Argentine football says goodbye to one of its most beloved figures. Miguel Ángel Russo has passed away at the age of 69, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and, above all, on the heart of Boca Juniors. Until his final days, the coach kept alive the passion that defined him: leading, teaching, and competing. His departure leaves a huge void, but also the memory of a man who lived and died doing what he loved most.

A warrior who never gave up

Russo fought against fate until the very end. Despite the health problems that had followed him since his time with Millonarios of Colombia, where he even won a championship, the coach continued to work with a strength that moved everyone around him. His return to Boca Juniors was a kind of rebirth: after his abrupt exit from San Lorenzo, he took charge of the team with the dream of competing in the Club World Cup, facing opponents such as Benfica and Bayern Munich with the dignity and courage that always defined him.

In his last weeks, Russo showed signs of physical exhaustion but never gave up. Consecutive victories over Independiente Rivadavia, Banfield, and Aldosivi were proof of his influence, even though day-to-day management had already been taken over by his trusted assistant, Claudio Úbeda. Even while hospitalized for a urinary infection, Russo insisted on staying involved with the team. “He’s tough, he always wants to be there,” people at the club said. And it was true: he missed none of the matches, keeping his smile and presence as the group’s spiritual leader.

A farewell on his own terms: on the field

His last match at La Bombonera, a 2-2 draw against Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero, turned out to be a farewell without him realizing it. He received a standing ovation that moved everyone in the stadium. Days later, at the Ezeiza training complex, a hug with Juan Román Riquelme sealed a bond that went beyond football. Russo had given Román a thumbs-up when he accepted the offer to return as Boca’s coach, fully aware of his medical condition, and Riquelme repaid the gesture by letting him say goodbye in his own way: working, close to the ball.

As his condition worsened, the coaching staff chose to maintain discretion out of respect for his privacy. Úbeda confirmed that until the very end, Miguel remained involved in the team’s decisions, even before the match against Defensa y Justicia. His family chose to care for him at home, where he ultimately passed away, while a wave of prayers spread throughout the country.

Miguel Ángel Russo left this world as he lived: with dignity, passion, and loyalty to football. There was no more fitting stage for his farewell than the bench and the pitch. In every tactical talk and every training session remains the echo of a man who never wanted to step away from the game, not even when life itself was telling him to rest.