Arthur Boka

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Personal information
Arthur Boka
Full name	Arthur Etienne Boka
Date of birth	April 2, 1983 (1983-04-02) (age 25)
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
Senior clubs¹
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) 25 (1)
National team²
2004-	Cote d'Ivoire	28 (1)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:05, 22 January 2008 (UTC). ² National team caps and goals correct as of 11:05, 22 January 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Arthur Boka (born 2 April 1983 in Abidjan) is a Côte d'Ivoire football defender who currently plays for VfB Stuttgart.

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 2004/2005 season. He impressed further at Strasbourg, but following their relegation at the end of the 2005/2006 season he left to join German top-flight club VfB Stuttgart. His impressive attack minded play from his left-back position have earned him the nickname of "The African Roberto Carlos".

He has 27 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 in the 2006 World Cup.

On the 25th July 2007, reports in Germany suggest Liverpool FC had enquired about the defender's availability. VfB Stuttgart are believed to be looking for a fee of around 5 million euros.

[edit] Honours

With Stuttgart:

Bundesliga (2006-07)

[edit] External links

Career history at National Football Teams

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