Ricardo Bochini - Club Career

Club Career

As a kid, Bochini was wanted by Campana's club Villa Dálmine but started playing football for Belgrano, a local club from his home city. At age of 15, he went to Buenos Aires with his father to try to join San Lorenzo de Almagro and later with Boca Juniors. He was eventually accepted for the youth system of Independiente in 1971. He made his professional debut in the Argentine Primera División in 1972, when Independiente's coach, Pedro Dellacha sent him onto the field in the 74th minute of a match that they lost 1-0 to River Plate.

By that time Independiente had already won the 1972 Copa Libertadores, which allowed them to play the Intercontinental Cup that same year but Bochini was not part of the team that lost the tie to Ajax. He gained more participation the following year and was an important member of the team, alongside with Daniel Bertoni. The team won the 1973 Copa Libertadores and the 1973 Intercontinental Cup. Bochini scored the only goal in the latter against Juventus.

Watching him play drove me crazy with delight.

The club managed to defend the Copa Libertadores title in 1974. São Paulo had won the first match of the final at Pacaembu stadium and Independiente the second one at their stadium (Bochini scored the first goal). The final had to go on a third match at the national stadium of Chile, where Ricardo Pavoni scored the only goal.

Independiente was to play the Intercontinental Cup in 1974 and 1975 against Bayern Munich but they declined both times. Atlético de Madrid, the 1973–74 European Cup's runner-ups, played instead of them in 1974 and won the title. The Intercontinental Cup was not held in 1975.

In 1975 Bochini was conscripted into Military service and managed to also play football, but was not able to perform as well as desired. Nevertheless, he also won the 1975 Copa Libertadores with Independiente. It was Bochini's third title in a row and the club's fourth, being the only club to achieve this so far.

Bochini was also part of the team that won the Copa Interamericana in 1974 and 1975 against Municipal and Atlético Español respectively.

After finishing in the second position of the Metropolitano Championship in 1977, Bochini won his first national championship with Independiente that same year. Bochini scored the last goal in the final against Talleres de Córdoba that gave them the title.

Bochini repeated the title with Independiente in 1978 winning the final against River Plate. After four years without any title, Independiente signed Jorge Burruchaga and José Percudani, who formed a celebrated offense with Bochini that helped the team win the 1983 Metropolitano Championship, the 1984 Copa Libertadores and the 1984 Intercontinental Cup against Liverpool.

At the end of his career Bochini won the 1988–89 Argentine Primera División being this his last title.

On 5 May 1991 Bochini played his last professional match against Estudiantes de La Plata. He played a total of 634 league matches, scoring 97 goals. He is the player with the most appearances in the Argentine Primera División after goalkeeper Hugo Gatti, who played in 775 league matches.