Boca Juniors

Club Atlético Boca Juniors known also as Boca Juniors or simply Boca, is one of the most popular Argentine sports clubs, best known for its football team. Its home base is the neighbourhood of La Boca, in Buenos Aires, and it hosts its home games at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera). They are the reigning holders of the Recopa Sudamericana title.

Their main rivals are River Plate, with whom they contest the Superclásico derby.

Boca have won a record 18 international titles, equal to AC Milan. Their haul includes 6 Copa Libertadores and three World Club crowns (Copa Intercontinental) and one Copa Oro and Supercopa Masters. On December 23rd, 2008, Boca Juniors won its 23rd Argentine professional championship decided by a triangular against San Lorenzo and Tigre.

The club is a permanent fixture in the International Federation of Football History & Statistics Club World Ranking top 25, Boca is currently ranked 5th[5] and has reached the top position of the monthly ranking 6 times (mostly during coach Carlos Bianchi's tenure)

History

Foundation

On a 3 April 1905, five Italian immigrants gathered in the Plaza Solís, located in the heart of the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Esteban Baglietto, Alfredo Scarpati, Santiago Sana, and brothers Juan and Teodoro Farenga founded Boca Juniors, the use of English language in team names was commonplace, as British railway workers had originally introduced football into Argentina.

Boca Juniors played in local leagues and the amateur second division until being promoted to the first division in 1913, when the division was expanded from six teams to 15. Boca were never relegated; they won six amateur championships (1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, and 1930). With the introduction of professionalism in Argentina, Boca won the first title in 1931.

* First Match: April 21, 1905. vs. Mariano Moreno. * First international match: December 8, 1907. vs. Universal (Montevideo, Uruguay) * First professional match: May 31, 1931 vs. Chacarita Juniors.