And one day, after 13 years in limbo, Racing Club, won the League title in Argentina.
It was not the team that played the nicest football, but...
It was not the team that played the nicest football, but...
...in the end, it was the more consistent. River Plate, team that finished second, had the “handicap” of playing also in the Copa Sudamericana, which the club made their priority. That worked well for both clubs, as River took their eye off the local tournament that they led for long parts of the season, to concentrate on the continental front, lifting the cup on that competition. While this distraction played right into the hands of Racing Club, who took the points at the right time, and won the final sprint to not only win the Torneo Transicion, but to surge ahead of their bitter rivals Independiente in the statistics of local titles won by each club (Racing 17 vs Independiente´s 16).
The important lesson to be learned here is that, they did not win it by coincidence either.
The whole process started with the project of the club to give playing time to lots of the youngsters that were doing a great job in the youth ranks, but also added experienced players with sentiment and belonging feelings for Racing, like Milito.
Coupled with some other experienced players, that were already on the squad, like Saja, Pilloud, Hauche, Grimi, Aued, meant the club had a blend of youth, hunger, experience and past success, passion for the club, and positive leaders to help the dressing room develop into a winning team.
To top it all up a low profile manager, but very sure of himself, and of his convictions was appointed.
As a player, Cocca, played for River Plate, Banfield, Argentinos Juniors and had spells in Mexico and Spain too.
As a Manager, his teams, have always characterised for playing good football, with short passes and long stints of possession.
He was Manager at CAI, a small club, that, under his guidance established themselves on the Nacional B (second tier of Argentinian football), then moved to the top flight where he impressed with Godoy Cruz. Then he managed Gimnasia de La Plata, Santos Laguna (Mexico), Huracan and before Racing, he managed Defensa y Justicia to an incredible promotion to the Primera Division.
To make it more dramatic, he took charge in June 2014, on the back of Racing´s worst campaign ever (in points tally).
Hard work, camaraderie, team building and club idols, were his keys to bring the fans back to the stadium and supporting the club, like at the peak of their golden times.
The best team, in this case, may not have won the league, but the one that worked the most, that wanted it the most and planned every detailed needed to succeed did lift the cup and took all the glory.
The phrase that said it all for me was that of Diego Milito. A player with a great career, played world cups, and won titles with Inter Milan, and he said “ winning a title with racing Club is like touching the sky with my own hands”.
He was also in the last Racing squad to win a title in 2001..
The important lesson to be learned here is that, they did not win it by coincidence either.
The whole process started with the project of the club to give playing time to lots of the youngsters that were doing a great job in the youth ranks, but also added experienced players with sentiment and belonging feelings for Racing, like Milito.
Coupled with some other experienced players, that were already on the squad, like Saja, Pilloud, Hauche, Grimi, Aued, meant the club had a blend of youth, hunger, experience and past success, passion for the club, and positive leaders to help the dressing room develop into a winning team.
To top it all up a low profile manager, but very sure of himself, and of his convictions was appointed.
As a player, Cocca, played for River Plate, Banfield, Argentinos Juniors and had spells in Mexico and Spain too.
As a Manager, his teams, have always characterised for playing good football, with short passes and long stints of possession.
He was Manager at CAI, a small club, that, under his guidance established themselves on the Nacional B (second tier of Argentinian football), then moved to the top flight where he impressed with Godoy Cruz. Then he managed Gimnasia de La Plata, Santos Laguna (Mexico), Huracan and before Racing, he managed Defensa y Justicia to an incredible promotion to the Primera Division.
To make it more dramatic, he took charge in June 2014, on the back of Racing´s worst campaign ever (in points tally).
Hard work, camaraderie, team building and club idols, were his keys to bring the fans back to the stadium and supporting the club, like at the peak of their golden times.
The best team, in this case, may not have won the league, but the one that worked the most, that wanted it the most and planned every detailed needed to succeed did lift the cup and took all the glory.
The phrase that said it all for me was that of Diego Milito. A player with a great career, played world cups, and won titles with Inter Milan, and he said “ winning a title with racing Club is like touching the sky with my own hands”.
He was also in the last Racing squad to win a title in 2001..