Buenos Aires, Argentina (My Sportsbook) - Boca Juniors named Jorge Benitez its permanent coach Tuesday, just days after winning the Copa Sudamericana title. Benitez, 54, was named the interim coach at Boca in November after Miguel Brindisi resigned. The Argentine giants struggled to an eighth-place finish in the Apertura and lost in the finals of the Libertadores Cup. They did manage to salvage the season with the Sudamericana triumph. "Benitez took advantage of the opportunity, and the fact he is inside the club has its advantages," said club president Mauricio Macri. Benitez, a former youth coach at Boca, will have to deal with the loss of star striker Carlos Tevez. The 20-year-old Olympic hero was recently sold to Brazilian outfit Corinthians for about $20 million. Boca will resume practice on January 7, and opens up against Racing on January 14 in Mar del Plata in a preseason tournament. |
