Boca Juniors appoint Diego Martinez as new head coach

Boca Juniors have confirmed the appointment of Diego Martínez as the side’s new head coach for the 2024 season.

"Boca and Diego Martínez reached an agreement. The club and the coach are working on the formalisation of the contract," read a statement published on social media.

Martinez, 45, will take charge of the Xeneize on January 2, tasked with improving Boca’s fortunes after a poor campaign last season – the legendary Buenos Aires-based side failed to win a title or even qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores.

In principle, Martinez’s contract will run until December 31, 2024, with the option to renew it for another season.

The ex-Huracán coach replaces Jorge Almirón at the helm, who only took over the side back in April. 

Almirón, who failed to impress domestically with Boca, resigned after the club lost 2-1 to Fluminese in the 2023 Copa Libertadores final.

Martínez had already been approached for talks over the role last April by Juan Román Riquelme, then Boca vice-president and as of Wednesday the club's new president.

No agreement was reached, however, with Martínez remaining in charge of fellow top-flight side Tigre. 

 In an itinerant coaching career, Martinez has had spells at lower-league sides, including Ituzaingó, Cañuelas, Comunicaciones, Midland and Estudiantes de Buenos Aires. Reaching the top flight as coach of Godoy Cruz, he has gone on to take charge at Tigre and Huracán, with whom he impressed, reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Liga just a few weeks ago.

Martínez had already worked at Boca as a youth team coach, where he crossed paths with several promising youngsters who are now first-teamers, including Valentín Barco, Luca Langoni, Cristian Medina and Ezequiel 'Equi' Fernández.

As a footballer, he played as a midfielder for several clubs in Argentina, before tasting life overseas at Aurora (in Guatemala) and Greek sides Pierikos and Diagora.

Martínez will be accompanied by a coaching staff made up of Cristian Bardaro, Adrián González and Gustavo Rodríguez (assistants); Juan Manuel Conte and Leandro Mazziotti (fitness coaches); Pablo Campodónico (goalkeeping coach); Omar Mateo (video analyst) and Patricio Ciavarella (coach).

Veteran goalkeeping coach Fernando Gayoso will remain at Boca, in spite of rumours of his potential departure.

– TIMES/AFP