After the defeat against Universidad Católica that resulted in elimination from the Copa Libertadores in the group stage, the management of Xeneize decided not to renew Sifón's contract and is already looking for a replacement.
The elimination in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores sealed Claudio Úbeda's fate at Boca. After several days of analysis and internal meetings, the management led by Juan Román Riquelme decided not to renew the coach's contract, which will end on June 30.
The decision was communicated during a meeting held this Monday at the Ezeiza training ground, where the sports director Marcelo Delgado also participated. Thus, the cycle of the former assistant coach of Miguel Ángel Russo will come to an end after eight months at the helm of the first team.
The results proved to be decisive. Boca closed the first half of the year with a premature elimination in the Libertadores and also fell out of the Apertura Tournament in the round of 16 against Huracán. Two blows that deepened the fans' discontent and accelerated the need for profound changes.
The Boca de Úbeda went from better to worse.
Despite some resounding victories, such as the wins in the two Superclásicos he directed, the team never managed to achieve the expected consistency. The defeat against Universidad Católica at La Bombonera was the breaking point. The 0-1 that confirmed the continental elimination left the team without the main objective of the season and ultimately convinced the management that it was time to start a new chapter.
Now all attention shifts to the selection of the next coach. Boca will resume training on June 18and the management's intention is for the new coach to already be in charge of the squad for the start of preseason. The challenge will not be minor, as Úbeda's successor will need to prepare the team for the playoffs of the Copa Sudamericana against O'Higgins, face the round of 32 of the Copa Argentina, and fight for qualification to the Copa Libertadores 2027, a goal that has become a priority for the club.
For now, there is a sense of secrecy in La Ribera, although several names have begun to circulate as possible candidates. Among them are coaches with experience and notable current status such as Antonio "El Turco" Mohamed, Néstor Lorenzo, Eduardo Domínguez, and Cristian "Kily" González. Other alternatives linked to the Boca world have also emerged, such as Carlos Tevez, Martín Palermo, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Turkish Mohammed, Néstor Lorenzo, Eduardo Domínguez, and Kily González are the main candidates to replace Úbeda.
After a first half of the year marked by negative results, the management understands that the appointment of the new coach will be key to redirecting the sports project and restoring competitiveness to a team that finished the semester far from the generated expectations.
Úbeda's numbers at Boca
Since his appointment as DT of the Xeneize following the death of Miguel Ángel Russo in October of last year, Sifón has managed 32 matches, with a record of 17 wins, 7 draws, and 8 losses.
