River Plate Legend Diaz’s Brief Tenure at Fourth-Tier Oxford

Out of nearly three decades in management, Ramon Diaz’s European tenure lasted just six months, exclusively with Oxford United. Two decades ago, a manager renowned for winning the Copa Libertadores arrived to coach Oxford United, then a mid-table team in England’s fourth tier. Half a year later, Ramon Diaz and his six-member support staff were denied entry to the stadium. It appears improbable that another individual will emulate the former River Plate manager, who also played for Argentina, Inter Milan, and Monaco, by achieving both South America’s premier club tournament victory and the League Two manager of the month award. BBC Sport recounts this narrative, drawing on contributions from former players Steve Basham, Chris Tardif, and Lucas Cominelli, BBC Oxford editor Jerome Sale, and Jean Marc Goiran, who facilitated the agreement and served as assistant manager, translator, and de facto chief executive. The group of seven included (from left to right in the picture) fitness coach Pablo Fernandez, translator Guilliano Iacoppi, manager Ramon Diaz, coach Horatio Rodriguez, and assistant Jean Marc Goiran. In December 2004, Oxford United, champions of the 1986 League Cup, found themselves in a period of decline, having fallen from the second tier to the fourth since 1999, and were descending in League Two when owner Firoz Kassam dismissed Graham Rix. Kassam, the club’s owner, who was not well-regarded, invited unemployed manager Chris Turner to observe their 1-0 loss to Swansea, leading most, including the Oxford Mail, external and several players, to believe he would be the new manager. However, the situation unfolded differently. Former U’s striker Basham stated, “It was quite bizarre,” adding, “Five or six guys came in, in a line. They all stood in front of us and none of them spoke a word of English, apart from one translator.” Goiran recalled that “all the players had wide-open eyes wondering ‘who are these guys?'”. The individuals in question were Diaz, head coach Horacio Rodriguez, coach Raul Marcovich, Goiran, fitness trainer Pablo Fernandez, doctor Rafael Giulietti, and translator Giuilliano Iacoppi. The circumstances leading to this appointment originated in Monaco, where both Kassam and Goiran resided, and where Diaz also maintained a residence from his time playing for the club. Kassam contacted Goiran, a football agent and consultant, through a mutual acquaintance, seeking assistance in finding a manager; Goiran, a Monegasque, proposed Diaz, who had departed River Plate in 2002. Contemporary reports indicated that Diaz was not receiving a salary as Oxford manager, with Kassam stating he had “promised him shares in the club in return for success”. However, Goiran, reflecting two decades later, asserts that Kassam’s company Firoka, rather than the club itself, compensated Diaz and Goiran with consulting fees in Monaco. A frequently posed question concerns why a manager with five Argentine titles and a Copa Libertadores victory would join League Two Oxford. Goiran explains it was part of a five-year plan to reach the Premier League, but following a contentious departure, Diaz, currently the Corinthians manager in Brazil, never again managed in England or Europe. Goalkeeper Tardif recounted, “When they first came in, there were grand talks about redeveloping the stadium, putting a new stand behind the goal and taking us into the Premier League.” In 2004, foreign participation in England’s lower leagues was less common, making the cultural adjustment more significant at that time compared to the present. While some players found it challenging to adjust, many embraced the new training methodologies. Basham, who played for the club from 2002 to 2007, commented, “They brought something very new and very fresh to Oxford United at that time.” He added, “It was way before its time. They came in with ideas and the philosophy that probably hit the English game two, three, four years later, certainly in the lower leagues.” Rodriguez adopted a hands-on approach, while Diaz provided oversight. Some within the club perceived Rodriguez as the conventional team manager, with Diaz functioning almost as a director of football. Diaz and his coaching staff possessed limited English proficiency, necessitating communication through their translator. However, Goiran, who also participated on the training pitch, asserts that Diaz was the manager and held ultimate authority. Basham stated: “He [Diaz] would come in amongst the team as we were laid out in our shape and he would take us through with movements. Very different, but it worked. “He’d physically move you, he would then have you alongside him and he’d make the runs and you would make those runs with him.” Goiran remarked: “It was a very nice atmosphere. It was a great adventure. We changed the way they trained, the mentality. We taught them they are football players.” Their popularity extended beyond the field of play. Jerome Sale of BBC Oxford observed: “Ramon and his staff were imposing and impressive, but also gentle and friendly. “He once asked me for $100,000 for interviews. I said the BBC wouldn’t stretch that far. He said just to bring him a decent coffee next time then.” Ramon Diaz and his accompanying staff enjoyed popularity among Oxford supporters. The initial period was promising. Tasked with preventing the club’s relegation, they achieved four victories and two draws in January, sparking hopes of a play-off spot, and Diaz received the League Two manager of the month award. Notably, more than 17 years passed before another Oxford manager, Liam Manning in September 2023, secured a similar EFL award. BBC commentator Sale noted, “There was an immediate buzz around the ground,” adding, “