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| Arthur Boka | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arthur Boka |
| Birth date | 1983-04-02 |
| Birth place | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Height | 1.68 m |
| Position | Left-back |
| Youthyears | 1997–2000 |
| Youthclubs | ASEC Mimosas; Stella Club d'Adjamé; Ivoire Academie |
| Years | 2000–2001; 2001–2003; 2003–2007; 2007–2014; 2014–2016; 2016–2017 |
| Clubs | Beveren; KAA Gent; Roda JC; VfB Stuttgart; Málaga CF; VfL Bochum |
| Caps | ? ; ? ; ? ; 177; 17; 1 |
| Goals | ? ; ? ; ? ; 4; 0; 0 |
| Nationalyears | 2004–2012 |
| Nationalteam | Ivory Coast |
| Nationalcaps | 82 |
Arthur Boka Arthur Boka is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played primarily as a left-back. He is known for his tenure in the German Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart and as a member of the Ivory Coast national team during multiple FIFA World Cup tournaments and Africa Cup of Nations campaigns. Boka combined defensive work-rate with attacking support, earning recognition across European leagues and international competitions.
Born in Abidjan, Boka emerged from the Ivorian youth systems that have produced players like Yaya Touré, Didier Drogba, Kolo Touré, Gervinho, and Salomon Kalou. He progressed through academies associated with ASEC Mimosas and regional clubs tied to the Ivorian football infrastructure alongside contemporaries who later joined clubs such as Olympique Marseille, Chelsea F.C., and Manchester City F.C.. Scouted by European agents active between Ivory Coast football and Belgian clubs, Boka moved to Belgium to pursue a professional pathway similar to players entering Jupiler Pro League sides like K.S.K. Beveren and K.A.A. Gent.
Boka's early professional steps followed a pattern of Ivorian talent migrating to Belgium before transferring to larger European leagues. After spells at Belgian clubs that maintained links to AS Monaco, RSC Anderlecht, and Standard Liège scouting networks, he joined Roda JC Kerkrade in the Eredivisie, competing against clubs such as AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and Feyenoord. His performances attracted interest from German clubs; in 2007 he signed with VfB Stuttgart, entering the Bundesliga where he faced sides like FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
At Stuttgart Boka became a regular under managers who had reputations similar to Armin Veh and others within the club's coaching lineage, contributing to league and European campaigns that involved fixtures against UEFA Champions League opponents such as FC Barcelona, Arsenal F.C., and Chelsea F.C.. He was part of the Stuttgart squad that won the Bundesliga title during a period when players like Mario Gómez and Cacau featured prominently. Later in his career he joined Málaga CF of La Liga, competing in a division with clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, before returning to Germany with VfL Bochum.
Boka made his senior debut for the Ivory Coast national football team and accumulated appearances across qualifying campaigns for the FIFA World Cup and finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. He was selected for Ivorian squads that included stars such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Kolo Touré, Arouna Koné, and Salomon Kalou, participating in major tournaments against teams like Brazil national football team, France national football team, Portugal national football team, and Argentina national football team. Boka was part of the Ivory Coast side that reached advanced stages of the Africa Cup of Nations and competed at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, contributing defensively and on the flank in matches versus continental rivals including Cameroon national football team, Nigeria national football team, and Ghana national football team.
Primarily deployed as a left-back, Boka combined attributes associated with modern full-backs seen in players like Philipp Lahm, Ashley Cole, and José Antonio Reyes: stamina, overlapping runs, and defensive positioning. He earned a reputation for tactical discipline under coaches with philosophies akin to Jürgen Klopp and Felix Magath while providing width similar to full-backs in systems used by Rafael Benítez or Pep Guardiola-influenced teams. Analysts compared his work-rate to contemporaries in the Bundesliga and noted his adaptability when facing attackers from clubs such as FC Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Off the pitch, Boka has connections to the Ivorian community in Abidjan and maintained relationships with former teammates who moved across Europe to clubs like Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Juventus F.C.. He has appeared in events alongside football figures from CAF and participated in initiatives similar to programs promoted by FIFA and charitable campaigns supported by players including Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré.
Boka's club career spanned leagues including the Jupiler Pro League, Eredivisie, Bundesliga, and La Liga, with significant appearance totals for VfB Stuttgart and a substantial international cap count for the Ivory Coast national football team. His international goal tally was limited, while his primary contributions were defensive and as a provider on the left flank in matches across AFCON and World Cup qualifiers and finals.
Boka's honours include a Bundesliga championship with VfB Stuttgart and runner-up or high placements in Africa Cup of Nations tournaments with the Ivory Coast. He featured in squads that contested UEFA club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, playing against clubs like Liverpool F.C., AC Milan, and FC Porto.
Category:Ivorian footballers Category:1983 births Category:Living people