Ricardo Bochini

The master of 'la pausa' who spent his entire career at Independiente and inspired Diego Maradona.

Ricardo Enrique Bochini (born 25 January 1954) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Nicknamed El Bocha, he spent his nearly 20-year professional career at club Independiente, becoming one of the most emblematic players and the greatest idol in the history of the club. Bochini was a childhood idol of Argentine iconic footballer Diego Maradona. In addition to winning the 1986 FIFA World Cup with the Argentina national team, Bochini won a total of 13 titles with Independiente – four Primera División championships and nine international competitions.

Quick Facts

Full name: Ricardo Enrique Bochini
Born: 25 January 1954
Birthplace: Zárate, Argentina
Height: 1.68 m / 5 ft 6 in
Position: Attacking midfielder

Lore & Background

Bochini's path to greatness started in his hometown, where he played for local club Belgrano. At 15, he tried out for San Lorenzo and Boca Juniors before being accepted into Independiente's youth system in 1971. He made his professional debut on 25 June 1972, coming on in the 74th minute of a 1–0 loss to River Plate. 'I could not believe that, sincerely.

I had always dreamed about my debut in Primera, but I was still very young,' he recalled. By 1973, he was an important member of the team alongside Daniel Bertoni, scoring the only goal in the 1973 Intercontinental Cup against Juventus. He went on to win three consecutive Copa Libertadores titles (1973, 1974, 1975), a feat no other club has matched. In 1975, he was conscripted into military service but still managed to play.

After four years without trophies, Independiente signed Jorge Burruchaga and José Percudani, forming a celebrated attack with Bochini that won the 1983 Metropolitano, the 1984 Copa Libertadores, and the 1984 Intercontinental Cup against Liverpool. He played his last match on 5 May 1991 against Estudiantes, finishing with 634 league appearances and 97 goals.

Reader's Guide

To understand Ricardo Bochini is to understand the art of the playmaker in Argentine football. He was not a prolific goalscorer but was considered one of the best playmakers of the 1980s, often making assists for teammates due to his vision and accurate passing. His signature move was 'la pausa' — a deliberate delay before delivering a pass, waiting for his target to reach the ideal position. This technique, combined with his ability to bypass defenders with a single pass, made him a master of creating one-on-one chances for forwards.

His career was defined by loyalty to Independiente, where he won four Primera División titles (Nacional 1977, Nacional 1978, Metropolitano 1983, 1988–89) and nine international competitions, including four Copa Libertadores (1973, 1974, 1975, 1984) and two Intercontinental Cups (1973, 1984). He also won the 1986 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, though he played only a few minutes. Individually, he was named Footballer of the Year of Argentina in 1983 and received the South American Player of the Year Bronze award in 1984. He was also included in the South American Team of the Year in 1989 and received the One Club Award in 2022.