Claudio Borghi, nicknamed Bichi, was a former Argentine football player and is now a manager who has served at various teams in the country and abroad. At one point, touted to equal the great Diego Armando Maradona, Borghi never managed to create the same impact in Europe although in his native land, he was considered to be one of the greatest.

Claudio started his playing career at Argentinos Juniors, where he was part of the team that won the first ever Primera Division title for the club. Incredible performances in the league as well as in the Copa Libertadores, which Argentinos won, led to the Intercontinental cup tie against Italian giants, Juventus. Claudio had a magnificient game despite ending up on the losing side, and this caught the attention of another giant, AC Milan. In 1987, Claudio Borghi signed for the club and became the third permissible foreign player along with Marco Van Basten & Ruud Gullit. However, Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi decided to bring in another Dutchman in Frank Rijkaard and that meant that Claudio had to go on loan to Como. Seven games was all that he got at Como and returned to Milan the next season. However, unable to hold his place in an already impressive team that was on the verge of taking Europe by storm, Claudio decided to move to Switzerland, where Neuchatel Xamax became his home. Just one season later, Claudio was back in Argentina and River Plate became the beginning of his second coming.

Position Midfielder
Height / weight 1.84 m / 81 kg
Born 10 Mar 1981
Nationality Argentina Argentina
Nickname Bichi
Number 19
Team History
Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers 1998 - 1999
Audax Club Sportivo Italiano Audax Club Sportivo Italiano 1995 - 1998
Club Deportivo O'Higgins Club Deportivo O'Higgins 1995
Correcaminos UAT Correcaminos 1994
Club Atletico Platense Club Atletico Platense 1992 - 1993
Colo-Colo Colo-Colo 1992
Unión de Santa Fe Unión de Santa Fe 1990 - 1991
Club Atletico Huracan Club Atletico Huracan 1991
Club Atletico Independiente Independiente 1990
Club Atletico River Plate Club Atletico River Plate 1988 - 1989
382 flamengo Flamengo 1989
37 ac milan AC Milan 1987 - 1988
Neuchatel Xamax Neuchatel Xamax 1988
2024 como 1907 Como 1987 (loan)
Argentinos Juniors Argentinos Juniors 1981 - 1987

At River Plate, Claudio spent a season where he scored one goal in his 20-odd games at the club. Thus began a serious case of club-hopping, for the Argentine as he moved to Flamengo, in Brazil, for 6 games. Flamengo was followed by Independiente where his 12 games saw one goal. 7 games at Union de Santa Fe were followed by 22 at Club Huracan, a year at Chilean giants Colo Colo, Claudio moved around again with spells at Platense, Correcaminos UAT, O’Higgins, Audax and Santiago Warriors; before calling it a day.

At the international level, a promising career faded away as he only played 9 games for his country, scoring one goal. His coaching assignments began in Chile, with Audax being the first club. After one season at the club, Claudio was called into Colo Colo, where he spent three years, winning the league title as well as reaching the finals of the Copa Sudamericana. He was awarded the title for South American Manager of the Year. In 2008, Claudio took over the reigns at Indpendiente, coming back home to Argentina. The 19th coach for the team in 10 years, Claudio was brought in with the hope of bringing some stability and structure to a gigantic team and restores it to its former glory.

Addicted to smoking and afraid to travel by air, Claudio faces major problems when travelling with the team to International matches.

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