William Gallas (born August 17, 1977 in Asnières-sur-Seine) is a French footballer of international Guadeloupian descent who currently plays for Arsenal and captains in the English Premier League. He is a defender who normally plays in the centre of the defence, but he was also played at full back on both sides of the field.
Club career
William Gallas is a graduate of the French football academy at Clairefontaine. He started his professional career in the second division SM Caen help them to promotion as champions in 1996. He was subsequently transferred to Olympique Marseille in 1997. Gallas spent four seasons in Marseille, playing alongside Robert Pirès among others. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League to play for Marseille, and he also played against Chelsea in that competition in 2000.
Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri bought Gallas of Marseilles in May 2001 for £ 6.2 million. He chose the number 13 shirt because it was his postcode when he lived in Marseilles. Under Ranieri, Gallas developed centre-back partnerships with Marcel Desailly and later with John Terry, his partnership with Terry included a series of 16 matches without conceding a single goal. He also played right back in time. It is with Chelsea and under Ranieri where Gallas earned his first cap.
Gallas was part of the Chelsea team which won back-to-back Premier League titles and one League Cup under Ranieri's successor José Mourinho. However, because of a serious injury to left-back Wayne Bridge in 2004-05 Gallas was forced to play out of position. Despite the purchase of Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao for € 8 million in 2005, a period of closure, Gallas is often playing on the left, a situation that has increasingly frustrated. However Gallas scored some vital goals as Chelsea retained their title of the 2005-06 season at Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United. Gallas called a goal against Tottenham, 25-yard injury-time winner, his "never again" on Chelsea TV.
Gallas contract with Chelsea was due to expire in May 2007. He refused to sign a new contract with Chelsea on better terms after the club did not offer him enough money and expressed the wish to play in Italy, with Juventus and AC Milan both interested. Chelsea, however, did not agree with a transfer request by the player in May 2006, they estimated that Gallas a first team member.
After the 2006 World Cup by FIFA, Gallas has refused to come to Chelsea's pre-season U.S. tour, citing fatigue after the tournament. In allocating numbers of club team gave a new arrival Michael Ballack Gallas number 13 shirt as a punishment for not running, an indication that his future at Stamford Bridge was a case of serious doubt. His reception at the club's accession day at Stamford Bridge has been mixed, with sections of fans applauded while the fans booed him and others remain unaffected.
Club career
William Gallas is a graduate of the French football academy at Clairefontaine. He started his professional career in the second division SM Caen help them to promotion as champions in 1996. He was subsequently transferred to Olympique Marseille in 1997. Gallas spent four seasons in Marseille, playing alongside Robert Pirès among others. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League to play for Marseille, and he also played against Chelsea in that competition in 2000.
Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri bought Gallas of Marseilles in May 2001 for £ 6.2 million. He chose the number 13 shirt because it was his postcode when he lived in Marseilles. Under Ranieri, Gallas developed centre-back partnerships with Marcel Desailly and later with John Terry, his partnership with Terry included a series of 16 matches without conceding a single goal. He also played right back in time. It is with Chelsea and under Ranieri where Gallas earned his first cap.
Gallas was part of the Chelsea team which won back-to-back Premier League titles and one League Cup under Ranieri's successor José Mourinho. However, because of a serious injury to left-back Wayne Bridge in 2004-05 Gallas was forced to play out of position. Despite the purchase of Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao for € 8 million in 2005, a period of closure, Gallas is often playing on the left, a situation that has increasingly frustrated. However Gallas scored some vital goals as Chelsea retained their title of the 2005-06 season at Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United. Gallas called a goal against Tottenham, 25-yard injury-time winner, his "never again" on Chelsea TV.
Gallas contract with Chelsea was due to expire in May 2007. He refused to sign a new contract with Chelsea on better terms after the club did not offer him enough money and expressed the wish to play in Italy, with Juventus and AC Milan both interested. Chelsea, however, did not agree with a transfer request by the player in May 2006, they estimated that Gallas a first team member.
