Full name Juan Ramón Rocha Current team Panathinaikos (scout) | Place of birth Santo Tomé, Argentina Years Team | |
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Date of birth (1954-05-08) May 8, 1954 (age 62) 1960–1970 Avanti Santo Tome Academy Similar Dimitris Saravakos, Velimir Zajec, Krzysztof Warzycha, Juan José Borrelli, Mimis Domazos | ||
Juan Ramón Rocha (born May 8, 1954 in Santo Tomé, Corrientes) is an Argentine former footballer, and coach. He was reassigned to his former club, Panathinaikos, in April 2008 as a scouter.
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Career
He began his professional career at Newell's Old Boys in 1972, he was part of their Metropolitano winning team in 1974. He moved to Boca Juniors in 1979. In 1980 he was transferred to Greek soccer club Panathinaikos where he played until his retirement in 1989.
Nicknamed The Indian, Rocha was a skillful player, with vision and remarkable sportsmanship. He is considered by many one of the greatest players in the team's history. Rocha was first signed for Panathinaikos under the name Boublis with Greek papers; the subsequent discovery of record falsifications and ensuing scandal almost landed Rocha in jail and Panathinaikos in the second division. These allegations were later dismissed and both Panathinaikos and Rocha were acquitted. This was one of the many cases of "hellenization" of foreign players for many Greek soccer clubs.
Managerial career
After retirement he started coaching, first Ilisiakos, then Kalamata FC and Skoda Xanthi. He was also the coach of Panathinaikos's semi final run in the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League. He also managed Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus.
He is now member of the scouting team of Panathinaikos, mostly searching players in Argentina and Southern America. After Jesualdo Ferreira resigned at 14 November 2012, Rocha once more became the manager of Panathinaikos.