Fernando Gago is set to become the next Boca Juniors head coach after arriving in Buenos Aires on Sunday. He’s returning to Argentina following a spell at Mexican club Chivas. The official announcement of his return is expected on Monday, and he is set to run his first coaching session later in the day.

“I want to thank the Boca fans for all the love I’ve received in the last couple of days,” said Gago, who came through the Xeneize academy as a player. “I’m coming home.” 

He’ll replace former coach Diego Martínez, who resigned in late September following back-to-back losses to Racing Club, River Plate and Belgrano.

Gago spent eight months at Chivas, one of Mexican football’s biggest clubs. The 38-year-old coach led the Guadalajara outfit in thirty-eight games, with 17 wins, 11 draws and 10 defeats, reaching the semifinals in the Torneo Clausura and the Concacaf Champions League round of 16, losing both times to derby rivals América.

The former Real Madrid and AS Roma player had his coaching debut at Aldosivi in 2021, where he managed a meager seven wins, three ties and 16 losses before departing. 

Arguably his best work as a coach was at Racing Club, where he finished as runner-up in the 2022 Liga Profesional, and won two trophies — the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones and 2022 Supercopa Internacional — beating Boca both times. He resigned in September 2023 amid tension following an Avellaneda derby loss to Independiente, with the team struggling in mid-table.

As a player with Boca, Gago won five Primera División titles and a Copa Argentina title.

What can Boca fans expect from Gago?

As a coach, Gago has established himself as one who favors a possession-based style of play in a similar vein to Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and PSG’s Luis Enrique. 

His teams are usually set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with one striker leading the attack flanked by two quick wingers and a midfield trio capable of retaining and distributing the ball.

For Boca fans, this might pose the question of who will lead the attack, with Uruguayan star duo Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel fighting for a single spot alongside Xeneize’s current top goalscorer Milton Giménez.

Gago is also insistent on his team to build up play from the defense, which could see him favor skilled defender Nicolás Figal to make a return to the team, alongside promising youngster Aaron Anselmino.

Fitness is another of the 38 year old coach’s priorities: he regularly benched top stars who didn’t perform in training at Racing. This could put him in hot water with some of Boca’s more experienced stars such as 33-year-old Frank Fabra, 34-year-old Marcos Rojo and 37-year-old Gary Medel, all of whom have struggled with fitness recently.

The new Xeneize coach will debut against away at Tigre on October 19.