DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

The Boca plane that went viral: It flew to Japan, was sold for scrap and now draws crowds in Baradero

From Clarín · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A Boeing 737 once used by Boca Juniors for its 2003 trip to Japan now stands upright in a field in Baradero and has become a social-media attraction.
  • Former Boca vice president Horacio Paolini bought the retired aircraft as scrap in 2009 and preserved it as part of a Boca history museum.
  • Carlos Tevez, who played in the 2003 squad, recently visited the plane, which bears Boca’s crest and the words “Five-time champion 2003.”

People driving along the road near Baradero keep stopping to photograph the aircraft standing in a field with no runway in sight. The Boeing 737 has become viral this week, but its story began with one of Boca Juniors’ most celebrated journeys.

The plane carried Boca’s team to Tokyo for the 2003 Intercontinental Cup final against Milan. It left Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza airport on December 8, 2003, after a crowd of fans gathered to see the squad off. The trip included a stop in Los Angeles, a transfer in Singapore and a final arrival in Japan.

Boca drew 1-1 with Milan, then coached by Carlo Ancelotti, and won the world title on penalties. Matías Donnet equalized after Milan took the lead through Denmark’s Jon Dahl Tomasson. More than two decades later, the aircraft still carries the memory of that day on its metal body, with the words “Five-time champion 2003” and Boca’s crest painted across its blue engines.

Some people collect keepsakes. I chose to preserve part of Boca’s history so it would never be lost. That best explains what I feel for this club.

· Horacio PaoliniPaolini explained why he bought and preserved the retired aircraft as part of his Boca museum.

Horacio Paolini, a former vice president under Daniel Angelici, bought the Aerolíneas Argentinas aircraft in 2009, when it had been taken out of service and classified as scrap. He is now building a Boca museum at his property. “Some people collect keepsakes. I chose to preserve part of Boca’s history so it would never be lost. That best explains what I feel for this club,” Paolini told Clarín.

Carlos Tevez, a member of the 2003 team, recently visited the property and climbed aboard. The former striker is preparing a farewell match, reportedly planned for December 19, and has begun appearing alongside figures from Boca’s internal politics. Paolini said Tevez deserved to say goodbye at La Bombonera and imagined him becoming a coach in the future. The museum also includes a 10-by-5-meter replica of La Bombonera, trophies from Boca’s golden era, shirts and display cases. Still, the old plane overlooking the road remains its main attraction.

Carlitos deserves to say goodbye at La Bombonera, and I think it is very good that they agreed on it. The idols and history of the club stand above any difference.

· Horacio PaoliniPaolini commented on plans for Carlos Tevez’s farewell and their place in Boca’s history.
About this summary

Originally published by Clarín in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog