Genoa CFC and Boca Juniors: United by History, Bound by Football
Italian top-tier football club Genoa CFC recently unveiled a special fourth kit for the 2024/25 season. Produced by Kappa, the kit celebrates the profound and lasting bond between the Italian city of Genoa and Argentina’s Boca Juniors. Unveiled at the Museum of Italian Emigration (MEI) in Genoa, the kit debuted during a Serie A clash between Juventus, and pays tribute to the Genoese roots of Boca Juniors, the club based in Buenos Aires and founded 120 years ago.
The history of Boca Juniors is, indeed, intertwined with the wave of Italian emigration to Argentina, especially from the region of Liguria and its capital, Genoa, during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The harrowing experience of this historical period is perfectly encapsulated by the poignant traditional Genoese song, “Ma Se Ghe Pensu” (“If I Think About It”), written 100 years ago. The song, with lyrics penned by Mario Cappello, tackles emigration and the longing to return to one’s homeland, and is regarded as the city’s long standing anthem.
Boca Juniors was born in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of La Boca, which was named after Genoa’s picturesque old mariners’ village Boccadasse. La Boca became a significant hub for many Italian immigrants, who brought their culture, traditions, and nascent passions for football there. This connection remains strong to this day and is also represented, for example, by the area’s local cuisine, where specialities like the fugazza, an Argentinian take on the Genoese focaccia, and the fainá, a variation on Genoa’s typical chickpea flatbread, are commonly served.
The Birth of Football in Italy and Argentina: A Sport That Shaped Nations
Football arrived in Italy not long after the country’s Unification in the second part of the 19th century. Its introduction is closely linked to the strong presence of British expatriates during this period, especially in the country’s major trading economic centres of the time. Among them, the city of Genoa, which houses one of its most important ports. There, a group of British nationals and sports enthusiasts, including the legendary figure of John Richardson Spensley, founded the Genoa Cricket and Football Club (Genoa CFC) on September 7, 1893.
Aside from becoming one of the pioneering clubs that helped elevate the popularity of football, which soon became the country’s undisputed national sport, Genoa CFC was, by far, the most dominant force in Italian football’s early years. This reputation was earned through milestone successes, including its victory in the first officially-recognised Italian national football championship in 1897 (which was followed by eight more in subsequent years) and other prestigious national titles, like the first Coppa Italia in 1937.
Similarly, it was English immigrant workers who helped introduce football in Argentina, where the sport quickly grew in popularity, especially in Buenos Aires and other major port cities in the country in the late 19th century. For both Italy and Argentina, as in other countries, football fast became more than just a sport. It became a powerful social and cultural phenomenon that shaped national identities and fostered social cohesion, mirroring societal transformation and particularly resonating with immigrants and working-class communities.
An Argentinian Club Born from Genoese Roots
It was a combination of economic hardships, political instability, and the promise of better opportunities that was the driving force behind Italian emigration to Argentina in the late 19th and early 20th century. By the early 1990s, Buenos Aires had become one of the most important destinations for Italian immigrants, with many settling in the predominantly Genoese neighbourhood of La Boca. And it was in this setting that a group of young men, mostly sons of Italian emigrants, decided to establish a football club. On April 3, 1905, Boca Juniors was officially founded, marking the beginning of one of South America’s most storied sport institutions.
When considering names for the newly-formed club, suggestions like Hijos de Italia (Sons of Italy) and Estrella de Italia (Star of Italy) were put forward, reflecting a broad Italian identity. However, the name Jovenes de la Boca (Youth of La Boca) was eventually settled upon and later translated into English as Boca Juniors. The club initially played in white shirts, but in 1907, Boca adopted its now-iconic blue and gold colors. According to popular legend, the choice was inspired by a Swedish ship that had docked at the Buenos Aires port one fateful day.
Although Boca’s founding members came from various Italian regional backgrounds, the Genoese influence became a defining characteristic of the club. This connection endures to this day, as Boca Juniors fans are still known as “Xeneizes,” a term derived from the Ligurian dialect word for “Genoese,” and that is printed on their kits. Indeed, the identity of Boca Juniors as a club rooted in immigrant working-class heritage remains central to its culture and that is as deeply felt as its fierce rivalry with River Plate.
A Legacy of Football and Cultural Brotherhood
Since its foundation, Boca Juniors quickly grew into one of the most successful football clubs in Argentina and the entire world, securing its first Primeira División title by 1919, solidifying its status among the country’s elite, and gaining international recognition by the mid-1920s. By contrast, Genoa CFC’s rossoblú (red and blue), once a dominant force, underwent a gradual decline, though it remains a storied institution, regularly competes in the Serie A, and is backed by one of the most passionate fan bases in Italian football.
Beyond being two of the most significant clubs in their respective countries, Genoa CFC and Boca Juniors share a deep-rooted historical connection that transcends football and is worth celebrating. Their cultural ties and mutual respect have strengthened with time, and a number of players have represented both clubs, including Mauro Boselli, Nicolás Burdisso, and Rodrigo Palacio. This bond is also upheld by their supporters, with Boca flags often seen waving in Genoa’s stands (and vice versa).
By integrating both key traits of both teams’ identities within the traditional design and colours of Boca Juniors’ blue and gold colours, Genoa CFC’s fourth kit for the season carries an importance that goes beyond the sport itself. In these times of growing hostilities, it reminds us of the historical significance of emigration and cultural exchange. It tells the tale of two distant yet intimately connected nations and people; an unbreakable bond forged across the Atlantic and leaving behind an imprint that continues to resonate to this day.
