Arthur Boka

Arthur Boka
Personal information
Boka playing for Ivory Coast against Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Full name	Etienne Arthur Boka^[1]
Date of birth	(1983-04-02) 2 April 1983
Place of birth	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 ¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Left back
Club information
Current team	FC Sion^[2]
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)
2014–2016	Málaga	29	(0)
2016–	FC Sion	0	(0)
National team^‡
2004–	Côte d'Ivoire	82	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 November 2015. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2015

Etienne Arthur Boka (born 2 April 1983 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays for Swiss club FC Sion 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

On 30 May 2012, Boka signed a new one-year contract with an option for a further year at VfB Stuttgart.^[5] 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.^[6] He made his debut in the competition on 29 August, starting in a 0–3 away loss against Valencia CF.^[7]

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
Club	Division	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Beveren	Jupiler Pro League	2002–03	30	3	1	0	0	0	31	3
	Jupiler Pro League	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
	Ligue 1	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
	La Liga	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

Belgian Cup runner-up: 2003–04

With RC Strasbourg

League Cup winner: 2005

With VfB Stuttgart

Bundesliga winner: 2006–07
DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2006–07, 2012–13

With Côte d'Ivoire

Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2006, 2010

References

↑ "List of Players" (PDF). Confederation of African Football (CAF). Retrieved 24 January 2013.
↑ "Oficial: Arthur Boka recala en Suiza". fichajes.com (in Spanish). 12 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
↑ Picard, Laurent. "Stuttgart capture Boka". skysports.com. Retrieved 31 August 2006.
↑ "Boka staying until 2012". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
↑ "Arthur Boka extends contract with VfB". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
↑ "Arthur Boka changes from Stuttgart to Malaga". Sportal.de. Sportal. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
↑ "Valencia manager Nuno Santo gets first home win vs. Malaga". ESPN FC. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.

FC Sion – current squad

1 Mitryushkin 3 Ziegler 5 Salatić 6 Paulo Ricardo 8 Mveng 9 Mboyo 10 Carlitos 12 Karlen 13 Akolo 14 Konaté 15 Boka 17 Pa Modou 18 Fickentscher 19 Sierro 21 Assifuah 22 Follonier 23 Ozcan 24 Ciss 28 Ferati 31 Zverotić 33 Gekas 34 Ndoye 45 Čmelík 50 Lüchinger 63 Mujangi Bia 66 Adão 77 Yartey 89 Itaperuna 98 Castanheira Manager: Zeidler

Ivory Coast squads

Ivory Coast squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up

1 Tizié 2 Akalé 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Kouassi 7 Faé 8 Kalou 9 A. Koné 10 Yapi 11 Drogba 12 Méïté 13 Zoro 14 B. Koné 15 Dindane 16 Gnanhouan 17 Domoraud 18 Tiéné 19 Y. Touré 20 Demel 21 Eboué 22 Romaric 23 Barry Coach: Michel

Ivory Coast squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup

1 Tizié 2 Akalé 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Kouassi 7 Faé 8 Kalou 9 A. Koné 10 Yapi Yapo 11 Drogba (c) 12 Méïté 13 Zoro 14 B. Koné 15 Dindane 16 Gnanhouan 17 Domoraud 18 Keïta 19 Y. Touré 20 Demel 21 Eboué 22 Romaric 23 Barry Coach: Michel

Ivory Coast squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Fourth Place

1 Barry 2 Djakpa 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Gohouri 7 Faé 8 Kalou 9 A. Koné 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba 12 Méïté 13 Romaric 14 B. Koné 15 Dindane 16 Loboué 17 Tiéné 18 Keïta 19 Y. Touré 20 Sanogo 21 Eboué 22 Zoro 23 T. Koné Coach: Gili

Ivory Coast squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations

1 Barry 2 Angoua 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Y. Touré 7 Faé 8 Kalou 9 Tioté 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba 12 Méïté 13 Gosso 14 B. Koné 15 Dindane 16 Zogbo 17 Tiéné 18 Keïta 19 E. Koné 20 Demel 21 Eboué 22 Bamba 23 Angban Coach: Halilhodžić

Ivory Coast squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup

1 Barry 2 Angoua 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Gohouri 7 Doumbia 8 Kalou 9 Tioté 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba (c) 12 Gosso 13 Romaric 14 Koné 15 Dindane 16 Zogbo 17 Tiéné 18 Keïta 19 Y. Touré 20 Demel 21 Eboué 22 Bamba 23 Yeboah Coach: Eriksson

Ivory Coast squad – 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up

1 Barry 2 Angoua 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Gosso 7 Doumbia 8 Kalou 9 Tioté 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba 12 Bony 13 Ya Konan 14 Coulibaly 15 Gradel 16 Yeboah 17 Tiéné 18 Keïta 19 Y. Touré 20 Lolo 21 Eboué 22 Bamba 23 Gnanhouan Coach: Zahoui

Ivory Coast squad – 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

1 Barry 2 Koné 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Romaric 7 Razak 8 Kalou 9 Tioté 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba 12 Bony 13 Ya Konan 14 I. Traoré 15 Gradel 16 Yeboah 17 Tiéné 18 L. Traoré 19 Y. Touré 20 Lolo 21 Eboué 22 Bamba 23 Sangaré Coach: Lamouchi

Ivory Coast squad – 2014 FIFA World Cup

1 Barry 2 Viera 3 Boka 4 K. Touré 5 Zokora 6 Bolly 7 Akpa-Akpro 8 Kalou 9 Tioté 10 Gervinho 11 Drogba (c) 12 Bony 13 Ya Konan 14 Diomandé 15 Gradel 16 Gbohouo 17 Aurier 18 Djakpa 19 Y. Touré 20 Die 21 Sio 22 Bamba 23 Mandé Coach: Lamouchi

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