By Jake Glavies
The heart of Argentinean soccer beats in the neighborhood of La Boca. Buried amidst a tangle of colorful Benito Quinquela Martin buildings is La Bombonera, a bastion of glory for millions of fans around the world and the home of Boca Juniors.
Over the past 104 years, Boca has risen to become one of the most storied clubs in soccer history. And they’ve racked up quite a few trophies along the way. Though most wouldn’t dare compare a South American squad to the upper echelon of European football, Boca has made the comparison necessary. The team is currently tied with AC Milan for most international titles in soccer history at 18 – the most impressive being its three world club titles.
Domestically, the squad has clutched 23 Argentine Primera Division championships, the last of which came in the 2008-09 season when the club won the Apertura. During the 2005-2006 season, Boca won the Apertura and Clausura trophies, giving them one of their most successful seasons in squad history. Los Xeneizes is second to only River Plate, 33, in domestic titles.
On the international scene, Boca has also claimed four Recopa Sudamericana crowns, the South American equivalent of the UEFA Super Cup, six Copa Libertadores and two Copa Sudamericana titles.
Beyond a stuffed trophy case, the team has churned out some of the top names in the game. Heading the list is the mercurial Diego Maradona. Arguably one of the best players of all time, Maradona joined Boca at the age of 21. Before making the move he scored 115 goals in 167 appearances for Argentinos Juniors. During his first stint with Boca, Maradona netted 28 goals in 40 appearances before leaving for Barcelona. After two years with Barca, he moved on to Napoli, where he enjoyed his most success – scoring 81 goals in 188 appearances over a seven year span. Also playing for Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys, Maradona returned to Boca where he finished his club career.
Other former Los Xeneizes players include: Gabriel Batistuta, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Gago, Rodolfo Arruabarrena and Nicolas Burdisso.
Despite its storied past, the team has fallen on tough times recently. Finishing just 11th in the 2009 Apertura, the team is currently seventh in the Clausura. Martin Palermo led Boca with six goals during the Apertura and currently has a team-high three scores. The squad’s next match will be Feb. 14 at home against Atletico Tucuman.
