Boca Juniors names Rodolfo Arruabarrena as new coach until 2027

Boca Juniors has appointed Rodolfo Arruabarrena as their new head coach, signing a contract that runs until December 31, 2027. The club announced the decision on social media platform X on Thursday. Arruabarrena's return comes after the departure of Claudio Úbeda, who was in charge for just over six months. Úbeda left the position days after Boca's elimination from the Copa Libertadores.

Úbeda had taken over in October of the previous year, following the death of the then-coach Miguel Ángel Russo, whom he served as an assistant. Club president Juan Román Riquelme opted for a familiar face in Arruabarrena to lead the team forward. Arruabarrena, a former left-back for Boca who won the Copa Libertadores in 2000, previously managed the club from mid-2014 to early 2016.

During his first stint, Arruabarrena managed 75 matches, securing 47 wins, 13 draws, and 15 losses. His tenure saw Boca win one Primera División championship and one Copa Argentina. However, his time was also marked by two significant defeats against rivals River Plate in international competitions: the 2014 Copa Sudamericana semifinals and the 2015 Copa Libertadores round of 16. After his departure in early 2016 due to poor results, Arruabarrena coached several clubs abroad, including Al Wasl, Al Rayyan, Shabab Al-Ahli, Pyramids, and Al Taawoun. He also managed the UAE national team between 2022 and 2023 without notable success.

In this new chapter with Boca Juniors, Arruabarrena aims to turn the page after a difficult semester for the team. He will be tasked with competing for trophies in the latter half of 2026. Boca's remaining competitions include the Copa Sudamericana, the Copa Argentina, and the local Torneo Clausura. Their first match after the World Cup break is scheduled for July 22 against O'Higgins of Chile in the Copa Sudamericana round of 32.