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Arthur Boka

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Arthur Boka
Boka playing for Ivory Coast against Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Etienne Arthur Boka[1]
Date of birth (1983-04-02) 2 April 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Málaga
Number 19
Youth career
1996–2002 ASEC Mimosas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Beveren 59 (4)
2004–2006 Strasbourg 66 (2)
2006–2014 VfB Stuttgart 154 (5)
2014– Málaga 29 (0)
International career‡
2004– Côte d'Ivoire 81 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 July 2014

Etienne Arthur Boka (born 2 April 1983 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Málaga CF and the Côte d'Ivoire national team as a left back.

He was a part of the Côte d'Ivoire squads at two FIFA World Cups and five Africa Cups of Nations between 2006 and 2013. Boka is known for his lightning pace even though he is a man of a very small build.

Career

Club career

Like many successful players from Côte d'Ivoire, he started his career at homeland club ASEC Abidjan, after coming through their much famed youth system, that has also produced players such as Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Eboué, and Aruna Dindane. He joined the club after walking in from the streets of Côte d'Ivoire capital Abidjan and asking for a trial. Following his graduation from the academy he moved on to Belgian club K.S.K. Beveren in 2002, where impressive performances earned him a transfer to the then Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg in France for the 2004–05 season. He impressed further at Strasbourg, but following their relegation at the end of the 2005–06 season he left to join German top-flight club VfB Stuttgart.[2] His impressive attack minded play from his left-back position have earned him the nickname of "The African Roberto Carlos". In the 2006–07 season Boka won the Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart.

On 14 January 2009 he extended his contract at VfB Stuttgart until the summer of 2012.[3]

On 30 May 2012, Boka signed a new one-year contract with an option for a further year at VfB Stuttgart.[4] Boka used to be playing as left back, but in the middle of 2012–13 Bundesliga season he began playing as defensive midfielder.

On 1 May 2014, Boka agreed a transfer to Spanish La Liga side Málaga CF, signing a two-year deal with the Andalusians.[5] He made his debut in the competition on 29 August, starting in a 0–3 away loss against Valencia CF.[6]

International career

He has 72 caps for the national team, scored one goal, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup, where he played all three group games for the Elephants, where he performed impressively, gaining one assist. He was also called up to the 2010 World Cup, where he played the final group match against North Korea gaining two assists.

He represented Côte d'Ivoire in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and was also part of the Ivorian squad at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. Boka was also called up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. With Côte d'Ivoire, Boka reached the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2012, but they were beaten on penalties on both occasions.

Career statistics

As of 29 August 2014
Club Division Season League Cups Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Beveren Jupiler Pro League 2002–03 30 3 1 0 0 0 31 3
2003–04 29 1 5 0 0 0 34 1
Beveren Total 59 4 6 0 0 0 65 4
Strasbourg Ligue 1 2004–05 34 0 6 0 0 0 40 0
2005–06 27 0 3 0 8 1 38 1
Ligue 2 2006–07 5 2 0 0 0 0 5 2
Strasbourg Total 66 2 9 0 8 1 83 3
Stuttgart Bundesliga 2006–07 19 1 3 0 0 0 22 1
2007–08 17 0 3 0 3 0 23 0
2008–09 18 0 2 0 9 0 29 0
2009–10 14 0 2 0 6 0 22 0
2010–11 23 2 2 0 5 0 30 2
2011–12 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
2012–13 25 1 5 1 8 1 38 3
2013–14 25 1 0 0 4 0 29 1
Stuttgart Total 154 5 18 1 35 1 207 7
Málaga La Liga 2014–15 23 0 3 0 0 0 26 0
2015–16 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Málaga Total 24 0 3 0 0 0 27 0
Career Total 303 11 36 1 43 2 382 14

Honours

With K.S.K. Beveren
With RC Strasbourg
  • League Cup winner: 2005
With VfB Stuttgart
With Côte d'Ivoire

References

  1. ^ "List of Players" (PDF). Confederation of African Football (CAF). Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  2. ^ Picard, Laurent. "Stuttgart capture Boka". skysports.com. Retrieved 31 August 2006.
  3. ^ "Boka staying until 2012". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Arthur Boka extends contract with VfB". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Arthur Boka changes from Stuttgart to Malaga". Sportal.de. Sportal. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Valencia manager Nuno Santo gets first home win vs. Malaga". ESPN FC. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
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