2001–02 Club Atlético Boca Juniors season

During summer several players left the club included right back defender Hugo Ibarra, Colombian full back Jorge Bermudez and midfielder Anibal Matellan. Also, Colombian Goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba almost was signed by Tottenham Hotspur prompting Mauricio Macri to block the transfer,[1] however, Cordoba got the transfer out during January towards Serie A team Perugia .

Macri reinforced the squad with central defender Rolando Schiavi from Argentinos Juniors, right back defender Jorge Daniel Martinez, Brazilian defender Jorginho Paulista on loan from Udinese Calcio and purely for Japanese football supporters Naohiro Takahara. With the exception of Schiavi the arrivals were a total failure and most of them were transferred out during December.

In the Apertura Tournament the team finished on 3rd spot, eleven points below of Champions Racing. Meanwhile, in 2001 Intercontinental Cup the squad was defeated by German side Bayern München after extra time.[2]

Head coach Carlos Bianchi started negotiations for a renewal after two years of contract (the last renovation was in December 1999) and after several rumors Bianchi chose to not accept the Board conditions.[3] Then, Macri appointed during December Uruguayan coach Oscar Tabarez former manager of Boca Juniors during 1992 Apertura Tournament which the team won and ended eleven years of League drought.[4]

Owing to government economic measures known as Corralito in the Clausura Tournament, Macri reinforced the team with a few players included forward Héctor Bracamonte, defender Diego Crosa and Jonathan Fabbro the squad finished on 3rd spot again, eight points below of Champions River Plate.

Meanwhile, in 2002 Copa Libertadores the squad reached the quarterfinals stage and was eliminated by future Champions Paraguayan side Olimpia after a 0–1 defeat in the second leg of the series.

The season is best remembered by League debut of future club legend forward 16-yr-old Carlos Tevez against Talleres de Cordoba on 21 October 2000 .

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 Roberto Abbondanzieri — GK  COL Oscar Cordoba — GK  ARG Willy Caballero — GK  ARG Christian Muñoz — DF  ARG Nicolas Burdisso — DF  ARG Clemente Rodriguez — DF  ARG Omar Sebastián Pérez — DF  ARG Gustavo Pinto — DF  ARG Javier Alejandro Villarreal — DF  ARG José María Calvo — DF  ARG Rolando Schiavi — DF  BRA Jorginho Paulista — DF  ARG Nahuel Fioretto — DF  ARG Cesar Alberto Gonzalez — DF  ARG Juan Forchetti — DF  ARG Jonathan Fabbro

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  COL Mauricio Serna — MF  ARG Christian Traverso — MF  ARG Juan Roman Riquelme — MF  ARG Sebastian Battaglia — MF  ARG Julio Marchant — MF  ARG Joel Enrique Barbosa — MF  ARG Roberto Colautti — MF  ARG Ariel Carreño — MF  ARG Jorge Daniel Martinez — MF  ARG Diego Crosa — FW  ARG Guillermo Barros Schelotto — FW  ARG Marcelo Delgado — FW  ARG Antonio Barijho — FW  ARG Christian Giménez — FW  ARG Walter Gaitán — FW  JPN Naohiro Takahara — FW  ARG Alfredo Moreno — FW  ARG Carlos Tevez — FW  ARG Héctor Bracamonte — FW  ARG Abel Balbo

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