Biography
Who is José Bosingwa?
Early life and background
José Bosingwa da Silva was born in Mbandaka, Zaire. He moved to Portugal while he was a young child. His family settled in Seia, located in the Guarda District. He was the youngest of ten children in his family. His father was Portuguese and his mother was Congolese.
He began his youth football career with the club Boavista FC. He eventually made his professional debut while on loan at S.C. Freamunde. During his early days, he played primarily as a midfielder before transitioning into a defensive role.
Time at FC Porto
José joined FC Porto for the 2003 season. The team was managed by José Mourinho. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in September 2003 against FK Partizan. He played in several matches during that successful European campaign.
He became a regular starter for the team as a right-back starting in the 2004 season. He replaced Paulo Ferreira and Carlos Secretário in the lineup. During his time there, he helped the club win three league titles in four years. He departed the club for London after several successful campaigns.
Years with Chelsea
In 2008, José Bosingwa signed a three-year contract with Chelsea. He was officially presented with the number 16 jersey, though he later switched to number 17. He made his Premier League debut in a win against Portsmouth. He scored his first goal for the club against Stoke City.
He faced significant challenges at Chelsea, including a knee injury in 2009 that kept him out for a long period. He returned to action in 2010 against Aston Villa. During the 2011 season, he scored against Norwich City. He played a key role in the 2012 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and the final against Bayern Munich. Chelsea won the final on penalties.
Later career at QPR and Trabzonspor
After leaving London, José signed a three-year deal with Queens Park Rangers in 2012. He scored his first goal for the club against Walsall in the Football League Cup. He left the club by mutual consent in 2013 after the team was relegated.
He then moved to Turkey to play for Trabzonspor. He signed a three-year contract there. He left the club briefly in 2015 due to a dispute over wages but later returned to sign a five-month agreement. He finished his professional playing career after these stints.
International career for Portugal
José Bosingwa made his debut for the Portugal national team in 2007. He was selected for the Euro 2008 squad. He started all four matches during that tournament as Portugal reached the quarter-finals. He was named to the team of the tournament for his performance.
He also represented Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was eligible to play for the Democratic Republic of Congo but chose to represent Portugal. He later withdrew from international duty in 2011 due to disagreements with the coaching staff. He was called up again in 2014 by manager Fernando Santos.
Birthday and age
José Bosingwa was born on August 24, 1982, which makes José 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. José shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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