Rodolfo Arruabarrena

Rodolfo Martín Arruabarrena, known as "Vasco", had a remarkable career both on the pitch and in the technical dugout, leaving an indelible mark primarily at Boca Juniors and Spain's Villarreal.

During his playing career, he played as a solid left-back and was a fundamental part of Boca Juniors' golden era under manager Carlos Bianchi. His most memorable moment in the Xeneize jersey occurred in the 2000 Copa Libertadores final, when he scored both goals in a 2-2 first-leg draw against Palmeiras at La Bombonera, setting the stage for the club's continental title.

Afterwards, he made the jump to European football to join Spain's Villarreal, a club where he played for seven years and became a true reference point. He made over 200 appearances, ranking as the eighth player with the most official matches in the club's history, and was part of the historic squad that reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2006.

After hanging up his boots, he began his coaching career at Tigre, taking over a team heavily threatened by relegation. Not only did he save them from the drop, but he also turned them into a competitive side that fought for the top spots in local tournaments with an organized tactical approach.

Following a brief spell at Uruguay's Club Nacional de Football, Arruabarrena made his eagerly awaited return to Boca Juniors, this time as head coach replacing Carlos Bianchi. During his tenure at the helm of the Xeneize first team, he successfully claimed both the 2015 Argentine Primera División championship and the 2015 Copa Argentina.

Finally, he consolidated his career internationally by managing in Middle Eastern football. In the United Arab Emirates, he managed teams such as Al Wasl, while in Qatar he coached Al-Rayyan, winning the Qatari Super Cup with the latter and further expanding his managerial experience globally.