Alfio Basile
A charismatic Argentine football manager whose attacking philosophy and fatherly demeanor brought a golden era to Boca Juniors.
Born 1941 (age 85)·Argentine footballer and manager·Birthday: November 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
Alfio 'Coco' Basile's story in football is one of enduring passion and a distinctive, rumpled style. A solid defender for Racing Club and Huracán in the 1960s, his true calling emerged from the sidelines. His managerial persona—a thoughtful, cigar-smoking figure—belied a fierce competitive spirit and a belief in joyful, offensive play. His first stint coaching the Argentine national team in the early 1990s introduced a fluid, attractive style, though World Cup glory eluded him. His legacy was cemented in a spectacular two-year spell at Boca Juniors in the early 2000s. Taking over a giant in crisis, Basile restored confidence and identity, winning five trophies with a team that played with swagger. He was less a tactical micromanager and more a motivator who trusted his stars, creating an environment where players like Riquelme thrived.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Alfio was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alfio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
Alfio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 80
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 85 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won five major trophies in two years as manager of Boca Juniors, including back-to-back Argentine Primera División titles.
- Coached the Argentina national team in two separate stints, leading them to Copa América victory in 1991 and 1993.
- Had a successful first managerial period at Racing Club, winning the 1988 Primera División title and breaking a long drought for the club.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Coco' is a common Argentine nickname, not directly related to coconuts.
He is known for his signature look, often seen in training sessions wearing a bucket hat and smoking a cigar.
He briefly came out of retirement in 2012 to manage Racing Club again, at over 70 years old.
As a player, he was part of the Racing Club team that won the 1966 Primera División, though he was not a regular starter.
“Football is played with the head. Your feet are just the tools.”
