Miguel Ángel Russo, as coach of Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup.
Photo: EFE – Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
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Miguel Ángel Russo died this Wednesday in Buenos Aires, at the age of 69, after several weeks with health complications. In Argentina, this Thursday, new details became known about his last days as coach of Boca Juniors and the decision to continue leading the team despite his delicate condition.
Journalist Diego “Chavo” Fucks revealed that before taking over again in Boca, Juan Román Riquelme consulted Russo about his health. The coach responded: “Things are not good, but if something is going to happen to me, let it be as the coach of Boca.” Riquelme respected that wish and both agreed to start the last stage of the DT.
Russo's health in his last days
Russo had been admitted to the Fleni Hospital at the beginning of September due to dehydration, and later transferred to the Fleming Institute due to a urinary infection. In recent days, the club confirmed that the coach was under home confinement with a reserved prognosis.
His health had progressively deteriorated since 2018, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer while managing Millonarios in Colombia.
“With Millonarios I directed the finals vs. Santa Fe. Two days before I did chemotherapy. I was screaming like crazy in the rain. My oncologist didn't understand anything,” he recalled years later.
By the time other:Miguel Ángel Russo: a technician with honor
During his career, Russo won important titles locally and internationally. His greatest achievement was the 2007 Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors, with Riquelme as the main figure. In addition, he won three Nacional B championships (with Lanús, Estudiantes and Rosario Central) and three First Division titles: the 2005 Clausura with Vélez, the 2019-20 Superliga and the League Cup with Boca.
Abroad, Russo left his mark on Colombian football by winning the 2017 League and the 2018 Super League with Millonarios, titles that returned prominence to the Bogotá club after several years without championships.
Román fulfilled Russo's last wish
The bond between Russo and Riquelme remained intact until the end. The current president of Boca considered the coach a reference and a fundamental man in the club's football identity. “We are going together until the end,” Román would have said when Miguel expressed his desire to continue in office.
Russo was characterized by his low profile, his ability to form competitive teams and his serenity even in the most difficult moments. As a player he was key in Estudiantes de La Plata. As coach, he managed in clubs such as Rosario Central, San Lorenzo, Racing, Vélez, Estudiantes, Lanús and Cerro Porteño, among others.
His final phrase, “If something happens to me, let it be when I am Boca's coach,” sums up the passion with which he lived football. He died fulfilling that wish, with the xeneize shirt in his heart and the unanimous respect of Argentine and South American football.
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