Basile Boli

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Basile Boli

Personal information
Full name	Basile Boli
Date of birth	(1967-01-02) January 2, 1967 (age 45)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1982–1990	Auxerre	252	(4)
1990–1994	Marseille	163	(27)
1994–1995	Rangers	28	(2)
1995–1996	Monaco	11	(0)
1996–1997	Urawa Red Diamonds	31	(2)
Total		514	(35)
National team
1986–1993	France	45	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Basile Boli (born January 2, 1967) is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.

Career

Although born in Abidjan, 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'.^[1] He is remembered by football fans in England for his appearance for France against the England team in Euro 92 where he headbutted Stuart Pearce.^[2]

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.

Family

Basile is the uncle of current player Yannick Boli, and is the younger brother of former striker Roger Boli

Club career statistics

^[3]

International career statistics

References

External links

• Profile of Rangers career
• Basile Boli at IMDB
• Basile Boli at National-Football-Teams.com
• Basile Boli Evénements

v t e France squad – UEFA Euro 1992 1 Martini 2 Amoros (c) 3 Silvestre 4 Petit 5 Blanc 6 Casoni 7 Deschamps 8 Sauzée 9 Papin 10 Fernández 11 Perez 12 Cocard 13 Boli 14 Durand 15 Divert 16 Vahirua 17 Garde 18 Cantona 19 Rousset 20 Angloma Coach: Platini