José Bosingwa

José Bosingwa da Silva (born 24 August 1982) is a former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He spent the bulk of his career at Porto and Chelsea, collecting 13 major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League with both clubs—first with Porto in 2004 and later with Chelsea in 2012. He also played for Boavista in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. Born in Zaire, Bosingwa became a Portugal international in 2007 and went on to earn 27 caps, representing his country at Euro 2008 and the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Bosingwa was born in Mbandaka, Zaire, to a Portuguese father and a Congolese mother. As a young child, his family moved to Seia in Portugal’s Guarda District. He was the youngest of ten children. He began his youth career at Boavista and made his professional debut while on loan at S.C. Freamunde in the Segunda Liga, where the club finished last. He started out as a midfielder.

After two full seasons at Boavista, Bosingwa joined neighbouring Porto under José Mourinho for the 2003–04 season. He played sparingly in his first year, featuring in just 13 league games. His UEFA Champions League debut came on 16 September 2003 in a 1–1 draw away to FK Partizan, and he appeared in seven more matches during Porto’s victorious campaign. From 2004–05 onward, following the departures of Paulo Ferreira and Carlos Secretário, he became Porto’s first-choice right-back and a key figure in three more league titles over four years.

That season ended badly: in May, Bosingwa was driving his jeep when excessive speed and wet roads caused a serious crash. The vehicle skidded off the motorway, rolled down an embankment, and caught fire. Four other footballers were with him, including Boavista’s Nélson. All survived, but one passenger, Sandro Luís, had his left foot amputated. Years later, Bosingwa was ordered to pay €175,000 in compensation.

On 11 May 2008, Porto announced a verbal agreement for Bosingwa to join Chelsea for €20.6 million (£16.3 million), with 20% of the fee going to a third party. He signed a three-year deal and joined after Euro 2008, alongside new Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and fellow international Deco. He was presented with the number 16 shirt but later switched to number 17 after swapping with Scott Sinclair. He made his Premier League debut on 17 August 2008 in a 4–0 home win over Portsmouth, and his first Champions League appearance for Chelsea came the following month against Bordeaux (same scoreline). He scored his first goal for the club against Stoke City on 27 September, then added a second with a stunning left-footed strike from 25 yards in a 3–0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

On 1 February 2009, Bosingwa stamped on Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun’s back without attempting to play the ball. Referee Mike Riley did not see the incident, but assistant Mo Matadar later claimed he did, signalling a foul but then awarding Chelsea a throw-in. The Football Association later said FIFA rules prevented disciplinary action because no card had been issued. Bosingwa was later banned for three European matches after calling the referee in Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona a “thief” on Portuguese television. He apologized, and the ban was reduced to two games on appeal.

On 19 June 2009, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted defeat in trying to sign Bosingwa, who stayed at Chelsea. A knee injury in October 2009 sidelined him for the rest of the season; Chelsea won the league, but Bosingwa did not play enough to qualify for a medal. In early March 2010, Chelsea announced he needed further surgery, ruling him out of the 2010 World Cup. He returned to action on 16 October 2010, exactly a year after the injury, playing the final 15 minutes in a 0–0 draw at Aston Villa after replacing compatriot Paulo Ferreira.

Under new manager André Villas-Boas in the 2011–12 season, Bosingwa regained a starting spot. On 27 August 2011, he scored his first goal in three years with a 25-yard strike in a 3–1 home win over Norwich City. On 23 October 2011, he was controversially sent off by referee Chris Foy for a challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips in a 1–0 loss at Queens Park Rangers, with Didier Drogba also dismissed. In late November, he started at left-back in a Champions League group match at Bayer Leverkusen, replacing the injured Ashley Cole, in a 2–1 defeat. On 24 April 2012, in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Barcelona, Bosingwa replaced the injured Gary Cahill after just 12 minutes and helped Chelsea secure a 2–2 draw and a 3–2 aggregate win, playing most of the match as a centre-back.