The former member of several coaching staffs of Xeneize, known for his work with goalkeepers and penalties, passed away at the age of 55 after battling ALS.
His contribution was key in several historic penalty shootouts for Boca, including those that took the team to the 2023 Copa Libertadores final. Additionally, he developed numerous goalkeepers with past and present ties to the club, such as Sergio Romero, Agustín Rossi, Agustín Orión, Esteban Andrada, Javier García, and Leandro Brey.
Argentine football is going through deep sorrow after the death of Fernando Gayoso, historic goalkeeper coach of Boca, who passed away this Tuesday at the age of 55 after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The news was confirmed by his family and quickly generated a strong shock in the football world, especially in Xeneize, the club where he left an indelible mark both for his professional work and for the affection he built within.
His son Franco was the one who publicly announced the death with an emotional message on social media. "A legend has left us, someone who taught me everything in this life, who fought with all his soul, against everything, and, above all, against this disease. You suffered so much and still stood your ground. I always said you were, are, and will be my idol, my role model. Our last name will remain in history for your achievements,” he wrote.
Gayoso had made his ALS diagnosis public in 2024. The neurodegenerative disease progressively deteriorated his health, and in recent days he had been hospitalized due to a pneumonia condition. Even so, he never completely distanced himself from football.
"Nowadays, it doesn't allow me to be on the field because I really don't feel fit to be there. I was lucky that the club gave me the opportunity to work in another area, to stay close to the goalkeepers," he had said months ago when Boca decided to keep him within the structure as the goalkeeper coordinator for the youth divisions.
During his various stints at Xeneize, Gayoso worked alongside coaches such as Miguel Ángel Russo, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Sebastián Battaglia, Hugo Ibarra, and Jorge Almirón. His figure gained enormous recognition especially for his work in penalty shootouts, a facet in which he became a true specialist.
In May 2024, months after leaving the club following Diego Martínez's appointment as coach, he published a book in which he shared his knowledge and methods on penalty analysis, a subject he studied for years and which ultimately transformed him into a reference within Argentine football.
Boca also officially bid farewell to Gayoso with an emotional statement: "The Club Atlético Boca Juniors deeply regrets the passing of Fernando Gayoso. Fernando will be remembered for his commitment, professionalism, and the warmth with which he accompanied every stage in our institution. We stand with his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. Farewell, Fer!".
Before dedicating himself to training goalkeepers, Gayoso also had a career as a footballer. Coming from Vélez, he defended the colors of All Boys, Deportivo Armenio, Almirante Brown, Lamadrid, and Tristán Suárez in the Argentine lower divisions. As a coach, in addition to his time at Xeneize, he also worked at el Fortín, Tigre, Nacional de Uruguay, and Racing.
Beyond titles and results, those who shared day-to-day life with him agree on highlighting his human quality, his passion for work, and his enormous ability to support and enhance footballers. His legacy will forever remain linked to Boca and Argentine football.
