The idol and former member of the Football Council of Xeneize commented on the search for a new coach following Claudio Úbeda's departure and stated that the club needs a manager with experience, personality, and a strong presence.
When asked about possible candidates, he mentioned several coaches identified with the club. “Guillermo, Palermo, Tevez, and another who has a past in Boca, Turco Mohamed... Ricardo Gareca as well, but the range is not very large”, he pointed out. However, when it came time to choose, he left no doubts: "For me, the first would be Guillermo".
While the management maintains secrecy, many have come forward to express their opinion on who should be the next coach of Boca. One of those who spoke out was Mauricio "Chicho" Serna, who made it clear what he believes is the ideal profile to take over in one of the most delicate moments of the cycle led by Juan Román Riquelme.
Firstly, the former midfielder, a multi-champion with Xeneize and close to the current president, considered that the departure of Claudio Úbeda was a natural consequence after the elimination in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, the main sporting objective of the season. "The departure was logical. In such a big club, where there is so much ambition, so much hope, it happens. When the objectives of the seventh are not met, it occurs", he stated in an interview with ESPN.
For Serna, the sporting blow forces the management to act quickly and choose a coach capable of competing for the titles still at stake. "The coach and the players must be convinced that they have to win the Sudamericana and the Argentine tournament. There is no margin for error. They have a lot of pressure, but in the Boca world, that's how it is", he maintained.
In this context, he emphasized that the club should not bet on just any profile. "We need to look for a coach who can enhance the current roster, promote the youth, and be brave. They must have enough personality to demand, make decisions, and achieve results", he explained. He added: "Today we need to find a coach with personality. They must be a well-known coach".
The choice is not casual. Guillermo Barros Schelotto knows the Boca world like few others: as a player, he spent a decade at the club (1997 to 2007), during which he won 16 titles, while as a coach he had a solid cycle between early 2016 and late 2018, where he formed a competitive team that won two consecutive leagues, but was overshadowed by the defeat in the Copa Libertadores final against River, an event that led to his departure.
Currently, the Mellizo is coaching Vélez, where he has a contract valid until December 2026. With the Fortín, he has been showing good results and has been crowned twice: Supercopa Argentina 2024 and Supercopa Internacional 2025.
On the other hand, Serna also highlighted Néstor Lorenzo, the current coach of Colombia, although he acknowledged that his situation makes it difficult to think about an immediate negotiation. "I like Néstor Lorenzo", he commented, although he clarified that "it's very complex to talk to him right now because he is ready to coach the World Cup".
In his 3 years as coach of Xeneize, the Mellizo managed 117 matches, with a record of 65 wins, 29 draws, and 23 losses, and a balance of 215 goals for and 108 against. In terms of titles, he won 2: Primera División 2016/17 and Superliga 2017/18.
