Arthur Boka

Etienne Arthur Boka (born 2 April 1983) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a left back for the Ivory Coast national team. At club level, he is a free agent.

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
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Left back
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 37 (0)
2016–2017 Sion 3 (0)
National team‡
2004–2015 Ivory Coast 82 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:30, 22 March 2017 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 00:00, 17 November 2015 (UTC)

He was a part of the Ivory Coast 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.

Club career

Like many successful players from Ivory Coast, 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 Ivory Coast 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] He joined Swiss team FC Sion in July 2016 but left in February 2017 after just three Super League appearances.[7]

International career

Boka has 72 caps for the Ivory Coast, 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 Ivory Coast 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 Ivory Coast, 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
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Beveren Jupiler Pro League 2002–03 3031000313
2003–04 2915000341
Total 5946000654
Strasbourg Ligue 1 2004–05 3406000400
2005–06 2703081381
Ligue 2 2006–07 52000052
Total 6629081833
VfB Stuttgart Bundesliga 2006–07 1913000221
2007–08 1703030230
2008–09 1802090290
2009–10 1402060220
2010–11 2322050302
2011–12 1301000140
2012–13 2515181383
2013–14 2510040291
Total 15451813512077
Málaga La Liga 2014–15 2303000260
2015–16 10000010
Total 2403000270
Career total 3031136143238214

International goals
As of 9 March 2017[8]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
118 August 2004Parc des Sports, Avignon, France Senegal2–1WinFriendly match

Honours

Club

Beveren

Strasbourg

VfB Stuttgart

International

Ivory Coast

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. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. 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.
  7. "Suisse : Arthur Boka résilie avec le FC Sion". L'Équipe. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  8. Mamrud, Robert (10 August 2017). "Arthur Etienne Boka - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. "Caen - RCS 1-2". racingstub.com. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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