Diego Alberto Milito has crafted a unique legacy in football by winning titles with Racing Club in three different capacities: as a player, technical director, and now president. The 45-year-old’s achievement demonstrates his enduring bond with the Avellaneda-based club and his capability to excel across multiple football roles.
Racing Club defeated Botafogo in the final of the Recopa Sudamericana on aggregate by 4:0, winning both home and away by 2:0. It took Diego Milito only two months as the president of the club to help them achieve this remarkable feat. But at the same time Diego Milito makes history by becoming the first player to win three titles in three different roles with the same club.
Milito as a Player
As a player, Milito first tasted success with Racing when he helped the team win the 2001 Apertura tournament. After a distinguished career in Europe that included scoring both goals in Inter Milan’s 2010 Champions League final victory, Milito returned to Racing in 2014. Despite being 35 at the time, the striker made an immediate impact, contributing to Racing’s 17th Primera División title in December 2014.
This triumph ended a 13-year title drought for the club and established Milito as a Racing legend. During his two spells at Racing, Milito scored 52 goals in 189 appearances, showcasing his goal-scoring ability even in the later stages of his career.
Diego Milito as a Manager
Following his retirement in 2016, Milito moved into a leadership role as Racing’s technical secretary, functioning similar to a director of football in European clubs. In this capacity, he worked alongside manager Eduardo Coudet, whom he helped bring to the club in December 2017. Milito’s football knowledge and strategic approach behind the scenes contributed to Racing’s continued success.
During his tenure as technical director, Racing secured the 2018-19 Primera División title, with veteran striker Lisandro López scoring 17 goals to become the oldest top scorer in the league at 36. The club also won the Trofeo de Campeones de la Superliga Argentina in December 2019 by defeating Tigre 2-0 and later added the Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional in 2022 to their trophy cabinet.
Milito as a President
In early 2025, Milito took the helm as president of Racing Club, assuming the highest administrative position at the club where his journey began. His presidency started brilliantly when Racing lifted the Recopa Sudamericana on February 27, 2025, with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Brazilian side Botafogo.
This success came shortly after Racing had ended a 36-year international trophy drought by winning the Copa Sudamericana in November 2024. Milito’s move from the pitch to the boardroom has been effective, with his comprehensive understanding of football and deep connection to Racing proving valuable in his leadership role. His success across all three positions has established an exceptional legacy at the club, making him a singular figure in Racing’s history and a distinguished example of versatility in football.
