ą® Home grounds: DĆ”rsena Sud (1905ā07) | Isla Demarchi (1908ā12) | Wilde (1914ā15) | Ministro Brin and Senguel (1916ā24) | Brandsen and Del Valle Iberlucea (1924ā38) | La Bombonera (1940ā)
஠Main trophies: Primera División: 33 | Copa Argentina: 3 | opa Libertadores: 6
ą® Club records: Most games played: Roberto Mouzo (426) | Top goalscorer: Martin Palermo (236)
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, has the largest concentration of football clubs in the world, and I am sure everyone knows that two of the most famous are Boca Juniors and River Plate. But while they may not be far apart and both belong to Argentina, they have very different spirits. Club Atletico Boca Juniors was established in 1905 and is known for its working-class teams. It was Boca Juniors who nurtured the rise of the Argentine hero, the late Diego Maradona.
In 1939, Eduardo SĆ”nchez Terrero married the daughter of Argentine President AgustĆn Pedro Justo and became club president. During this period, the stadium Estadio Camilo Cichero (later known as Estadio Alberto J. Armando) was built and opened in 1940. Over the next few years, the stadium would undergo two major overhauls to expand its capacity, earning it the nickname La Bombera (chocolate box in English) when the third floor was built.
During the 1920s, the Boca Juniors won the top flight four times, and the title of "Argentine Champion" five times through the Copa Ibarguren. It has since been tied with River Plate as the most respected club in Argentine football.
In 1963, they almost became the first Argentine team to win the Copa Libertadores. In that event, they managed to make it to the final but met a powerful Santos led by Bailly and ended up losing 5-3 on aggregate.
In 1977, Boca Juniors faced Brazil again, but this time, Boca finally won the prestigious game. In 1978, Boca clinched their second Copa Libertadores by beating Colombian side Cali 4-0 in two games.
1919 | First cup title (Copa de Competencia Jockey Club).
1919 | First domestic top-league title.
1940 | The club move to the Estadio Camilo Cichero (later renamed as Estadio Alberto J. Armando).
1962 | Arsenal de Llavallol is acquired and become the reserve team of Boca.
1969 | Winning Copa Argentina for the first time.
1977 | Winning their first Copa Libertadores.
1981 | Diego Maradona is transferred from Argentinos Juniors.
1982 | Diego Maradona is transferred to FC Barcelona for a world record fee of $7.3 million.
Famous Player
ą® Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and I'm sure most people would even consider him the greatest. Facts have also proved that he is indeed excellent, and has reached a state that no one else can achieve. He has always been Argentina's national hero and pride, as if he was born for the sport. He is the only player to lead 16 World Cups, a World Cup record in itself. In 1999 he was awarded the Diamond Konex Award by the Argentine Konex Foundation, one of the most prestigious cultural awards in Argentina. In 2000, he was named "FIFA Player of the Century" along with Pele. In 1987, the Argentine youth team named the stadium after him. In 2010, The Times named him one of the 10 greatest World Cup players of all time.