Boca's controversial candidate: Riquelme wants Racing's last title boss | OneFootball

Boca Juniors’ elimination in the Copa Libertadores group stage deepened the club’s sporting crisis. This continental blow sped up the end of Claudio Úbeda’s spell as head coach. Now, the board led by Juan Román Riquelme is working against the clock to find a replacement.

The Xeneize will soon face the Copa Sudamericana playoff in search of a place in the round of 16. In this urgent context, Gustavo Costas’ name has appeared on the radar and sparked a strong reaction in the football world.

Costas’ profile and track record

The experienced coach most recently managed Racing Club de Avellaneda. His history with Academia draws mixed opinions because of the historic rivalry, but his recent record supports Boca’s interest. Costas led Racing to the 2024 Copa Sudamericana title and a runner-up finish in the 2025 Torneo Clausura, establishing himself as one of the most prominent coaches on the local scene.

This is not the first approach between the two sides. In May 2025, the Xeneize board tried to hire him before sealing Miguel Ángel Russo’s return, but the coach turned down the offer at that time.

The factors bringing the coach closer

A key point fueling the rumors is the coach’s personal connection to the club. Costas has a close friendship with Marcelo Delgado, a member of Boca’s Football Council, with whom he shared a squad as a player at Racing. This close relationship could help unlock and speed up formal talks.

A strategic transfer window for Riquelme’s management

Choosing the new coaching staff is Boca’s most critical decision of the season. After a year of poor results, the club needs a leader with authority, strong man-management, and international experience to rebuild the squad.

Although Costas meets all the footballing requirements, his deep ties to Academia divide Boca fans. For now, the Football Council is evaluating options without having made a formal financial offer, knowing that the next head coach will determine the club’s political and sporting success.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.