Miguel Ángel Russo, the renowned Argentine coach with more than 30 years of experience in football, and who was serving as head coach of Boca Juniors, passed away this Wednesday at the age of 69, according to family sources confirmed by EFE.

Miguel Ángel Russo, Boca Juniors coach, dies at 69 from prostate and bladder cancer

Miguel Ángel Russo had been facing a delicate health situation, in the midst of his battle against prostate cancer, which was diagnosed in 2017. As a result, and due to a general weakening in recent weeks, he was again replaced on Sunday by Claudio Úbeda as interim coach of Boca Juniors during the match against Newell’s at La Bombonera, corresponding to matchday 11 of the Clausura tournament.

On Monday, past 9:30 p.m., Boca Juniors issued its first official statement since the coach began missing training sessions and matches. The statement read:

“Club Atlético Boca Juniors informs that Miguel Ángel Russo was undergoing home hospitalization with a reserved prognosis, receiving constant attention from his medical team and the club’s medical staff. We support Miguel and his family during this time.”

With his passing, the history of Argentine football loses one of its most prominent coaches, remembered both for his achievements with Boca Juniors and for his ability to lead teams and leave a lasting legacy in the elite of South American football.

The renowned Argentine coach Miguel Ángel Russo had been battling prostate cancer since 2017, which was later compounded by bladder cancer. He had been on medical leave since late September, receiving special care at home.

Russo was diagnosed on July 31, 2017, while coaching Millonarios in Colombia, and despite his illness, he chose to remain on the bench. That same year, he led the team to a championship victory over Independiente Santa Fe, a feat he repeated in February of the following year in the Argentine Superliga.

In the past month, Russo was hospitalized three times due to health complications, including a urinary tract infection. His last match in charge of Boca Juniors was the 2-2 draw on September 21 against Central Córdoba, during which he remained seated on the bench for the entire game.

Assistant coach Claudio Úbeda replaced him in the last two matches, dedicating the 5-0 victory over Newell’s to Russo, a gesture also echoed by team captain Leandro Paredes.

Russo’s most recent tenure at Boca Juniors was his third stint at the club. In his first period, he won the 2007 Copa Libertadores against Gremio and lost the Club World Cup final against Milan. In his second stint (2020–2021), he won the Argentine Superliga, a Copa de la Liga Profesional, and was eliminated in the Copa Libertadores semifinals against Santos.

With a long and distinguished career, Russo also coached in Argentina at Lanús, Los Andes, Estudiantes de La Plata, Colón de Santa Fe, Vélez Sarsfield, San Lorenzo, and Racing Club, as well as abroad at Universidad de Chile, Unión Deportiva Salamanca (Chile), Morelia (Mexico), Millonarios, Alianza Lima, Cerro Porteño, and Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia).

As a player, Russo was a defensive midfielder for Estudiantes de La Plata, his only club, where he played 435 matches and scored 11 goals between 1975 and 1989. With the Argentine national team, he earned 17 caps.