William Gallas
Gallas 2006 at the jersey of Arsenal FC
William Eric Gallas ( born August 17, 1977 in Asnières- sur -Seine ) is a French football player.
Childhood
William Gallas was born in the Paris suburb of Asnières- sur -Seine and grew up there also. His parents are from the French overseas island of Guadeloupe. When his parents returned to Guadeloupe, Gallas was allowed to stay with his uncle in France - but only under the premise that he is a professional footballer.
Career
Clubs
William Gallas had 14 -year-old in Clairefontaine -en- Yvelines at the football school of French state association FFF, the National Institute Français ( INF), advertised and found after the entry test is recording. In his early years, however, he could not convince there. Given the high-profile competition, among which also, among others, Thierry Henry and Jérôme Rothen, wanted the Director of INF Gallas, who was playing as a striker from the school, but his have " two coaches " " for " him " strongly made "so he was allowed to stay. Gallas was retrained to counter strong full-back with weaknesses in the defensive work. So he was not aroused the interest of big clubs. That's why he signed with SM Caen, then playing in Division 2. His debut in professional football, he celebrated in the 1995 / 96th After his first professional year, the team was relegated as a master of the Ligue 1. After another year and due to strong performances he made Olympique Marseille attention to themselves, who took him under contract in 1997. After initial difficulties Gallas rose to become regular players and performers in Marseille. Together with players like Fabrizio Ravanelli, Laurent Blanc, Andreas Koepke, Robert Pires, Florian Maurice, and Christophe Dugarry the club wanted to go back again to more successful times. One was runner-up behind Girondins Bordeaux in 1999. In addition Galles reached Marseilles the finals of the UEFA Cup in 1998/99, but where you failed with 0:3 at AC Parma. In the final, the defender was not used. In the following years the club disappointed also at national level. Only after a strong season in 2000/ 01 top European teams were aware of Gallas. Also in London remained his strong performances not unaware of what Chelsea signed him for 12.8 million euros. Despite tough competition Gallas quickly established itself as a regular force and took it in his debut season on 30 missions. In addition to his fellow countryman Marcel Desailly and players like Mario Melchiot, Frank Lampard, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola, the association developed at this time gradually to a top English team. In 2005, the team then celebrated for the first time since 1955, the championship and the second championship success at all. Gallas came in the title season 28 inserts in dress of London. The following year, the triumph, with only John Terry and Frank Lampard completed more league matches than the Frenchman repeated. 2006 ogled the Frenchman with a move away from Chelsea, but coach Jose Mourinho did not agree. Only when he allegedly threatened Chelsea to score an own goal, he received clearance. He changed on 1 September 2006 in exchange for the long courted by Chelsea Ashley Cole to Arsenal. Even at Arsenal, he was quick achievers and made with Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue the defensive network of London. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger appointed Gallas for the season 2007/ 08 as the new team captain. End of November 2008, after Gallas criticized teammates, he was deposed as captain and replaced by the then 21 year-old Cesc Fàbregas. For 2010/ 11, the defensive player moved to city rival Tottenham Hotspur. With this change Gallas is the first professional who was in the British capital three clubs Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal under contract. After the 2012/13 season he left the Spurs. In October 2013 he joined the Australian A-League club Perth Glory.
National
Also for the French national team Gallas is regularly on the court. Since his first senior international match against Slovenia on 12 October 2002 he was at the 2004 European Championships and the 2006 World Cup for his country in use. Also in the European Championship finals in 2008, he belonged to the French squad. Again, two years later he was again in the squad at the World Cup in South Africa.
He also participated in the Confederations Cup in 2003 partly in their own country. The French won this tournament, Gallas was used three times.
At the European Championships in Portugal in 2004, he played in all three group matches, where he was in each case after 81 minutes replaced in two group matches (England and Croatia), by Willy Sagnol. In the quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Greece Gallas played through.
Two years later, in Germany, this time at a World Cup, he was back to the permanent staff of Les Bleus. In all three group matches played by the defender, as well as in the second round, quarterfinals and semifinals. In the final against Italy he played through again, but could not prevent the defeat on penalties.
2008 at the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, he also played in all games by the French. France nevertheless different in the group stage as a group last.
2010 separated the French squad disappointing after the first round of the World Cup competition. Gallas came in all three games in his country for use.
Achievements
- Ligue 2 winners with SM Caen: 1996
- Premier League winner with FC Chelsea: 2005, 2006
- League Cup winner with Chelsea: 2005
- FA Community Shield winner with Chelsea: 2005