Boca Juniors Keeping a Low Profile with New Coach

Though Boca Juniors won the the Copa Libertadores this year and made the final of the Club World Cup, the team’s third place finish in the 2007 Argentina Apertura meant coach Miguel Angel Russo handing in his resignation after the Club World Cup adventure. With the temperamental talents of Juan Roman Riquelme back on the playing staff for 2008 it was expected that Russo’s replacement would be high profile, so you’ll be forgiven for doing a double take at the news that Carlos Ischia is the new man in the hotseat. Who is Carlos Ischia? Exactly.

He was assistant to DT Carlos Bianchi, when Boca had a great spell in the late ’90s and early noughties. Ischaria then struck out on a solo path, with uninspiring spells in charge of Velez and Gimnasia and a brief period at Junior in Colombia where he left after arguments with directors and media pressure. This season Ischia had taken over at Rosario Central, but resigned after 14 games with the club bottom of the 2007 Apertura.

Football has a long history of respected assistant coaches failing to make the grade as the top boss. In England this season we’ve seen former Man Utd number two Steve McClaren crash and burn as England manager, and respected number two Sammy Lee do the same as Bolton Wanderers boss. But at least Ischia has the support of Boca Junior’s favourite son, with Diego Maradona offering this encouraging assessment: “I don’t like Ischia as coach.” Good luck Carlos.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: South America, World Football

Tags: Apertura, Boca Juniors, Carlos Ischaria, Diego Maradona, South America, World Football, World Soccer

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