desimone in basketball).
Meanwhile, in partners, Alejandro Veiga (he was pro-secretary) would replace Alejandro Cosentinowho could end up in the amateur sports department, where he was Martín Mendigurenone of those who was left out of the list of members. Alejandro Gonzálezwho worked in public relations (a position from which he was very close to the campus), would now remain in life, whose previous president –Jorge Scarpino– was also left out. In press, Fernando Cuscuela I would leave his place to Sebastian Rolandi.