Claudio Borghi (footballer)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Claudio Daniel Borghi | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder (retired) | ||
Claudio Daniel Borghi, (born on 28 September 1964 in Castelar, Buenos Aires Province), nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former Football (soccer) player and successful head coach.
Playing career
Borghi started his career as an offensive midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s. He was considered a bright young star for Argentina and tipped by many to be on a level with Diego Armando Maradona, but he never managed to make his mark in Europe and only built a reputation within South America.
Borghi's exceptional performance in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup final (Argentinos Juniors lost to Juventus on penalties) drew the attention of AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and Borghi was signed for the club in 1987. As sides were only allowed three foreign players at the time, Borghi was drafted in alongside Dutchmen Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit. However, Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi – who had won respect by securing the Scudetto a few months earlier – demanded that the team sign another Dutch player in the form of Frank Rijkaard, and so Borghi was sent out on loan to Como. Sampdoria had wanted the Argentine star, but Berlusconi was reluctant to sell him to a direct rival.[1]
Borghi returned to Milan after playing only seven times for Como, but he could not secure a place for himself in the team. He soon left Italy, and tried his luck in Switzerland with Neuchatel Xamax before returning to South America with River Plate, Flamengo and Independiente. Eventually he wound up in Chile, winning the Recopa and Interamericana with Colo-Colo in 1992, and concluded a respectable, but far from magnificent, playing career with Santiago Wanderers in 1999.
He was called up to the Argentina national football team for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Nevertheless, he did not shine in the tournament won by Argentina, and was never again called for the selección.
Coaching career
After retiring, he started a career as a coach also in Chile, which has been so far quite successful; in 2006 he won the both the Clausura and Apertura tournaments with Colo-Colo, and led the team to the final of the Copa Sudamericana. He was named South American manager of the year for 2006 due to the success of Colo Colo in the Copa Sudamericana.
During the period 2004-2005 he was trainer of an amateur team at the Chilean private University Universidad de las Américas.
Borghi has an extreme fear of planes, which causes him trouble every time the his team must play abroad. He has an addiction to cigarettes, he's commonly seen smoking in the matches.
Borghi was signed to become the 19th coach of Independiente in the last 10 years when he takes over in June 2008.[2] Borghi was unable to accomplish a winning campaign and resigned from the position on October 5, 2008 following a 1-0 loss to Huracan. While in Independiente, Borghi managed the team during 17 matches, winning 4, drawing 9, and lossing 4.[3]
Honours
Player
Coach
- National champion with Colo-Colo as head coach, Apertura 2006, Clausura 2006, Apertura 2007 and Clausura 2007.
- Award for Best Coach of the year 2006 with Colo-Colo
References
External links
- Playing career at National Football Teams
- Template:Es icon Futbol Factory profile (Archived)
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- Living people
- 1964 births
- People from Morón
- Argentine footballers
- Argentine football managers
- Argentines of Italian descent
- Argentinos Juniors footballers
- A.C. Milan players
- River Plate footballers
- Clube de Regatas do Flamengo players
- Independiente footballers
- Unión de Santa Fe footballers
- Platense footballers
- Huracán footballers
- Audax Italiano players
- 1986 FIFA World Cup players
- FIFA World Cup-winning players
- Argentina international footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Brazil
- Como Calcio 1907 players
- Independiente managers