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Jorge Almirón Resigns as Boca Juniors Coach Following Copa Libertadores Final Loss
The team, currently facing an uphill battle in the Copa de la Liga and sitting seven points away from playoff positions, must regroup as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
Jorge Almirón has chosen to step down as the head coach of Boca Juniors, following the team's 2-1 loss to Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores final in Rio de Janeiro. This move, described as a personal decision, was communicated to the club's members and supporters via social media late in the evening. The 52-year-old coach and his staff, whose contracts were due to expire at the end of the season, informed the club of their departure after 9 PM local time.
Boca Juniors publicly acknowledged and thanked Almirón and his coaching team for their efforts, wishing them success in their future endeavors. The announcement came after Almirón met with Boca Juniors' vice-president and former player, Juan Román Riquelme, upon returning from Brazil. It's speculated that internal dissatisfaction, particularly related to Almirón's tactical decisions during Saturday's final, played a key role in this development. Defender Nicolás Figal notably displayed his frustration when he was substituted in the 112th minute, visibly upset in front of television cameras.
The team, currently facing an uphill battle in the Copa de la Liga and sitting seven points away from playoff positions, must regroup as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores. At present, they are within reach of the Libertadores spots by only three points, also gearing up for the Copa Argentina semifinal against Estudiantes de La Plata later this month.
It remains uncertain whether Mariano Herrón, who previously took over as interim coach following the departure of Hugo Ibarra in March, will lead the team for the remainder of the season, or if a new coach will be appointed. Boca Juniors, which has not won the coveted Copa Libertadores since 2007 and last reached the final in 2018, had set the trophy as a primary goal for the year.
Almirón, who joined Boca Juniors on April 10 to replace Ibarra, has had a varied coaching career since retiring from playing. His tenure includes stints in Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia, with his most notable success coming at Lanús, where he secured three local titles in 2016 and led the team to the Copa Libertadores final in 2017.