Rodolfo Arruabarrena is returning take charge of Boca Juniors as head coach, the Xeneize confirmed on Thursday.
The 50-year-old former defender, who played for Boca and spent seven seasons with Spanish side Villarreal, returns to the club to begin a second spell as head coach.
"Arruabarrena has signed a contract until December 31, 2027," the club said in a statement, confirming an appointment that had been widely expected for several days.
Arruabarrena, known as 'El Vasco\ ("The Basque"), previously managed Boca more than a decade ago, from September 2014 to March 2016.
In 2015, he won the Primera División title and the Copa Argentina, but his tenure came to an end following a poor start to the following season.
His first spell is remembered not only for the trophies won, but for dramatic eliminations at the hands of River Plate, Boca's arch-rivals, in the semi-finals of the 2014 Copa Sudamericana and the last 16 of the 2015 Copa Libertadores.
In the latter competition, during the second leg of the Round-of-16 tie at La Bombonera, Arruabarrena had to deal with a infamous incident in which Boca supporters attacked River players with pepper spray
Arruabarrena oversaw 75 matches, recording 47 wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats, for a win rate of 68.4 percent.
Regarded as loyal club servant, Arruabarrena played alongside former playmaker Juan Román Riquelme, who today is now the club's president and has overseen his friend's return.
The duo were teammates during one of the most successful eras in Boca's history. Arruabarrena is fondly remembered for several crucial goals during Boca's victorious 2000 Copa Libertadores campaign under legendary manager Carlos Bianchi.
He now returns to the club he loves after a several years managing in the United Arab Emirates – including the national team – as well as in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Speaking to local media upon arriving at Ezeiza Airport last week, Arruabarrena said he hopes during his second spell to "live up to expectations and repay the trust shown in me."
"I'm happy and very excited, but it's inappropriate to say too much because I haven't signed yet," Arruabarrena said at the time, adding that he wanted to "build a competitive team that can perform well and reflect the identity that Boca supporters expect."
Arruabarrena succeeds Claudio Úbeda, whose contract was not renewed following Boca's traumatic exit in the Copa Libertadores group stage.
The now gaffer's task during the second half of the season, following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, will be to guide Boca through the Copa Sudamericana, the domestic Clausura tournament and the Copa Argentina.
He takes charge of a side that has not won a trophy in the last three years of Riquelme's Presidency.
Arruabarrena's first major test will come on July 23 and 30, when Boca face Chilean side O'Higgins in a two-legged Copa Sudamericana play-off round for a place in the last 16 of the competition.
– TIMES/AFP
