Alberto Armando
Encyclopedia
Alberto Jacinto Armando (1910 – 1988) was a notable Argentine football official. He was the president of Boca Juniors
from 1954 to 1955, and from 1960 to 1980.
in 1910, and raised in nearby San Francisco, Córdoba
. He married María Mercedes Crespo and became affiliated with the Boca Juniors football club in the 1940s, when he became known as el puma. Armando was elected president of Boca Juniors in early 1954, succeeding Daniel Gil. The team had struggled since its last First Division title
, in 1944, though Gil's tenure could boast the enlargement and modernization of the La Bombonera
stadium.
Armando's brief first turn as president during 1954-55 was marked by the team's first title in a decade. His occupation as the proprietor of an automobile dealership prompted him to resign, however. He diversified his business interests in 1960, when he entered into a partnership with developer Francisco Macri
to establish Tutora Insurance.
Later in 1960, Armando was returned to the post of president of Boca Juniors. He undertook an ambitious program of acquiring new players, and a number would figure prominently in Boca's lineups of the 1960s and 1970s. Some of these included Antonio Roma
, Silvio Marzolini
, Ernesto Grillo
, Dante Lugo and Antonio Garabal (the latter three were Argentine expatriates brought back from European teams). The team's First Division win over perennial rival River Plate
in 1962 was the first major title since 1954, and was followed by those in 1964 and 1965, and by national championships in 1969, 1970, and 1976.
His administration also invested heavily in improving facilities. La Bombonera was modernized, and bucket seats were added. A 5-hectare (13 acre) property in suburban San Justo, Buenos Aires
was purchased in 1963 for use as La Candela, the team's training grounds. An aging football field was leased in Mar del Plata
in 1969 for additional use during the summer months, when weather in the Buenos Aires area is least propitious for training.
Armando's ambitious works program also included plans for a new stadium, for which the Argentine Congress passed a bill in 1965 donating a 40 hectare (100 acre) waterfront lot south of the Costanera Sur (the abandoned former municipal beach along the Río de la Plata
in what today is the tony Puerto Madero
ward). He lobbied successfully for the concession by presenting plans for a new, 140,000 seat stadium, as well as other improvements, notably a sports complex. Construction began on the mammoth Ciudad Deportiva project, and a network of round islands connected by bridges was completed. Ultimately, however, the stadium was never built, and much of the land earmarked for the sports complex was leased to private installations, notably a restaurant and a drive-in cinema.
These setbacks were accompanied by a dearth in new titles for the team lasting from 1971 to 1975. The hiring of Juan Carlos Lorenzo as head coach, however, helped revert the rut, and a national title in 1976 was followed by the team's first international title, the 1977 Copa Intercontinental. This was followed by Copa Libertadores de América
titles in 1977 and 1978.
The Ciudad Deportiva project continued to burden the team's finances, and in 1979, Mayor Osvaldo Cacciatore
declared Boca Juniors to be in non-compliance with the 1965 deed. Following negotiations, the mayor relieved the team from nearly all its construction obligations, however, and in 1980, Armando retired.
His successor, Martín Noel, stopped all new construction on the project, and the rapid deterioration in the team's finances after 1981 ultimately led Antonio Alegre
, the team president elected in 1985, to sell the land as a means of rescuing Boca Juniors from bankruptcy
. Armando, who objected to the sale, challenged Alegre in a December 1986 team election, losing narrowly; he died on December 28, 1988.
Mauricio Macri
, who was elected president of the club in 1995, and whose father was Armando's erstwhile business partner (Francisco Macri), renamed La Bombonera (then officially known as the Camilo Cichero Stadium) in honor of the controversial former team president, Alberto J. Armando.
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
from 1954 to 1955, and from 1960 to 1980.
Life and career
Armando was born in Santa Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
in 1910, and raised in nearby San Francisco, Córdoba
San Francisco, Córdoba
San Francisco is a city located at the far east border of the province of Córdoba, Argentina, and parts of the city are beyond the border into the province of Santa Fe. In the city National Routes 19 and 158 intersect...
. He married María Mercedes Crespo and became affiliated with the Boca Juniors football club in the 1940s, when he became known as el puma. Armando was elected president of Boca Juniors in early 1954, succeeding Daniel Gil. The team had struggled since its last First Division title
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
, in 1944, though Gil's tenure could boast the enlargement and modernization of the La Bombonera
Estadio Alberto J. Armando
The Estadio Alberto J. Armando is a stadium located in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires. Widely known as La Bombonera due to its shape, with a "flat" stand on one side of the pitch and three steep stands round the rest of the stadium...
stadium.
