Yannick Boli
Encyclopedia
Yannick Boli is a French
footballer of Ivorian
descent who plays as a forward. His previous clubs include Paris Saint-Germain, Le Havre
and Nîmes Olympique
. He is the nephew of former national team
player Basile
and Lens
striker Roger
.
, Boli began his playing career with Ligue 1
side PSG, joining them when he was eleven years-old.
He was part of the side's B team from 2005–07. In 2006 he helped them their under-18 side to win the French Under-18 Championship and in his last season, he was top scorer.
On 6 May 2008 he scored a 77th minute winner against Ligue 2
side Amiens SC
, in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France
to send PSG into the final, where he was an unused substitute as they lost 1–0
to Lyon
. On playing for PSG Boli said, "PSG are the club of my dreams and I joined when I was 11. The fact that I'm now playing here with the first team gives me immense pride."
Boli was loaned to newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Le Havre AC
on 18 October 2008 until the end of the 2008–09 season, making his debut seven days later in a 2–1 home win over Valenciennes
at Stade Jules Deschaseaux
. He made a total of eleven league appearances, before returning to PSG in July 2009.
On 19 August 2009 Boli joined English Championship
side Blackpool
on trial, with Sky Sports
reporting that he could be about to sign a one year loan deal with the Seasiders. Boli said, "I am happy to be here in England, hopefully it (the move) will happen for me." The Blackpool Gazette
then claimed it was unlikely Boli would sign, however The Times
reported that he was expected to move to Blackpool on loan after a medical planned for 24 August.
In September 2011 Boli joined London based football agency Pro Sports Agency.
in the People's Republic of China
, he chose to represent Côte d'Ivoire
. "I'm lucky enough to have dual Franco-Ivorian nationality and I'm proud of my African roots," he said. "I've followed the Elephants a lot in the last few years and I feel there's an interesting situation there. Because of that, I didn't hesitate in choosing that country's shirt." In March 2008, he was called up by manager Gerard Gili to the Côte d'Ivoire Olympics team
.
and French international
defender Basile Boli
, and former Lens
striker Roger Boli
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
footballer of Ivorian
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
descent who plays as a forward. His previous clubs include Paris Saint-Germain, Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
and Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique is a French association football club based in Nîmes. The club was formed on 10 April 1937 and currently play in Championnat National, the third level of French football. The club's only achievement was winning Ligue 2 in 1950 and the Championnat National in 1997...
. He is the nephew of former national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
player Basile
Basile Boli
Basile Boli is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.-Career:Although born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris before signing for AJ Auxerre in 1982...
and Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
striker Roger
Roger Boli
Roger Boli is a French former footballer who played striker for clubs in the French and British leagues. He is currently an agent in France....
.
Club career
Born in Saint-Maur-des-FossésSaint-Maur-des-Fossés
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 11.7 km. from the center of Paris.-The abbey:...
, Boli began his playing career with Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
side PSG, joining them when he was eleven years-old.
He was part of the side's B team from 2005–07. In 2006 he helped them their under-18 side to win the French Under-18 Championship and in his last season, he was top scorer.
On 6 May 2008 he scored a 77th minute winner against Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side Amiens SC
Amiens SC
Amiens Sporting Club is a French association football club based in Amiens. The club was formed in 1901 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. The club plays its home matches at the Stade de la Licorne located within the city...
, in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
to send PSG into the final, where he was an unused substitute as they lost 1–0
Coupe de France Final 2008
The 2008 Coupe de France Final was a football match that was held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on 24 May 2008. It was the 90th final in the Coupe de France's history. The final was contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Olympique Lyonnais...
to Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. On playing for PSG Boli said, "PSG are the club of my dreams and I joined when I was 11. The fact that I'm now playing here with the first team gives me immense pride."
Boli was loaned to newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
on 18 October 2008 until the end of the 2008–09 season, making his debut seven days later in a 2–1 home win over Valenciennes
Valenciennes FC
Valenciennes Football Club is a French association football club based in Valenciennes. The club was founded in 1913 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Valenciennes plays its home matches at the recently-built Stade du Hainaut located within the city...
at Stade Jules Deschaseaux
Stade Jules Deschaseaux
Stade Jules Deschaseaux, is a multi-purpose stadium in Le Havre, France. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium is able to hold 16,400 people and was built in 1932. During the 1938 World Cup, it hosted one game. In 2012 it will be replaced by the currently under...
. He made a total of eleven league appearances, before returning to PSG in July 2009.
On 19 August 2009 Boli joined English Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on trial, with Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
reporting that he could be about to sign a one year loan deal with the Seasiders. Boli said, "I am happy to be here in England, hopefully it (the move) will happen for me." The Blackpool Gazette
Blackpool Gazette
The Blackpool Gazette is an English evening newspaper based in Blackpool, Lancashire. Published every day except Sunday, it covers the towns and communities of the Fylde coast...
then claimed it was unlikely Boli would sign, however The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
reported that he was expected to move to Blackpool on loan after a medical planned for 24 August.
In September 2011 Boli joined London based football agency Pro Sports Agency.
International career
Boli holds dual French and Ivorian nationality, and in 2008, ahead of the Summer OlympicsFootball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
The men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, he chose to represent Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
. "I'm lucky enough to have dual Franco-Ivorian nationality and I'm proud of my African roots," he said. "I've followed the Elephants a lot in the last few years and I feel there's an interesting situation there. Because of that, I didn't hesitate in choosing that country's shirt." In March 2008, he was called up by manager Gerard Gili to the Côte d'Ivoire Olympics team
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
.
Personal life
He is the nephew of former MarseilleOlympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and French international
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
defender Basile Boli
Basile Boli
Basile Boli is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.-Career:Although born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris before signing for AJ Auxerre in 1982...
, and former Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
striker Roger Boli
Roger Boli
Roger Boli is a French former footballer who played striker for clubs in the French and British leagues. He is currently an agent in France....
.