BY: LUCAS LUGO

The last decade of Argentine Futbol was characterized by the supremacy of the so called “grandes”, particularly River Plate and Boca Juniors. The economic stability of these clubs allowed them to invest money to sign star players and build new facilities, as well as to destine capital and resources for the development of players in the clubs’ youth divisions. Over the last few years we have seen many stars develop from these clubs, like Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain, Juan Pablo Carrizo, Fernando Gago, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar and Ever Banega to name a few.

Things have changed over the last few years, and the breach between the large and smaller clubs has drained; the championships have become more and more even, to the point that they have been defined in the last instance, with unexpected protagonists. In 2008 River Plate had one of the worst years in the history of Professional Futbol. In the first half of the year they won the “clausura”, but just six months later River Plate finished in the last position, winning only two games and going on a 12 game losing streak. These results were enough to cause the resignation of the head coach, and the transfer of the team’s captain Eduardo Tuzzio (Today in the starting XI of Independiente). That same year, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and Tigre took part in a three-way tie breaker to determine the champion; who ended up being Boca Juniors.

Without going any further, last season Banfield became champion of the Argentine league for the first time with 41 points, followed by Newell’s with 39 and Colon with 43, Boca Juniors was left in the 11th position with 27 points and River Plate 14th with 21. Both Banfield and Newell’s are not considered part of the big clubs, but through the year demonstrated a good overall level of play, and included many young players in their lineups.

The “grandes” have neglected one very important thing, which prioritizing the youth divisions instead of buying great figures, and this is just result from the poor leadership that comes from club’s presidents like Jose Maria Aguilar (River Plate) and Amor Ameal (Boca Juniors). Jose Maria Aguilar was recently preceded by Daniel Passarella and with his election he brought new hopes to the club, putting a great emphasis on the club’s youth divisions.

In conclusion, Fútbol has changed dramatically in the last few years as a result of the decline of work in the youth divisions, something we have even suffered at the National level. Is up to the new generation to turn the tables.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: LUCAS VIATRI (BOCA JUNIORS), DIEGO BUONNANOTTE (RIVER PLATE), KEKO VILLALBA (RIVER PLATE), FUNES MORI (RIVER PLATE), JAMES RODRIGUEZ (BANFIELD), PATRICIO RODRIGUEZ (INDEPENDIENTE), BRUNO ZUCULINI (RACING), SEBASTIAN BLANCO (LANUS).