Day: May 12, 2012

La Bombonera Show – Los XeneizesLa Bombonera Show – Los Xeneizes

Boca Juniors is traditionally regarded as the club of Argentina’s working class, in contrast with the supposedly more upper-class base of cross-town arch rival Club Atlético River Plate.

Boca Juniors claims to be the club of “half plus one” (la mitad más uno) of Argentina’s population, but a 2006 survey placed its following at 40%, still the largest share. They have the highest number of fans, as judged by percentage in their country.

The Boca-River Superclásico rivalry is one of the most thrilling derbies in the world. Out of their 327 previous meetings, Boca have won 121, River 105 and there have been 101 draws. After each match (except draws), street signs cover Buenos Aires at fans’ own expense, “ribbing” the losing side with humorous posters. This has become part of Buenos Aires culture ever since a Boca winning streak in the 1990s.

Boca fans are known as Los Xeneizes (the Genoese) after the Genoese immigrants who founded the team and lived in La Boca in the early 20th century.

Peñas (fan clubs) exist in a number of Argentine cities and abroad in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Israel and Japan.^[55]

Boca Juniors are particularly popular in Japan because of the club’s success in recent years at the Intercontinental Cup held in Japan

. All over the world, fans are drawn to Boca by the club’s international titles, and by the success of Boca players who went on to play in European football such as Hugo Ibarra, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Diego Cagna, Enzo Ferrero, Roberto Abbondanzieri,Nicolás Burdisso, Fernando Gago, Diego Maradona, Claudio Caniggia, Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Román Riquelme and Carlos Tévez.

Boca have fans throughout Latin America and also in parts of the United States where there has been Latin immigration and where in July 2007, after the club had toured pre-season, it was reported that the club were considering the possibility of creating a Boca Juniors USA team to compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) with New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and Arizonamentioned as possible locations.

Rui Costa – A Real Number 10Rui Costa – A Real Number 10

Rui Costa is renowned for his fine technique and his excellent passing, he’s now considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100, as one of the 125 greatest living football players.

Costa was named the best number 10 player in the Serie A a few times. His departure from Fiorentina was discussed every season, since many clubs constantly showed interest in signing him. However, he only left when Fiorentina went bankrupt after the 2001–02 season.

Fatih Terim was the coach of Fiorentina in the 2000–01 season. When he was leaving Fiorentina for Milan, he took Costa with him, paying a reported £30 million for the player. In doing so, Costa became Milan’s most expensive transfer of all-time. Costa played five seasons in Milan, where he won one Serie A title, one Italian Cup, one Italian Super Cup, one UEFA Champions League, and one European Super Cup.

In 2006 Rui Costa had been released from Milan after both the player and the club reached an agreement to end his contract. Costa also gave up his €4.6 million per year contract to play in the club that, year after year, had dreamt of his return. Costa’s affection for Benfica is publicly known and so is his desire to end his career at the Portuguese club.

Rui Costa was a member of Portugal’s most consistent years at senior level as the team reached the quarter-finals of Euro 1996, the semi-finals of Euro 2000, and the final of Euro 2004. Costa was especially instrumental in helping Portugal reach the 2004 final.

Costa also took part in the World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea scoring Portugal’s winning goal in their 4–0 win over Poland. The only time in his career that Costa was sent off was in an international game against Germany.

Despite being principally a provider, Costa chipped in with a highly impressive 26 goals in 94 games.