Basile Boli
The bedrock of the 1993 squad, a defensive mountain who helped OM take Europe.
Basile Boli arrived at Olympique Marseille in 1990, right as the club, under Bernard Tapie, was fast becoming the leading club in France. A powerful defender, he starred as the club won Ligue 1 in 1991 and 1992 and was a regular in the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League campaign. He topped that season off by scoring the only goal of the final against A.C. Milan, giving the cup to OM. He even joined teammate Chris Waddle in recording a song entitled "We've Got a Feeling."
- Role
- Central Defender
- Affiliation
- Olympique de Marseille (OM)
- Key Achievement
- 1993 European Cup Winner
- Status
- Club Legend / Retired
- Notable Trait
- Aerial Dominance and Leadership
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Boli's time at Marseille was defined by the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League campaign. He was a regular throughout, and his crowning moment came in the final against A.C. Milan, where he scored the only goal to give the cup to OM. That single strike made him a legend at the club. However, his success was followed by forced departure in 1994 following revelations of a match fixing scandal and the relegation of the club. Despite that abrupt end, his goal in Munich remains the defining image of his Marseille career. He also showed a lighter side, recording a song with teammate Chris Waddle called "We've Got a Feeling."
In Their Own Story
Basile Boli, a powerful defender who had starred for Marseille since joining in 1990, rose to meet a corner. The ball met his head and flew into the net. It was the only goal of the match against A.C. Milan. That single strike gave Olympique Marseille the European Cup, making them the first French club to win it. For Boli, it was the peak of his time at the club, where he had already won Ligue 1 titles in 1991 and 1992. He had even recorded a song with teammate Chris Waddle. But the triumph was bittersweet; he was forced to leave in 1994 after a match-fixing scandal led to the club's relegation.
Reader's Guide
He scored the only goal against A.C. Milan, securing the cup for OM and making them the first French club to win Europe's top prize. That goal capped a campaign where he was a regular starter, and it followed two Ligue 1 titles in 1991 and 1992. His time at the club also had a quirky side: he joined teammate Chris Waddle in recording a song called "We've Got a Feeling." However, his Marseille story ended abruptly in 1994 when he was forced to leave following revelations of a match-fixing scandal and the club's relegation. Despite that, his goal in Munich ensures he is forever remembered as the man who brought the European Cup to Marseille.
Did You Know?
- Boli scored the only goal in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final, giving Marseille a 1-0 win over A.C. Milan.
- He recorded a song with teammate Chris Waddle titled "We've Got a Feeling."
- Boli was forced to leave Marseille in 1994 following a match-fixing scandal and the club's relegation.
- He won Ligue 1 with Marseille in both 1991 and 1992.
- Boli joined Marseille in 1990, when the club was becoming the leading club in France under Bernard Tapie.