After having a successful time in their first division teams, many decided to take the reins of the institution.
The recent triumph of Diego Milito in Racing It is another example of how football idols today are choosing to take a leading role in the institutions that saw them grow up. It is normal for a player to choose to be a technical director when he retires, but in recent years many have chosen to submit to elections to preside over their clubs.
Among the most emblematic cases are Daniel Alberto Passarella, Juan Sebastián Verón and Juan Román Riquelme. But they were not the only ones who chose this path. It should also be noted that Daniel Passarella had spent time at River as Technical Director before becoming president.
The idols who became president
Although the football field can be very benevolent, there is also the possibility of squandering everything achieved due to a bad decision and erasing great memories. This is what happened to some idols who decided to become presidents of their football clubs.
Presidents Players
Juan Roman Riquelme
Although he won the elections resoundingly, he is not exempt from criticism for the football results, and had already been vice president of the previous administration, headed by Jorge Amor Ameal. In any case, it cannot be said that in this case his management as president has ruined his career as a player, because he is still very loved by Boca fans.
Juan Sebastian Veron
His case is completely different, since he comfortably won the presidential elections, after a difficult first stage in which he raised funds to finish the new stadium and that was undoubtedly felt in the professional team, he was able to adapt and make the club grow. and the team, making it one of the most successful cases of players becoming presidents. However, his good opinion of Sports Joint Stock Companies has generated controversy.
Luis Artime
This is another successful case and is carried out in Belgrano de Córdoba. After becoming president in 2021, he managed to promote the team the following year and in 2024 he was re-elected for 4 more years.
Gonzalo Belloso
The former center back player was elected the same day that Argentina became world champion in Qatar. He won with 78% of the votes. Although he is not an idol, the former striker, who had 3 cycles at center, came to the position with political experience, he was development director at Conmebol between 2018 and 2021.
Daniel Alberto Passarella
Just as there were successful cases, there were also efforts to be forgotten. Passarella became a bad word in River Plate after his time as president. He could not reverse the course of the debacle carried out by José María Aguilar and the team was relegated to the national B in 2011. Only in 2023 did he return to the Monumental Stadium as world champion and was received with indifference.
Carlos Babington
This case is similar to that of Daniel Passarella. The Englishman had been number 10 of the legendary team led by César Luis Menotti in 1973 that became champion. But everything went to waste after his tenure as president between 2006 and 2011. After losing the championship with Vélez in 2009, the crisis deepened and he had to resign 1 year before the end of his term. And Huracán was close to relegation.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
