Sebastian Battaglia –unavoidable benchmark in the history of Boca Juniors that with 18 titles as a footballer is the maximum winner in history xeneize– assumed this Tuesday as coach of the team of his loves until December, after having accumulated experience in a couple of clubs and running the Reserve, and attending a special request from his friend Juan Román Riquelme, absent during the official presentation of the new DT replacing Miguel Angel Russo.
“In principle I want to say that our former coach is a good man and will be remembered for a long time. “, ripped off saying President Jorge Amor Ameal, to add: “As for Sebastián, he is a man of the house, a winner and he will surely transmit that in this new stage that is beginning. Here, whoever wants to play is going to play; he who does not, has to go. Players must enjoy this jersey. ”
Then, the 40-year-old Santa Fe took the floor, retired from soccer prematurely a decade ago with a persistent right ankle injury. “We found out in the morning. This is a very good opportunity for me. I love the club and I want to put the team back in the place it deserves. I came from the Reserve and the sensations are a bit mixed, why I worked with Miguel and I thank him for everything he did for the institution “, Battaglia acknowledged.
Former flyer showed his qualities when with his division assumed two games in the current domestic tournament, against Banfield and San Lorenzo, due to the sanitary isolation that the professional team had to meet after the elimination of the Libertadores against Atlético Mineiro, in Belo Horizonte.
“One is falling little by little, managing Boca is a very important challenge. Today in command of the first practice the idea that we went down was for the team to work and get to know us as quickly as possible. We want to have a leading team, supported by what we have been doing with the boys, but above all trying to overcome the rival in front. Our wish is that all the players are well, the group is very good and has great predisposition “, assured.
The Battaglia’s task in Reserve was exposed in appearances such as Alan Varela, Christian Medina, Agustin Stupidity, Renzo Giampaoli, Ezequiel “Equi” Fernández and Valentine Ship, among the most prominent. But the new DT xeneize understood that directing the First is very different.
“Although we already played the games with Banfield and San Lorenzo, we want to have the best possible debut. We want to accomplish things fast and We hope for that to have the acceptance of all the players. There is a very good group of professionals on campus. That they make it difficult for me when it comes to choosing, whether between seniors and juniors, is the best thing that can happen to a coach. “
When asked about Riquelme, Battaglia did not hesitate: “With Roman I am always in contactWe talk about football all the time. Today begins a new stage. What happened, that’s it. We want to make a strong group, because this is the most important club in Argentina and we know well what glory means in this club “, the brand new DT closed a very well attended conference. In fact, Ameal apologized on behalf of the club “because there are many journalists here and not all of them could ask.”
Who is Battaglia
Married to Bettina and father of three children, Camila (19), Sofía (17) and Benjamin (10), all Boca fans, Battaglia was always of walking silently through life, of fair words, measured and kind, something that may or may not be modified in the convulsed “Mundo Boca”.
That Boca that saw him make his debut in the First Division when he was just 17 years old and all the dreams to fulfill, in the Clausura tournament in 1998 against Gimnasia and Tiro de Salta, which the xeneizes won by a loose 4-0 and with an interim coach like Carlos María García Cambón, for those things of destiny also named in a hurry to supply the departure of Héctor “Bambino” Veira.
Everyone remembers his farewell match as a player on a night on July 8, 2015, where among numerous presences Carlos Bianchi, Martín Palermo and Own Riquelme.
Beginnings as a technician
In his carrer as a coach he made his debut in Almagro in 2018, replacing Alfredo Grelak, who had vacated the position with seven dates remaining. With the “Tricolor” fought promotion until the last date, and got three wins, two draws and two losses. His last game led him in the Quarterfinals of the Reduced, where those of José Ingenieros fell 2-0 with Agropecuario and he left the club “in agreement” with the leadership. Later joined the coaching staff of Julio César Falcioni at Banfield, just after passing through Almagro until the middle of 2019.
In December 2019, after the Jorge Ameal-Mario Pergolini formula won the elections in Boca, he joined the soccer secretariat led by Riquelme to lead the Reserve instead of his former partner Rolando Schiavi.
In this category, pandemic through, he directed 21 games, of which he won 12, drew four and lost five. His team got the runner-up in the League Cup after losing the definition to Sarmiento de Junín.
Battaglia, who already He assumed as an interim technician at the Ezeiza campus, he will have his first exam next Saturday at the local Board of Trustees, for the seventh date of the Professional Football League (LPF).
The “Boca World”
The brand new DT is aware of what the “Mundo Boca” generates, but assumes with advantage, Surrounded by the affection of his family, supported by the Football Council and by the fans who, not being able to go to the field, express themselves on social networks. And most importantly: he has a winning aura that he will try to convey to the listless team that Russo left him.
Always supportive and with a career full of titles (he won one more than the twin Guillermo Barros Schelotto, second in the Boca champions list), he even showed a low profile when he chose a high point in his career that did not have him as an exclusive protagonist.
Why Battaglia made the move prior to Palermo’s historic goal against River in the 2000 Libertadores, in the quarterfinal Superclásico that Boca won 3-0, and led that team led by Bianchi to the title, which would come after beating América de México in the semifinals and Palmeiras in the final.
“If I had to choose a moment in my career, without a doubt it would be that of Martin’s goal. La Bombonera exploded, happiness was enormous“Battaglia commented in an interview he gave to Télam in May last year, two decades after that unforgettable victory.
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