After the 2006 World Cup by FIFA, Gallas has refused to come to Chelsea's pre-season U.S. tour, citing fatigue after the tournament. In allocating numbers of club team gave a new arrival Michael Ballack Gallas number 13 shirt as a punishment for not running, an indication that his future at Stamford Bridge was a case of serious doubt. His reception at the club's accession day at Stamford Bridge has been mixed, with sections of fans applauded while the fans booed him and others remain unaffected.
Gallas signed a four-year contract with Arsenal, where he took the number 10 shirt vacated by the recently-retired Dennis Bergkamp. In an interview in October 2006 on the Official Arsenal Magazine, Arsenalu manager Arsène Wenger explained the somewhat strange decision on the hand him the number of Section 10 (traditionally forward number):
The number three has been unpleasant for him and I gave the rest heading out. In the end, I thought it might be a good idea to give ten defender, because a lot of percussion would suffer from the comparison with Dennis. Initially I was reluctant to give Dennis number, and in particular defender, but overall I think it's better.
Gallas made a full debut for the production of shooters in the left-back to the 1-1 home draw against Middlesbrough on 9 September 2006 and scored his first goal against Sheffield
International career
After the fiasco in Korea, Gallas shirt adorned tricolor on October 12, 2002, for a friendly match between France and Slovenia which brought no surprises. "I expected a lot from myself after a bad World Cup. I deserved this cap especially as I had already played alongside Marcel." His baptism at the Stade de France was marked by a series of objectives. France won 5 to 0. The defense tricolor not tremble. His international debut was a success to say the least. It was the ultimate achievement after steady progress at the highest level. A reward for a full career. After testing himself to be an essential key in defending Chelsea, William was destined for a new life in blue.
Gallas was first selected to form the central hinge in the French team together with his partner, Marcel Desailly, and would follow the same path that his club. He played mostly in defence of the right wing, like his elder, Lilian Thuram. However, William was placed as a central defender when France won the Confederations Cup in 2003, the only trophy he has won to date with the Blues. Although the Euro 2004 was unsuccessful, William has been called up for all the major accessories from France since his first cap, allowing fitness. Recently, Raymond Domenech not to say that he always basa defending France from "Gallas"? This shows a lot about the importance of William is in the Blues' defence.
A sign of fate, William scored his first and only goal for the Blues in his 28th birthday in Montpellier, against Ivory Coast (3-0). This game contained all. France welcomes the return of Zinédine Zidane's birthday and Thierry Henry and William, who is only 20 minutes over Titi. His club team-mate, Didier Drogba, was beaten against a steadfast defence with William at the controls again on the left.
Type and discreet, William does not like making a fuss in a Gro. Despite that often says he prefers playing in the centre, was patient and put in excellent performances on the left. His moment came at the 2006 World Cup, the most prestigious competition. The foundation of a good team is their defense and Williams partnership with Lilian Thuram in the centre gave the entire team tranquillity it needs. France has found its new "Rock" William.
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The number three has been unpleasant for him and I gave the rest heading out. In the end, I thought it might be a good idea to give ten defender, because a lot of percussion would suffer from the comparison with Dennis. Initially I was reluctant to give Dennis number, and in particular defender, but overall I think it's better.Gallas made a full debut for the production of shooters in the left-back to the 1-1 home draw against Middlesbrough on 9 September 2006 and scored his first goal against Sheffield
Gallas was confirmed as Arsenal captain on 9 August 2007, with Kolo Toure and Gilberto Silva serves as a joint vice-captains. His first competitive game as Arsenal captain was on 12 August 2007 against the Fulham FC ended with a 2-1 victory for Arsenal. Gallas bar injury suffered in the game against Blackburn on 19 August but to play Arsenal in their 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on 20 October. In the traditional Arsenal against Manchester United struggle in the Emirates Stadium on 3 November reached a last minute goal to give the Gunners a draw.
