The 1997–98 Club Atlético Boca Juniors season was the 68th consecutive Primera División season played by the senior squad.
Summary The club reinforced the squad with several players: Claudio Caniggia came back after a brief retirement, forward Martin Palermo from Estudiantes La Plata, twins Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Gustavo Barros Schelotto arrived from Gimnasia LP, Colombian centre back Jorge Bermúdez from Benfica, goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba from America de Cali, defender Walter Samuel from Newell's Old Boys, Mexican striker Luis Hernandez and Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano.
In Apertura Tournament the squad finished on 2nd spot just one single point below champions River Plate. On 25 October 1997 Diego Maradona announced his retirement being in fact, the last official match that he played.
For the Clausura Tournament, the club was reinforced with Rodolfo Cardoso, Sergio Castillo and Colombian midfielder Mauricio Serna. In spite of being heavily favourites the squad sank to the 6th spot prompting coach Veira to quit as head coach on 2 May 1998. Chairman Mauricio Macri wanted to appoint Daniel Passarella- then coach of Argentina National team- as new head manager, however, after a majority of Boca fans rejected him due to his past a River Plate idol, the club board did not sign a contract.
Meanwhile, former Velez Sarsfield head coach Carlos Bianchi rejected an offer from Julio Grondona Chairman of AFA to be the Argentina National team coach after the 1998 FIFA World Cup not accepting Jose Pekerman as manager and his high influence on Grondona. On 27 May 1998 Bianchi took the vacancy out at Boca appointed by Macri as new head coach of the club with a contract signed until December 1999.
Special uniforms Alternate kits worn only in 1997 Supercopa Libertadores
Squad Permanent squad numbers entered into force since 1997 Apertura:
Transfers
In Pos. Name From Type GK Oscar Cordoba America de Cali MF Nolberto Solano Sporting Cristal FW Martin Palermo Estudiantes La Plata DF Jorge Bermudez Benfica FW Guillermo Barros Schelotto Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) MF Gustavo Barros Schelotto Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) DF Walter Samuel Newell's Old Boys FW Luis Hernandez Necaxa loan
Out Pos. Name To Type FW Sergio Daniel Martinez Deportivo La Coruña FW Sebastián Rambert River Plate MF Gabriel Cedrés Club América DF Héctor Pineda Udinese Calcio
January
In Pos. Name From Type MF Mauricio Serna Atlético Nacional MF Rodolfo Cardoso Hamburg SV MF Sergio Castillo Deportivo Español
Out Pos. Name To TypeMF Diego Maradona retired FW Luis Hernandez Necaxa loan endedDF Nelson Vivas FC Lugano loan MF Gustavo Barros Schelotto Unión de Santa Fe loan MF Julio Cesar Toresani Independiente
Competitions
Torneo Apertura League table
Position by round
Matches
Torneo Clausura
League table
Position by round
Matches
Statistics Players statistics
References
External links Club Atlético Boca Juniors official web site