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
|
| Nickname | Bichi |
| Number | 19 |
| Team History | |
Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers
|
1998 - 1999 |
|
Audax Club Sportivo Italiano
|
1995 - 1998 |
|
Club Deportivo O'Higgins
|
1995 |
|
Correcaminos
|
1994 |
|
Club Atletico Platense
|
1992 - 1993 |
|
Colo-Colo
|
1992 |
|
Unión de Santa Fe
|
1990 - 1991 |
|
Club Atletico Huracan
|
1991 |
|
Independiente
|
1990 |
|
Club Atletico River Plate
|
1988 - 1989 |
Flamengo
|
1989 |
AC Milan
|
1987 - 1988 |
|
Neuchatel Xamax
|
1988 |
Como
|
1987 (loan) |
|
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.
