Arruabarrena leads the race
Rodolfo Arruabarrena is the first name in the frame to succeed Claudio Ubeda as Boca manager. The search is already underway, with the former Boca defender emerging as the leading candidate (5).
Ubeda's exit is now confirmed after a turbulent period that saw early Copa Libertadores elimination and growing fan unrest directed at the club's leadership.
Ubeda breaks his silence
Ubeda spoke publicly for the first time since leaving the job. "It hurts a lot to be called Boca's ex-coach," he said. "I wanted to stay" (2).
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He also revealed the depth of Leandro Paredes's commitment, sharing that the captain asked to play through injury and "didn't want to abandon the ship" (1). Paredes wanted to push through the pain barrier for his team.
Ubeda confirmed he plans to continue his managerial career (3).
Riquelme's influence under scrutiny
Ubeda also opened up about the football discussions he had with club president Juan Roman Riquelme. He admitted knowing which players Riquelme didn't like within the squad and how that shaped decisions (4).
It paints a picture of a coach working within tight parameters set from above, a dynamic that will not surprise Boca fans who have questioned how much control any manager truly has at the club.
Bareiro's World Cup heartbreak
Former national team coach Gustavo Alfaro revealed his conversation with Boca striker Bareiro after leaving him out of the 26-man World Cup squad. The omission was injury-related, and Alfaro shared what he told the forward when delivering the news (6).
Fan reactions
The coaching search is dominating the subreddit, with Vasco Arruabarrena trending as the heavy favorite among fans. Some are already suspicious of the club's media game, suggesting leaks to the press are bait designed to test supporter reaction before decisions are finalized.
Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani's situation has sparked a separate wave of discussion: reports on Reddit indicate the striker will undergo spinal surgery with a three-month recovery time, but does not want to retire and intends to keep playing for Boca. See the full discussion here