Miguel Ángel Russo

Miguel Ángel Russo (9 April 1956 – 8 October 2025) was an Argentine professional football player and manager who played as a defensive midfielder. As a player, Russo spent his entire career in Estudiantes de La Plata.

Russo made his professional debut in Estudiantes LP in 1975, playing for fourteen consecutive seasons until his retirement in 1988. He played 435 official matches with Estudiantes, also winning two Primera División titles. Russo also played 17 matches for the Argentina national team.

Playing career

Club career Russo was a one club man; he played his entire career for Estudiantes de La Plata, from 1975 to his retirement in 1988. A defensive midfielder, Russo was a staple of the team that won two back-to-back championships in the 1982 Metropolitano and 1983 Nacional.

International career Although Russo was called on by Argentina national team coach Carlos Bilardo to play in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a string of minor injuries prevented him from traveling to the main event in Mexico, which Argentina ultimately won.

Coaching career Russo's career as a coach included stints at Estudiantes de La Plata and Lanús (both of whom he helped promote), and other sides in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Spain.

In June 2005, he won the 2005 Clausura tournament with Vélez Sarsfield, his first title as a coach in the Argentine top division. On 15 December 2006, he was signed by Boca Juniors to replace Ricardo La Volpe.

With Russo at the helm, Boca Juniors took second place in the 2007 Clausura tournament and won the 2007 Copa Libertadores. After Boca, Russo managed San Lorenzo between 2008 and 2009. After losing to San Luis Potosí and being eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, the coach has announced his decision to resign on 9 April 2009.

On 15 April 2009, Russo joined Rosario Central, replacing Reinaldo Merlo and just two months later on 14 July 2009 the coach quit the team.

The former midfielder then managed Racing Club between 2010 and 2011. On 21 June 2011, less than a week after resigning as coach of Racing Club, Russo signed a contract to again coach his former club, Estudiantes de La Plata, being his second stint as an Estudiantes coach, having done so in 1994.

On 6 November 2011, after Estudiantes was defeated 3–1 by Godoy Cruz and in turn falling to last place with only 10 points in 14 games, Russo resigned as manager, less than five months after having assumed charge. He then had a successful stint at Rosario Central, winning the 2012–13 Primera B Nacional and reaching the final of the 2013–14 Copa Argentina.

In 2015, Russo agreed to become manager of Vélez Sarsfield, his second spell at the club.

On 23 December 2016, he was chosen to train Millonarios F.C. from Bogotá, Colombia after the untimely departure of Diego Cocca. On 17 December 2017, he was crowned Champion of the second half of 2017 with Millonarios F.C. (Torneo Clausura), to which he gave them the title number 15 after winning the first leg 1–0, and then drawing 2–2 against Independiente Santa Fe. With this victory, Millonarios F.C. will go directly to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores played among the best club teams in South America.

On 4 January 2019, he was officially appointed the new Alianza Lima coach. However, he decided to terminate his contract for personal reasons and poor results.

On 7 June 2019, his transfer to Cerro Porteño was made official. On 6 October 2019, after losing to Deportivo Capiatá, the club decided to do without its services.

In January 2020, he started his second cycle with Boca Juniors, two months later he obtained a new title winning the 2019–20 Superliga beating River Plate led by Marcelo Gallardo in the final stretch. After being eliminated by Santos (BRA) from the CONMEBOL Libertadores, Boca Juniors played Copa Diego Maradona final against Banfield. This match ended in a tie in one, and finally, Boca Juniors became champions by winning the penalties. On 17 August 2021, he was sacked by the club.

Russo spent most of the 2021–22 season in charge of Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, before returning to Rosario Central on 18 December 2022. He later returned to San Lorenzo before being appointed for a third stint at Boca Juniors ahead of their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Personal life and death Russo's son, Ignacio, is a professional footballer.

Russo died at home on 8 October 2025, at the age of 69, after battling with prostate cancer since 2017.

Managerial statistics

Honours Player Estudiantes (LP) Primera División: 1982 Metropolitano, 1983 Nacional

Manager Lanús Primera B Nacional: 1991–92

Estudiantes (LP) Primera B Nacional: 1994–95

Vélez Sarsfield Argentine Primera División: 2005 Clausura

Boca Juniors Primera División: 2019–20 Copa de la Liga Profesional: 2020 Copa Libertadores: 2007

Rosario Central Primera B Nacional: 2012–13 Copa de la Liga Profesional: 2023

Millonarios Categoría Primera A: 2017 Finalización Superliga Colombiana: Superliga 2018

Individual Saudi Professional League Manager of the Month: January 2022