Armando's brief first turn as president during 1954-55 was marked by the team's first title in a decade. His occupation as the proprietor of an automobile dealership prompted him to resign, however. He diversified his business interests in 1960, when he entered into a partnership with developer Francisco Macri
Francisco Macri
Francisco Macri is a prominent Argentine businessman and father of Mauricio Macri, current mayor of Buenos Aires.-Childhood in Italy:...
to establish Tutora Insurance.
Later in 1960, Armando was returned to the post of president of Boca Juniors. He undertook an ambitious program of acquiring new players, and a number would figure prominently in Boca's lineups of the 1960s and 1970s. Some of these included Antonio Roma
Antonio Roma
Antonio Roma is a former Argentine football goalkeeper.Nicknamed Tarzan for the way of throwing himself for the ball, he started his professional career with Ferrocarril Oeste in 1955, where he played until 1959...
, Silvio Marzolini
Silvio Marzolini
Silvio Marzolini is a former Argentine football player who played for Boca Juniors . He is widely regarded as being one of the best left backs of all time, playing this position for the Argentine national team in the 1962 FIFA World Cup and the 1966 FIFA World Cup...
, Ernesto Grillo
Ernesto Grillo
Ernesto Grillo was an Argentine football player who played for Independiente and Boca Juniors in Argentina, as well as AC Milan in Italy. He also represented the Argentina national side...
, Dante Lugo and Antonio Garabal (the latter three were Argentine expatriates brought back from European teams). The team's First Division win over perennial rival River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
in 1962 was the first major title since 1954, and was followed by those in 1964 and 1965, and by national championships in 1969, 1970, and 1976.
His administration also invested heavily in improving facilities. La Bombonera was modernized, and bucket seats were added. A 5-hectare (13 acre) property in suburban San Justo, Buenos Aires
San Justo, Buenos Aires
San Justo is a city and the seat of government of La Matanza Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.On the initiative of Judge Lino Lagos, the settlement was founded on December 25th, 1858 on land requisitioned from Justo Villegas, a prominent landowner...
was purchased in 1963 for use as La Candela, the team's training grounds. An aging football field was leased in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
in 1969 for additional use during the summer months, when weather in the Buenos Aires area is least propitious for training.
Armando's ambitious works program also included plans for a new stadium, for which the Argentine Congress passed a bill in 1965 donating a 40 hectare (100 acre) waterfront lot south of the Costanera Sur (the abandoned former municipal beach along the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
in what today is the tony Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero
Puerto Madero, also known within the urban planning community as the Puerto Madero Waterfront, is a barrio of the Argentine capital at Buenos Aires CBD, occupying a significant portion of the Río de la Plata riverbank and representing the latest architectural trends in the city of Buenos...
ward). He lobbied successfully for the concession by presenting plans for a new, 140,000 seat stadium, as well as other improvements, notably a sports complex. Construction began on the mammoth Ciudad Deportiva project, and a network of round islands connected by bridges was completed. Ultimately, however, the stadium was never built, and much of the land earmarked for the sports complex was leased to private installations, notably a restaurant and a drive-in cinema.
These setbacks were accompanied by a dearth in new titles for the team lasting from 1971 to 1975. The hiring of Juan Carlos Lorenzo as head coach, however, helped revert the rut, and a national title in 1976 was followed by the team's first international title, the 1977 Copa Intercontinental. This was followed by Copa Libertadores de América
Copa Libertadores de América
The Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
titles in 1977 and 1978.
The Ciudad Deportiva project continued to burden the team's finances, and in 1979, Mayor Osvaldo Cacciatore
Osvaldo Cacciatore
Osvaldo Cacciatore was an Argentine Air Force officer and former de facto Mayor of Buenos Aires during the National Reorganization Process military dictatorship.-Early life:Osvaldo Andrés Cacciatore was born in Buenos Aires in 1924...
declared Boca Juniors to be in non-compliance with the 1965 deed. Following negotiations, the mayor relieved the team from nearly all its construction obligations, however, and in 1980, Armando retired.
His successor, Martín Noel, stopped all new construction on the project, and the rapid deterioration in the team's finances after 1981 ultimately led Antonio Alegre
Antonio Alegre
Antonio Alegre was a notable Argentine football official. He was president of Boca Juniors from 1985 to 1995, and was widely credited with the football club's financial turnaround.- Biography :...
, the team president elected in 1985, to sell the land as a means of rescuing Boca Juniors from bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Armando, who objected to the sale, challenged Alegre in a December 1986 team election, losing narrowly; he died on December 28, 1988.
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri is an Argentine businessman turned politician, and Head of Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Son of Francisco Macri, a businessman of Italian origin prominent in the industrial and construction sectors, he represented the City of Buenos Aires in the Lower House of...
, who was elected president of the club in 1995, and whose father was Armando's erstwhile business partner (Francisco Macri), renamed La Bombonera (then officially known as the Camilo Cichero Stadium) in honor of the controversial former team president, Alberto J. Armando.