On 24 November 2007 Gallas scored against Wigan, when crossed in Bacary Sagna Gallas and fired a header by the arms of Wigan's goalkeeper Pollitt to open the impasse.
On 16 December 2007 Gallas scored against his old club Chelsea, was the only goal of the game to secure 3 points for Arsenal. Gallas later reflected in his goal against former club Chelsea and claimed that "If Cesc sent the corner for my goal, I saw Petr Čech come from his line and to be honest, I was sure he would catch them. I was surprised when he did not take, and it was just a reflex reaction to the peak in the goal. I just happened to be the right time.
Gallas has for some criticism for its actions in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on 23 February 2008. After team-mate Gaël Clichy conceded a penalty in injury time at the end of the second half, Gallas went into the Birmingham half, apparently in protest. He stood there like Birmingham striker James McFadden converted the penalty. He then had to behave as he appeared to the audience in anger. After the final whistle, Gallas sat on the pitch for two minutes than the rest of the players left the field before being comforted by manager Arsène Wenger.
On 24 November 2007 Gallas scored against Wigan, when crossed in Bacary Sagna Gallas and fired a header by the arms of Wigan's goalkeeper Pollitt to open the impasse.
On 16 December 2007 Gallas scored against his old club Chelsea, was the only goal of the game to secure 3 points for Arsenal. Gallas later reflected in his goal against former club Chelsea and claimed that "If Cesc sent the corner for my goal, I saw Petr Čech come from his line and to be honest, I was sure he would catch them. I was surprised when he did not take, and it was just a reflex reaction to the peak in the goal. I just happened to be the right time.
Gallas has for some criticism for its actions in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on 23 February 2008. After team-mate Gaël Clichy conceded a penalty in injury time at the end of the second half, Gallas went into the Birmingham half, apparently in protest. He stood there like Birmingham striker James McFadden converted the penalty. He then had to behave as he appeared to the audience in anger. After the final whistle, Gallas sat on the pitch for two minutes than the rest of the players left the field before being comforted by manager Arsène Wenger.
International career
After the fiasco in Korea, Gallas shirt adorned tricolor on October 12, 2002, for a friendly match between France and Slovenia which brought no surprises. "I expected a lot from myself after a bad World Cup. I deserved this cap especially as I had already played alongside Marcel." His baptism at the Stade de France was marked by a series of objectives. France won 5 to 0. The defense tricolor not tremble. His international debut was a success to say the least. It was the ultimate achievement after steady progress at the highest level. A reward for a full career. After testing himself to be an essential key in defending Chelsea, William was destined for a new life in blue.
Gallas was first selected to form the central hinge in the French team together with his partner, Marcel Desailly, and would follow the same path that his club. He played mostly in defence of the right wing, like his elder, Lilian Thuram. However, William was placed as a central defender when France won the Confederations Cup in 2003, the only trophy he has won to date with the Blues. Although the Euro 2004 was unsuccessful, William has been called up for all the major accessories from France since his first cap, allowing fitness. Recently, Raymond Domenech not to say that he always basa defending France from "Gallas"? This shows a lot about the importance of William is in the Blues' defence.
A sign of fate, William scored his first and only goal for the Blues in his 28th birthday in Montpellier, against Ivory Coast (3-0). This game contained all. France welcomes the return of Zinédine Zidane's birthday and Thierry Henry and William, who is only 20 minutes over Titi. His club team-mate, Didier Drogba, was beaten against a steadfast defence with William at the controls again on the left.
Type and discreet, William does not like making a fuss in a Gro. Despite that often says he prefers playing in the centre, was patient and put in excellent performances on the left. His moment came at the 2006 World Cup, the most prestigious competition. The foundation of a good team is their defense and Williams partnership with Lilian Thuram in the centre gave the entire team tranquillity it needs. France has found its new "Rock" William.
more from Galas>>>
