What Miguel Ángel Russo died of: the cruel diagnosis by which he did not let himself be defeated

The club’s message was brief but full of affection: “We accompany Miguel and his family at this moment”said the text from the Ribera institution. On the Ezeiza property there is a climate of sadness and respectwhere players and coaching staff decided to suspend the activities planned for the day.

Russo was a beloved figure inside and outside the club. Champion with Boca in three stages—the Libertadores 2007, the Super League 2019-2020 and the League Cup 2020—, won the affection of fans for his low profile and his close bond with the players. Even during your most delicate periods of health, He never lost his commitment to his work or the calm that characterized him..

The football world turned to the networks to send messages of support to his family. From Estudiantes de La Plata, the club where he trained as a player and made his debut as a coach, they honored him with sadness. There were also farewell words from Juan Sebastián Verón, Claudio Tapia and Boca leaders such as Leandro Paredes and Marcos Rojo.

Prostate cancer: Russo’s diagnosis in 2017

In 2017, while managing Boca, Miguel Ángel Russo received the diagnosis of prostate cancera disease that is usually detected late due to the lack of symptoms in its early stages. After undergoing successful treatment at that time, he managed to return to leading and maintaining an active life, although regular check-ups never ceased to be part of his routine.

During those years, the DT kept his illness in reserve, but those who knew him knew that the ailments of the cancer they afflicted him. In 2021, a urinary infection forced him to be admitted to the Fleming Institute, and although he recovered, the condition never completely disappeared.. “He who knows about his health is himself”he had said in a conference after hospitalization in September of this year, upset by speculation about his condition.

Despite the setbacks, Russo always came back. He did it with Boca, with Rosario Central, with Estudiantes and in every club where he worked.

The first warning sign: hospitalization in September

The deterioration in the health of Russo became more evident in September 2025. After several days without attending training, The DT was hospitalized again due to complications derived from the treatment. The club avoided providing details, but from the DT’s entourage they confirmed that the situation was delicate.

His last public appearance was September 21during Boca’s draw against Central Córdoba in La Bombonera. That day, Russo himself had come down to the playing field, visibly thinner, but in good spirits. Since then, his assistant Claudio Ubeda He took charge of the team.

Monday night’s statement was the first official recognition of the seriousness of the condition: “He undergoes a home stay with a reserved prognosis”. Behind that phrase hid the concern of an entire club. In the locker room, the players decided to dedicate Sunday’s victory against Newell’s. “We want him to know that we are with him,” Paredes said, his voice breaking.

Russo was much more than a successful coach: He was a beloved, serene guy who faced adversity without making a sound.. His legacy transcends titles. There remains the lesson of someone who, even in his last game, chose to look forward.