Jose Bosingwa has caught the eye with his speed, skill, fitness and strength and is now widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the business, writes Andy Hampson.
Jose Bosingwa is an exciting attack-minded defender who played for Portugal at Euro 2008 and joined English giant Chelsea in a GBP16.1 million deal over the summer.
Bosingwa, who made his name with FC Porto, is a powerful presence on the right flank, a constant menace in attack and an astute defender.
The story of Bosingwa’s rise to prominence is a remarkable one. He was born in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and lived there until he was nine when his parents, hoping he would receive a better education, sent him to Portugal to live with his elder brother Antonio.
Bosingwa was the youngest of eight children to his mother and father, Mbomba and Jose. Another brother, Julio, and a cousin came to live with him in the town of Seia in central Portugal and three years later his parents also made the move.
Antonio earned a living as a professional footballer in the lower leagues but the game was not a serious option for Bosingwa until he was spotted playing in the street at the age of 14 by local team Fornos de Algodres. He joined the team and made rapid strides as a midfielder and within 10 months had attracted the interest of Boavista.
He broke into the Boavista first team at 19 and made 40 appearances before Porto swooped in 2003-2004, the year it won the UEFA Champions League. Bosingwa made eight appearances in that campaign, but none after the quarterfinal stages. He also claimed a Portuguese league winners’ medal in that first season.
He successfully switched to right-back, now his preferred position, and played for Portugal in the European Under-21 Championship and in the 2004 Olympics. His career, however, was badly affected by a car crash early in 2005.
Bosingwa was lucky to survive after losing control of his car in wet conditions in May 2005. He was carrying four passengers, all footballers, when the vehicle skidded off a motorway, rolled down an embankment and then burst into flames. Everyone on board survived although one player, Sandro Luis, had a foot amputated. Bosingwa was subsequently suspended by Porto.
He re-established himself in the 2005-2006 season as Porto won the league and he truly came of age the following year as the side retained the title and he earned international recognition. He enjoyed another fine season in 2007-2008, this time winning a domestic double, and winning a place in the Euro 2008 team of the tournament.
He has made a superb start at Chelsea under former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. He has caught the eye with his speed, skill, fitness and strength and is now widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the business.
Bosingwa is currently thought to be unattached and moved in with another of his brothers, already living in London, when he was signed by Chelsea.
“When I came to England one of my brothers was already living here,” he said. “Now we live together. He gives me advice, he goes to all the games and afterwards we talk about what went right and wrong. He is a very important person in my life.”
Bosingwa was known to be driving a BMW 4x4 when he careered off the A4 near Amarante.
FACTFILEName: Jose BosingwaPosition: DefenderClub: ChelseaD.O.B.: 24/08/1982Portugal caps: 14Portugal goals: 0Portugal debut: v Belgium, March 2007Moment to rememberBosingwa scored one of his finest goals playing for Porto in the 2004-2005 Portuguese Super Liga season in a game at Estoril. Receiving the ball on the right, Bosingwa skipped round one challenge and then brushed off another on the edge of the box before firing low into the goal.
Moment to forgetBosingwa suffered his first setback as a Chelsea player when a Xabi Alonso shot deflected off him to hand Liverpool a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge recently. It condemned Chelsea to its first defeat of the season and knocked the team off the top of the Barclays English Premier League.
© PA Sport, 2008, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, re-written, re-distributed or commercially exploited. Sportstar is not responsible for any inaccuracy in the material.
Comments
SHARE