Arthur Boka
Personal information
Full name	Arthur Etienne Boka
Date of birth	2 April 1983 (1983-04-02) (age 26)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	VfB Stuttgart
Number	15
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996–2002 2002–2004 2004–2006 2006–	ASEC Mimosas K.S.K. Beveren RC Strasbourg VfB Stuttgart	61 (5) 61 (0) 52 (1)
National team2
2004-	Cote d'Ivoire	33 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:03, 13 March 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Arthur Boka (born 2 April 1983 in Abidjan) is a Ivorian football defender who plays for VfB Stuttgart.

[edit] 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.^[1] His impressive attack minded play from his left-back position have earned him the nickname of "The African Roberto Carlos".

On 14 January 2009 he extended his contract at VfB Stuttgart until the summer of 2012^[2].

He has 33 caps for the national team, 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. Boka is known for his lightning pace even though he is a man of a very small build. 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.

[edit] Honours

• 2005 League Cup Winner (RC Strasbourg)
• 2007 Bundesliga Winner (VfB Stuttgart)
• 2007 German Cup Runner-up (VfB Stuttgart)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career history at National Football Teams
• Profile at l'Equipe
• Profile at Sky Sports
• Profile on Eurosport
• Profile on ESPN
• Profile at FIFA.com
• Career stats at Fussballdaten.de (German)

v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire 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 Yapo • 11 Drogba • 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

v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire 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 • 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

v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Fourth Place 1 Barry • 2 Djakpa • 3 Boka • 4 K. Touré • 5 Zokora • 6 Gohouri • 7 Faé • 8 S.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

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