Basile Boli
Encyclopedia
Basile Boli is a French
former footballer
and current television sports presenter.
, Côte d'Ivoire
, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris
before signing for AJ Auxerre
in 1982. A powerful defender
, Boli soon made his way into the Auxerre first team and soon made his debut for the French national team
in 1986 (going on to win 45 caps altogether). His form meant that he soon became a transfer target for the leading clubs in France. Finally in 1990 Boli signed for Olympique de Marseille
who, under Bernard Tapie
, were fast becoming the leading club in France. Boli starred as the club won Ligue 1
in 1991 and 1992 and was also a regular in the UEFA Champions League 1992-93
campaign, topping the season off by scoring the only goal of the final against A.C. Milan
that gave the cup to OM. Whilst at the club he even joined team mate Chris Waddle
in recording a song entitled 'We've Got a Feeling'. He is remembered by football fans in England
for his appearance for France against the England team
in Euro 92
where he headbutt
ed Stuart Pearce
.
Despite this success Boli was forced to leave Marseille in 1994 following revelations of a match fixing scandal and the relegation of the club. He signed for Rangers F.C.
for £2 million in the summer of that year and went to make 28 league appearances (2 goals) during the 1994-95 season
, securing a league winners' medal. Boli left Rangers at the end of that season and wound down his career with a season back in France with AS Monaco FC
before ending his career in 1997 after a spell in Japan
with Urawa Red Diamonds
Since retiring from football Boli has become involved in politics as a supporter of Nicolas Sarkozy
.
, and is the younger brother of former striker Roger Boli
|1982/83||rowspan="8"|Auxerre
||rowspan="8"|Division 1
||1||0||||||||||1||0
|-
|1983/84||35||0||||||||||35||0
|-
|1984/85||36||1||||||||||36||1
|-
|1985/86||36||2||||||||||36||2
|-
|1986/87||38||0||||||||||38||0
|-
|1987/88||35||0||||||||||35||0
|-
|1988/89||37||1||||||||||37||1
|-
|1989/90||36||0||||||||||36||0
|-
|1990/91||rowspan="4"|Olympique Marseille
||rowspan="4"|Division 1
||38||8||||||||||38||8
|-
|1991/92||34||5||||||||||34||5
|-
|1992/93||32||4||||||||||32||4
|-
|1993/94||27||3||||||||||27||3
|-
|1994/95||Rangers
||Premier Division
||28||2||||||||||28||2
|-
|1995/96||Monaco
||Division 1
||11||0||||||||||11||0
|-
|1996||rowspan="2"|Urawa Red Diamonds
||rowspan="2"|J. League 1||22||2||0||0||10||3||32||5
|-
|1997||9||0||0||0||3||0||13||0
396||24||||||||||396||24
28||2||||||||||28||2
31||2||0||0||13||3||44||5
455||28||0||0||13||3||468||31
|}
|1986||4||0
|-
|1987||5||0
|-
|1988||7||0
|-
|1989||1||0
|-
|1990||8||1
|-
|1991||6||0
|-
|1992||11||0
|-
|1993||3||0
|-
!Total||45||1
|}
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and current television sports presenter.
Career
Although born in AbidjanAbidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before signing for AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
in 1982. A powerful defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, Boli soon made his way into the Auxerre first team and soon made his debut for the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in 1986 (going on to win 45 caps altogether). His form meant that he soon became a transfer target for the leading clubs in France. Finally in 1990 Boli signed for Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
who, under Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
, were fast becoming the leading club in France. Boli starred as the club won Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
in 1991 and 1992 and was also a regular in the UEFA Champions League 1992-93
UEFA Champions League 1992-93
The 1992–93 UEFA Champions League was the 38th European Cup, the premier European club football tournament, and the first season under the current UEFA Champions League format ....
campaign, topping the season off by scoring the only goal of the final against A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
that gave the cup to OM. Whilst at the club he even joined team mate Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle is a former footballer from England. He played for a number of clubs in the 1980s and 90s, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France...
in recording a song entitled 'We've Got a Feeling'. He is remembered by football fans in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for his appearance for France against the England team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in Euro 92
1992 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was hosted by Sweden between 10 and 26 June 1992. It was the ninth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. Eight national teams contested the championship, which was won by Denmark, one of...
where he headbutt
Headbutt
A headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the cranium as areas of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area, such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead...
ed Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
.
Despite this success Boli was forced to leave Marseille in 1994 following revelations of a match fixing scandal and the relegation of the club. He signed for Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for £2 million in the summer of that year and went to make 28 league appearances (2 goals) during the 1994-95 season
1994-95 in Scottish football
The 1994–95 season was the 98th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen the re-introduction of the Scottish 3rd division, after an absence of 26 years, and also the introduction of three points for a win being awarded instead of just two.-Notable events:*Raith Rovers...
, securing a league winners' medal. Boli left Rangers at the end of that season and wound down his career with a season back in France with AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
before ending his career in 1997 after a spell in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
Since retiring from football Boli has become involved in politics as a supporter of Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
.
Family
Basile is the uncle of Paris Saint-Germain player Yannick BoliYannick Boli
Yannick Boli is a French footballer of Ivorian descent who plays as a forward. His previous clubs include Paris Saint-Germain, Le Havre and Nîmes Olympique...
, and is the younger brother of former striker Roger Boli
Roger Boli
Roger Boli is a French former footballer who played striker for clubs in the French and British leagues. He is currently an agent in France....
Club career statistics
|-|1982/83||rowspan="8"|Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
||rowspan="8"|Division 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
||1||0||||||||||1||0
|-
|1983/84||35||0||||||||||35||0
|-
|1984/85||36||1||||||||||36||1
|-
|1985/86||36||2||||||||||36||2
|-
|1986/87||38||0||||||||||38||0
|-
|1987/88||35||0||||||||||35||0
|-
|1988/89||37||1||||||||||37||1
|-
|1989/90||36||0||||||||||36||0
|-
|1990/91||rowspan="4"|Olympique Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
||rowspan="4"|Division 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
||38||8||||||||||38||8
|-
|1991/92||34||5||||||||||34||5
|-
|1992/93||32||4||||||||||32||4
|-
|1993/94||27||3||||||||||27||3
|-
|1994/95||Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
||Premier Division
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||28||2||||||||||28||2
|-
|1995/96||Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
||Division 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
||11||0||||||||||11||0
|-
|1996||rowspan="2"|Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
||rowspan="2"|J. League 1||22||2||0||0||10||3||32||5
|-
|1997||9||0||0||0||3||0||13||0
396||24||||||||||396||24
28||2||||||||||28||2
31||2||0||0||13||3||44||5
455||28||0||0||13||3||468||31
|}
International career statistics
|-|1986||4||0
|-
|1987||5||0
|-
|1988||7||0
|-
|1989||1||0
|-
|1990||8||1
|-
|1991||6||0
|-
|1992||11||0
|-
|1993||3||0
|-
!Total||45||1
|}