Jose bosingwa bows out.

Kurzweil · 2012-07-01T12:45:33+00:00

Posted on: Sun 01 Jul 2012 Jose Bosingwa, right-back in the first Chelsea team to be crowned kings of Europe, has today left the club. The Portuguese departs Stamford Bridge having added two FA Cups and one Champions League to his medal collection following his move to west London in the summer of 2008, and heads for pastures new after coming to the end of his contract. Signed from Porto, Bosingwa made his debut in a 4-0 win against Portsmouth on the opening day of the 2008/09 campaign. He quickly established himself as first-choice right-back in the side under Luiz Felipe Scolari whom he had played under at international level. Even with a managerial change midway through the campaign which saw Scolari replaced by Guus Hiddink following a poor run of results, the player enjoyed an impressive debut season, including one his finest games in a Chelsea shirt. In the Champions League semi-final first leg away at Barcelona in 2009, with Ashley Cole missing, Bosingwa was forced to play out of position at left-back against the threat of Lionel Messi, a task stuck to well as the Blues left Spain with a 0-0 draw. On the odd occasion he chipped in with a goal, more often than not of the spectacular variety, with memorable strikes against both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion standing out during a first season which ended with the Blues lifting the FA Cup courtesy of a 2-1 win against Everton at Wembley. If the 2008/09 campaign was one to remember for Bosingwa, the following season was certainly one to forget, as a knee injury, initially hoped to be a minor problem, restricted him to eight league appearances, the last in October before the team went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup Double with Branislav Ivanovic at right-back. To add to Bosingwa's woes, he underwent surgery for a second time, a move which ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup in Germany. He made his return after a year out against Aston Villa, the team he suffered the injury against initially, but having forced his way back into the side he scored an own-goal in a 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before another costly mistake, this time against Manchester United in the first leg of the 2011 Champions League quarter-final . He didn't start a game again under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti and his season came to an abrupt end when he picked up another knee injury. Whereas in much of his first season Bosingwa had patrolled the right flank in a similar vein to Ashley Cole down the left, the defensive part of his game and quality of delivery was by now increasingly questioned, but the arrival of fellow countryman Andre Villas-Boas as manager prior to the start of the 2011/12 season saw a reversal in fortunes for Bosingwa. In what proved to be his final season at the club, he began confidently, playing regularly and scored a wonderful opener in the 3-1 home win against Norwich in August (pictured above), before a first-half dismissal in a fiery London derby away at Queens Park Rangers in October led to a suspension. Under Roberto Di Matteo, Ivanovic again became the right-back of choice but Bosingwa proved an important member of the squad towards the end of the season where his experience and versatility rose to the fore as the Blues chased cup glory on two fronts. After filling in admirably in central defence during a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur back in December, the Portuguese was called upon again at the heart of the back four on two massive occasions as injuries and suspensions took their toll. Firstly, Bosingwa and Branislav Ivanovic were forced into the middle during the unforgettable 2-2 draw in the Camp Nou following John Terry's sending off and an early injury to Gary Cahill, and soon after he played alongside the skipper in the FA Cup Final victory against Liverpool at Wembley, although it was his mistake which allowed Andy Carroll to reduce the deficit and set up a nervy finish. In a fitting end to his Chelsea career, Bosingwa started at right-back for the Blues in the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, a game which proved to be his last appearance for the club, and although he may have lacked consistency throughout his time at the club, he will be remembered as one of the players who made history. The club would like to express our thanks and gratitude for everything he achieved during his time at Chelsea, and wish him all the best for the future. Bosingwa played in 126 games for the Blues, 111 of them from the start, and scored three goals.

Thread starter Kurzweil
Start date Jul 1, 2012

Kurzweil

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Jose bosingwa bows out.

Kurzweil

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