Ricardo Enrique Bochini (born 25 January 1954) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is nicknamed El Bocha. He spent his nearly twenty-year professional career at club Independiente, becoming one of the most emblematic players and the greatest idol in the history of the club.[1] Bochini was a childhood idol of Argentine iconic footballer Diego Maradona.[2]
As a boy, Bochini was wanted by Campana's club Villa Dálmine, but started playing football for Belgrano, a local club from his home city. At the age of 15, he went to Buenos Aires with his father to try to join San Lorenzo and later Boca Juniors. He was eventually accepted into the youth system of Independiente in 1971.[3]
He made his professional debut in the Argentine Primera División on 25 June 1972, when Independiente's coach, Pedro Dellacha sent him onto the field in the 74th minute of a match that they lost 1–0 to River Plate.[4]
On Saturday morning (the day prior to the match) I walked over [to] the senior squad's dress room and saw my name written on the chalkboard. I was cited for the match v. River Plate. I could not believe that, sincerely. I had always dreamed about my debut in Primera, but I was still very young.[5]
— Bochini remembering his debut in Primera División
Bochini (right) and Daniel Bertoni with the Intercontinental Cup won in 1973
Independiente was to play the Intercontinental Cup in 1974 and 1975 against Bayern Munich but the German club declined both times. Atlético de Madrid, the 1973–74 European Cup's runners-up, played instead in 1974 and won the title.[10] The Intercontinental Cup was not held in 1975.[11]
In 1975 Bochini was conscripted into Military service and managed to also play football, but was not able to perform as well as desired.[3] Nevertheless, he also won the 1975 Copa Libertadores with Independiente.[12] It was Bochini's third title in a row and the club's fourth, being the only club to achieve this so far.
On 5 May 1991, Bochini played his last professional match against Estudiantes.[4] He played a total of 634 league matches, scoring 97 goals.[18] He is the player with the most appearances in the Argentine Primera División after goalkeeper Hugo Gatti, who played in 775 league matches.[citation needed]
Although he was not a prolific goalscorer, he was considered one of the best playmakers of the 1980s, often making assists for teammates to score, due to his vision and accurate passing.[19][20] Even after he retired, the expression pase bochinesco ("bochinesque pass") is used to refer to a precise pass made to a forward to leave him one on one against the goalkeeper, bypassing the opponent's defenders.[21][22] Bochini became a master of 'la pausa', the moment when a number 10, poised to deliver a pass, delays a fraction, waiting for the player he is looking to feed to reach the ideal position.[23]
Post retirement
Bochini (left) with Diego Maradona (who confessed to be an admirer) in 2007. In the background, President of Argentina Néstor Kirchner
In 1991, three months after his retirement, Bochini was assigned as Independiente's manager together with Carlos Fren. The couple coached only the 1991 Apertura tournament which the team ended in eleventh position.
Fifth division club Barracas Bolívar decided to include him to play a few minutes in an official match played on 27 February 2007, 16 years after his retirement, as a recognition to his career.[24]
In November 2007, a street was named after him in the city of Avellaneda where the Estadio Libertadores de América is located.[25]
(Left): Bochini in 1989 posing with all the international cups won with Independiente in his career: Libertadores, Intercontinental and Interamericana; (right): Bochini with the Argentina national team in 1986.