After Fernando Gago's departure as head coach of Boca Juniors, the club is now actively searching for his successor amid a tense atmosphere and several candidates in the mix. The final decision lies with Juan Román Riquelme and the Football Council, who will soon have to appoint the new coach to lead the team through the final stretch of the domestic tournament and into the upcoming Club World Cup.

Gago stepped down following a loss to River Plate in the Superclásico, despite having achieved nine wins in the ten matches prior. That defeat, coupled with Boca’s early elimination from the Copa Libertadores, pushed the club to make a long-anticipated decision.

Multiple names on the table: from Tata Martino to Gustavo Quinteros

According to Infobae, one of the leading candidates is Gustavo Quinteros, who has had successful stints with clubs such as Colo Colo, Emelec, and Universidad Católica. Quinteros recently left Grêmio after a mixed spell in Brazil, but he remains a strong option for Boca’s bench.

Another name making a return to the scene is Gerardo “Tata” Martino. The former Inter Miami coach, who won two titles in the U.S., has a good relationship with Riquelme and was previously approached before Jorge Almirón took over. Currently spending time in Europe, Martino hasn’t ruled out a return to South American football, and Boca might attempt to lure him back.

Cristian “Kily” González, a former teammate of Riquelme with both Boca and the Argentina national team, is also under consideration. González recently left Unión de Santa Fe, and while there’s no formal negotiation yet, he remains a serious candidate.

Other available coaches include Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, and José Pékerman—all of whom are in touch with the Boca leadership, though no concrete moves have been made so far.

Meanwhile, some names are reportedly off-limits due to their ties with Mauricio Macri, a political rival of Riquelme. Martín Palermo, recently sacked by Olimpia despite winning the league title, and Carlos Tevez, who has publicly distanced himself from the current management, are seen as unlikely options.

As Mariano Herrón takes over training sessions on an interim basis, Boca must soon define its future on the bench. Pressure is mounting, and the room for error is slim.