José Bosingwa

Born in Mbandaka, Zaire to a Portuguese father and a Congolese mother, Bosingwa moved with his parents at a very young age to Seia in the Portuguese hinterland, in the Guarda District. He was the youngest of the couple's ten children.[5]

Bosingwa was picked as a youth to play for Boavista FC, making his professional debut on loan to S.C. Freamunde in the Segunda Liga[6] and appearing sparingly as the northern club finished last. He started his career as a midfielder.[5]

After two full seasons with Boavista, Bosingwa signed with neighbouring FC Porto – coached by José Mourinho – for 2003–04.[7] He was used sparingly in his first year, playing in only 13 Primeira Liga games; he made his UEFA Champions League debut on 16 September 2003 in a 1–1 away draw against FK Partizan,[8] appearing in a further seven matches in the club's victorious campaign.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Fully established as a right-back and Porto's first-choice since 2004–05, after the departures of Paulo Ferreira and veteran Carlos Secretário, Bosingwa was a vital element in the team's conquest of another three league titles in four years. The campaign ended on a sour note as, in May, he was at the wheel of his jeep when excess speed and wet road conditions led to a serious accident, with the vehicle skidding off the motorway and rolling down an embankment before bursting into flames. Four other footballers travelled alongside him, including Boavista player Nélson.[16] All escaped alive, but one of them, Sandro Luís (player of modest Grupo Desportivo os Minhocas), had to have his left foot amputated as a result of the accident, which took place in Valongo; years later, Bosingwa was made to pay €175.000 in compensation.[17]

Bosingwa training with Chelsea in 2008

On 11 May 2008, Porto announced that Bosingwa had come to verbal agreements with Chelsea for €20.6 million (£16.3 million),[18][19] with 20% of the transfer fee going to a third party called International Football – Gestão e Assessoria de Carreiras. He put pen to paper on a three-year deal[20] and joined the London club after Euro 2008, along with Portugal national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and fellow international Deco; on 16 July he was officially presented with the number 16, but switched to No. 17 after exchanging with Scott Sinclair.[21]

Bosingwa made his Premier League debut for the Blues on 17 August 2008, starting in a 4–0 home win against Portsmouth.[22] His first Champions League appearance came the next month, against FC Girondins de Bordeaux (same venue, same result).[23] He scored his first goal for them against Stoke City on 27 September,[24] adding a second with a stunning left-foot attempt against West Bromwich Albion, scoring from 25 yards in a 3–0 away win.[25]

On 1 February 2009, Bosingwa was involved in an incident on the field where he stamped Liverpool player Yossi Benayoun directly in the back, without making any attempt to play the ball. Although referee Mike Riley did not see it, assistant Mo Matadar would later claim to have seen the incident, signalling a foul at the time but subsequently awarding Chelsea a throw-in; in the days following the match, the Football Association claimed that FIFA regulations prevented them from imposing disciplinary sanctions, as no booking or sending off was issued.[26][27]

Bosingwa was banned for three European matches as a result of comments he made about the refereeing of the Champions League semi-finals second leg clash against FC Barcelona (6 May 2009, 1–1 draw in England) on Portuguese television. He stated "I don't know whether he's a referee or a thief", but later apologised for his choice of words.[28] The ban was later reduced to two games on appeal.[29]

On 19 June 2009, FC Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge conceded defeat in his club's attempt to sign Bosingwa, who remained at Stamford Bridge.[30] He sustained a knee injury in October,[31] being rendered unavailable for the rest of the season (the team won the title, but under league rules he had not made sufficient appearances for a medal). Chelsea announced in early March that he required further surgery, ruling him out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[32]

On 16 October 2010, exactly one year after his injury, Bosingwa returned to action against the same opponent, Aston Villa playing the last 15 minutes in a 0–0 away draw at Villa Park after replacing compatriot Ferreira in the second half[33]– both were relegated to the bench by Branislav Ivanović.[34]

In the 2011–12 season, following the appointment of countryman André Villas-Boas as manager, Bosingwa returned to the starting lineup.[35] On 27 August 2011, he scored his first goal in three years after a 25-yard strike against Norwich City in a 3–1 home win.[36]

On 23 October 2011, in a game against Queen's Park Rangers, Bosingwa was controversially sent off by referee Chris Foy after a challenge with Shaun Wright-Phillips, as Chelsea went on to lose 0–1 away, with Didier Drogba also being dismissed for foul play.[37] In late November, he started in the Champions League group stage match at Bayer 04 Leverkusen as left back, playing out of position to replace injured Ashley Cole in an eventual 1–2 defeat.[38]

Bosingwa playing for Chelsea in 2012

On 24 April 2012, Bosingwa played a vital role in the match against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals: he replaced injured Gary Cahill after only 12 minutes, and helped his side record a 2–2 draw at the Camp Nou and a 3–2 aggregate win; for most of the match he had to play as centre-back, as John Terry was also sent off before half-time.[39]

In his natural position, Bosingwa played the full 120 minutes in the Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich, as Chelsea won 4–3 on penalties and became the first club from London to win the tournament.[40] With the back four being commended for their ability to keep the strong opposing forward line at bay, he himself received plaudits for his efforts against winger Franck Ribéry;[41] Shortly after, however, along with teammates Drogba and Salomon Kalou, he was told he could leave once his contract expired the following month.[42]

On 17 August 2012, Bosingwa signed a three-year deal with Queens Park Rangers.[43] He scored his first goal for his new club on the 28th, netting against Walsall in a 3–0 home win in the season's Football League Cup.[44]

In December 2012, Bosingwa was fined two weeks' wages for refusing to sit on the bench for a league game against Fulham.[45] When QPR sealed their relegation in April 2013 after a 0–0 draw at Reading, he was seen on TV cameras to be smiling as he left the pitch, which angered teammate Joey Barton and fans alike;[46] three months later, he left the club by mutual consent.[47]

On 29 July 2013, Bosingwa signed a three-year contract with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig,[48] for a €2.1 million salary in the first two seasons and to €1.6 million in the last.[49] He left in early November 2015 claiming unpaid wages[50] but, in the following transfer window, returned to the club and agreed to a half-year deal for €0.5 million plus €1,000 per match.[51]

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