| Full Name | José Bosingwa |
| Birth Date | August 24, 1982 |
| Birth Place | Mbandaka |
| Height | 1.83m |
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| Weight | 75 kg |
| Age | 27 |
| Position | Defender |
| Squad No | 17 |
Perhaps one of the most attacking full-backs in the game, Bosingwa's pace and ability to get up and down the flanks will create problems, just as Sergio Ramos does for Spain.
Though born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), he moved to Portugal as a child, beginning his professional career with Freamunde before making his name initially with Boavista. Like many modern Portugese players, however, Bosingwa's stock rose yet further after playing for FC Porto. He joined the club in 2003 and was an unused sub at the 2004 Champions League triumph.
He moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2008 in a £16.3m transfer which saw him keep Paulo Ferreira out of the side. It was Ferreira who had started at right-back in the 2004 Champions League final. Bosingwa was excellent in the 2008-09 season, a danger going forward with great delivery and even the ability to score from distance. It was a surprise that he was initially linked with a move to Bayern Munich at the start of an injury-plagued 2009-10 campaign.
Bosingwa made his debut for Portugal, who he qualifies to play for through his father, in a 21 win over Belgium in June 2007. He was then named in the squad for the 2008 European Championships and his performances led to him being named in the team of the tournament.
Strengths: The archetypal wing back: fast, direct, dangerous and effective at both ends of the pitch.
Weaknesses: Can get caught at the back due to his style of breaking down the wing.
Career high: Being named in UEFA's team of the tournament for Euro 2008.
Career low: Was involved in a serious jeep crash in May 2005 with four other footballers which led to one, Sandro Luis, having his foot amputated. The jeep rolled off the motorway and burst into flames. Bosingwa was suspended by Porto and out of favour for much of the following campaign.
Style: Bosingwa will run up and down the right flank all day, always available for the overlap to deliver into the attacking players.
Quotes: "The biggest compliment should go to Jose [Bosingwa] because I think it was the second time in his life that he played at left back and it was against [Lionel] Messi. But you couldn't see Messi on the pitch today." Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech following a Champions League tie against Barcelona in April 2009.
Trivia: Bosingwa played as a striker and also as a defensive midfielder as a youth player.
Soccernet says: Bosingwa proved at Euro 2008 that he has the ability to shine on the internat
ional stage. Portugal will need a repeat of that form.
| 2009/10 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Chelsea | World Football Challenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009/10 Season Totals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008/09 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Chelsea | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 30 | 4 | 30 | 39 | 6 | 0 |
| Chelsea | UEFA Champions League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008/09 Season Totals | 44 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 4 | 42 | 48 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007/08 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| FC Porto | UEFA Champions League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007/08 Season Totals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006/07 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| FC Porto | UEFA Champions League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006/07 Season Totals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005/06 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| FC Porto | UEFA Champions League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005/06 Season Totals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004/05 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| FC Porto | UEFA Champions League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004/05 Season Totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003/04 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| FC Porto | UEFA Champions League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glossary |
| GS: Games Started, SB: Used as Substitute, G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, SV: Saves, OF: Offsides, W: Wins, D: Draws, L: Losses |
