07 September 2015
The Boca Legends boast a squad bursting with goals, thousands of appearances and a host of trophies.
Juventus.com takes a close look at a trio of players set to play in Tuesday's UNESCO Cup, who have enjoyed particularly distinguished careers for Los Xeneizes.
Roberto Abbondanzieri, Goalkeeper
Featuring between the sticks on Tuesday evening will be Roberto Abbondanzieri. The legendary keeper, renowned for his sharp reflexes, won six domestic league titles and nine international trophies in the blue and yellow of Boca Juniors, including three Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups.
In the latter of these tournaments, ‘El Pato’ starred in his side’s win on penalties over Milan in 2003, saving spot-kicks from Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Costacurta in the process. The 43-year-old was later named the best South American keeper of the year.
In between his two spells in Buenos Aires, Abbondanzieri enjoyed a fruitful two-and-a-half seasons with Spanish outfit Getafe. His first year at the club saw him claim the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for conceding the least amount of goals in La Liga.
In fitting fashion, El Pato ended his career with another trophy, this time in the colours of Brazilian outfit Internacional, where he got his hands on his fourth Copa Libertadores a decade after winning his first for Boca Juniors.
Martin Palermo, Forward
In attack for Boca will be the club’s all-time leading goal scorer Martin Palermo. The striker introduced himself on the world stage in emphatic fashion, bagging a brilliant brace against Real Madrid in Los Xeneizes’ famous 2-1 win over Real Madrid to claim the second Intercontinental Cup of his side’s history in 2000.
The impressive display capped off a prolific three-year spell in Buenos Aires, during which Palermo won the South American player of the year award in 1998. The Argentina international soon earned a move to Spain, firstly with Villareal and then brief stints with Real Betis and Deportivo Alaves before making his return to Boca Juniors in 2004 where he would grace the blue and yellow jersey for a further seven years.
After amassing 14 domestic honours for the Bombonera-based club, where he averaged almost two goals every three games, Palermo eventually switched the pitch for the dugout, coaching Godoy Cruz and Arsenal Sarandi in Argentina’s Primera Division.
Claudio Caniggia, Forward
On Tuesday evening the visitors can also call upon the attacking services of Claudio Caniggia. Able to play on the wing or as a number 10, Caniggia was nicknamed ‘L’hijo del vento’ (‘son of the wind’) for his blistering pace.
After beginning his career at city rivals River Plate, with whom he scooped four trophies in a single campaign (1985-86), the forward transferred to Italy in 1988, firstly in the yellow and blue of Hellas Verona, before performing heroics at Atalanta to propel the Nerazzurri to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup during a memorable three years in Bergamo.
Caniggia’s European journey continued with moves to Roma and Benfica, before returning to his homeland in 1995 to don the famous colours of Boca Juniors, where, playing alongside his good friend Diego Maradona, he averaged almost a goal every two games.
Capped 50 times by the Albiceleste, the 48-year-old continued to find the net in the latter stages of an illustrious career, claiming five domestic titles in two seasons with Glasgow Rangers.
