1996–97 Club Atlético Boca Juniors season

Macri reinforced the club with several players: Diego Latorre, Julio Cesar Toresani, Lorenzo, Guzman, Facundo Sava, Sebastián Rambert, Gabriel Cedrés, Diego Cagna, Héctor Pineda, Guerra, Carrario, Fernando Cáceres and Christian Dollberg. Owing to health issues club star Diego Maradona took another retirement. [1] Meanwhile, forward Claudio Paul Caniggia suffered his mother' suicide in Henderson [2] and announced his own retirement for the next Apertura Tournament. Also, left winger Kily Gonzalez,[3] Juan Sebastian Veron [4] were transferred out to Europe. 17-yr-old playmaker and future club legend Juan Roman Riquelme made his debut in this Apertura tournament.

In Apertura Tournament, the squad was a total failure sinking down to the middle of the table far below of champions River Plate prompting Bilardo to be sacked during December.[5]

In spite of rumors about Miguel Angel Brindisi as new trainer, the club appointed Hector Veira as new head coach[6] and reinforced the squad with goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri (returned from a loan Rosario Central), midfielder Christian Traverso, Alfredo Berti and Pedro González. However, in Clausura the team just reached a miserable ninth spot despite Sergio “Manteca” Martinez scored 15 goals being the Clausura top striker. Finally, by July 13th Diego Maradona came back from his brief retirement and played against Racing [7] for the joy of Boca fans.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ARG Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya —  ARG Nelson Vivas — DF  ARG Nestor Fabbri — MF  ARG Kily Gonzalez — FW  URU Sergio Daniel Martinez — FW  ARG Claudio Paul Caniggia 10 FW  ARG Diego Maradona —  ARG Raul Alejandro Peralta — MF  CMR Alphonse Marie Tchami —  ARG Luis Darío Calvo — MF  ARG José Horacio Basualdo — MF  ARG Walter José Del Río — FW  ARG Sebastián Rambert — MF  ARG Diego Latorre

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ARG Roberto Pompei — DF  ARG Julio Cesar Toresani — DF  ARG Fernando Gabriel Caceres — MF  ARG Diego Cagna — MF  URU Gabriel Cedrés — MF  URU Hugo Guerra — DF  ARG Christian Dollberg — DF  ARG Hector Pineda — MF  ARG Juan Roman Riquelme — FW  ARG Facundo Sava — DF  ARG Silvio Carrario — GK  ARG Sandro Daniel Guzman — DF  ARG Néstor Gabriel Lorenzo — MF  ARG Pablo Marcelo Trobbiani — DF  ARG Anibal Matellan — DF  ARG Ariel Rosada

• Club Atlético Boca Juniors official web site (in Spanish)