Basile Boli (born 2 January 1967) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender, and currently television sports presenter. He spent the majority of his career in the 1980s and 1990s with Auxerre and Marseille, and towards the end of his career had spells at Scottish club Rangers, at Monaco, and at Japanese side Urawa Reds. Although born in Ivory Coast, he also made 45 appearances and scored one goal for the France national team, and was part of the France squad at the 1992 European Championship.
Career Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris, before signing for Auxerre in 1982. A powerful defender, Boli made his way into the Auxerre first team and soon made his debut for the France national team in 1986 for whom he went on to win 45 caps. His form meant that he soon became a transfer target for the leading clubs in France. Finally, in 1990, Boli signed for 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 club's 1992–93 UEFA Champions League 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 teammate 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 headbutted Stuart Pearce.
Despite his success at Marseille, Boli was forced to leave in 1994 following revelations of a match fixing scandal and the relegation of the club. He signed for Rangers for £2 million in the summer of that year and went on to make 28 league appearances (two 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 Monaco, before ending his career in 1997 after a spell in Japan with Urawa Red Diamonds.
Danse avec les stars In 2018, he participated in season 9 of Danse avec les stars (the French version of Dancing with the Stars) with his partner Katrina Patchett and finished seventh out of eleven contestants. This table shows the route of Basile Boli and Katrina Patchett in Danse Avec Les Stars. Face to face aren't rated.
WeekDancing styleMusicJudge pointsTotalRankingResultPatrick DupondShy'mChris MarquesJean-Marc Généreux1SambaSapés comme jamais - Maître Gims764421/409/11No Elimination2 (+ imposed figure)Jive (+5 points)"Jump" - Van Halen766630/456=/11Safe1+251/859/113Foxtrot Cha-Cha-Cha (face to face)"I Believe I Can Fly" - R. Kelly "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" - Barry White865625/408/9Bottom 2 (Safe with 76%)4Salsa"Gangnam Style" - Psy775625/407/7Safe5Quickstep Salsa marathon (+4 points)
Contemporary dance (face to face)"Bewitched Theme" - Howard Greenfield "La Salsa du démon" - Le Grand Orchestre du Splendid
"Frozen" - Madonna7
N/A8
N/A5
N/A6
N/A30/546/7Eliminated (24%)
Personal life Boli is the uncle of current players Yannick Boli, Charles Boli, Roli Boli and Kévin Boli, and is the younger brother of former striker Roger Boli.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAuxerre1982–83Division 110–––101983–8435010––3601984–8536110–203911985–8636260–204421986–8738040––4201987–8835050–204201988–8937181––4521989–9036020–101481Total2524271–1612956Marseille1990–91Division 138852–6249121991–9234540–404251992–9332410–924261993–9427330––273Total13120172–19416726Rangers1994–95Scottish Premier Division282111010313Monaco1995–96Division 111000–20130Urawa Reds1996J1 League22200103–3251997900030–120Total31200133–445Career total4552845414338555239
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFrance1986401987501988701989101990811991601992110199330Total451
Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boli goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Basile BoliNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 17 November 1990 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
Honours Auxerre Coppa delle Alpi: 1984–85, 1986–87
Marseille Division 1: 1990–91, 1991–92 UEFA Champions League: 1992–93
Rangers Scottish Premier Division: 1994–95
Individual Division 1 Rookie of the Year: 1984 Etoile d'Or: 1989 World Soccer World XI: 1991 The Dream Team 110 years of OM: 2010
Orders Knight of the Legion of Honour: 2008
References
External links