William Gallas

2.1. Early career

Gallas began his professional career at Caen in the French second division. He played a crucial role in helping the team achieve promotion as champions in the 1995-96 season. In 1997, he transferred to Marseille, where he spent four seasons, playing alongside notable figures like Robert Pires. During his time at Marseille, Gallas made his debut in the UEFA Champions League and scored his first goal in European competition in October 1999, securing a 1-0 victory over then-European champions Manchester United at the Stade Vélodrome.

2.2. Chelsea

In 2001, Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri signed Gallas from Marseille for 6.20 M GBP. He chose the number 13 shirt, reportedly because it was part of his postcode in Marseille. Under Ranieri, Gallas formed strong centre-back partnerships, first with Marcel Desailly and later with John Terry. His partnership with Terry was particularly notable for a run of 16 games without conceding a goal. Gallas also demonstrated his versatility by playing as a left-back at times. His debut for Chelsea came in August 2001 as a substitute for John Terry against Newcastle United. He scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur. Gallas started in the 2002 FA Cup Final, where Chelsea were defeated by Arsenal.

Under Ranieri's successor, José Mourinho, Gallas was an integral part of the Chelsea squad that won back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, as well as a League Cup. Chelsea also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2005, where they were controversially knocked out by Liverpool after a goal was adjudged to have crossed the line, despite Gallas clearing the ball.

In the 2004-05 season, a serious injury to left-back Wayne Bridge forced Gallas to play out of position. Despite the acquisition of Asier del Horno from Athletic Bilbao for 8.00 M GBP in the 2005 close season, Gallas frequently found himself playing on the left, a situation that increasingly frustrated him, though it highlighted his ability to play anywhere across the defensive line. During Chelsea's successful 2005-06 Premier League season, Gallas scored crucial goals against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United. A 25-yard winning goal he scored against Tottenham in injury time was even selected as "Gallas's best moment" by Chelsea TV.

Gallas's contract with Chelsea was set to expire in May 2007. He refused to sign a new contract with improved terms, stating that the club's offer was insufficient and expressing a desire to play in the Italian Serie A, with Juventus and Milan reportedly interested. Chelsea, however, rejected his transfer request in May 2006, considering him a vital first-team player. Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Gallas refused to report for Chelsea's pre-season tour in the United States, citing fatigue. As a consequence, the club assigned his number 13 shirt to new signing Michael Ballack. This incident raised concerns about his future at Chelsea, and the reception from fans at a club membership day at Stamford Bridge was mixed, with some cheering and others booing. Despite reports of contact with various European clubs, a move outside England did not materialize easily, partly due to the Italian football scandal affecting potential Serie A interest. Chelsea eventually signed Dutch international centre-back Khalid Boulahrouz, implicitly allowing Gallas's departure.

On 1 September 2006, Gallas transferred to Arsenal as part of a deal that saw Ashley Cole move to Chelsea, with Arsenal also receiving 5.00 M GBP. After the transfer, Chelsea issued a statement alleging that Gallas had threatened to deliberately score own goals if he was not allowed to leave. Gallas vehemently denied these claims, accusing Chelsea of "lack[ing] class" and "hiding behind false accusations." Claudio Ranieri, who had brought Gallas to Chelsea, expressed disbelief at the allegations, stating Gallas had always been a professional on the pitch. PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor described the episode as leaving a "bad taste" and suggested Chelsea's statement should be taken "with a large pinch of salt."

2.3. Arsenal

Gallas signed a four-year contract with Arsenal, taking the number 10 shirt previously worn by the recently retired Dennis Bergkamp. In an October 2006 interview, manager Arsène Wenger explained his decision to give a defender the number 10, traditionally a forward's number: "Number three was uncomfortable for him and I had given the rest of the numbers out. In the end I thought it might be a good idea to give the number ten to a defender, because a striker would suffer a lot with the comparison with Dennis. At first I was reluctant to give Dennis's number out, and especially to a defender, but overall I think it's better that way."

Gallas made his full debut for Arsenal at left-back in a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium on 9 September 2006. He scored his first goal for the club against Sheffield United on 23 September 2006, and another against Liverpool on 12 November in a 3-0 victory.

On 9 August 2007, Gallas was confirmed as Arsenal captain, with Kolo Touré as vice-captain. This decision caused some controversy, as Gilberto Silva was widely expected to receive the armband. His first competitive match as captain was a 2-1 victory over Fulham on 12 August 2007. Gallas sustained a groin injury against Blackburn Rovers on 19 August but returned to play against Bolton Wanderers on 20 October. On 3 November, he scored an own goal against Manchester United, initially giving them the lead, but redeemed himself by scoring an injury-time equalizer, resulting in a 2-2 draw. He continued his scoring form with goals against Wigan Athletic on 24 November and his former club Chelsea on 16 December, securing a crucial 1-0 victory for Arsenal.

Gallas faced criticism for his actions during a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City on 23 February 2008. After Eduardo suffered a broken leg from a challenge by Martin Taylor, and with Arsenal leading 2-1 in injury time, Gaël Clichy conceded a penalty. Gallas walked into the Birmingham half in protest and watched as James McFadden converted the penalty. After the final whistle, Gallas sat on the pitch in fury and had to be consoled by Arsène Wenger. Despite speculation that he would be replaced as captain, Wenger stated he would review the matter at the end of the season.

In March 2008, Gallas scored in a 3-2 win against Bolton at Reebok Stadium, initiating a comeback for ten-man Arsenal. In August 2008, it was announced that he would remain captain for the 2008-09 season. During this season, Gallas was prolific in the Champions League, scoring six goals, including two against Twente, an equalizer against Dynamo Kyiv, and a header against Tottenham. On 29 October 2008, he scored his first league goal of the season against Tottenham at the Emirates in a thrilling 4-4 draw. His performance alongside Mikaël Silvestre in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on 8 November 2008 earned him praise, with some claiming he outshone United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić.

In November 2008, Gallas gave an interview to the Associated Press revealing internal tensions within the squad and suggesting that Arsenal's younger players needed to show more courage. This public outburst led to him being dropped from the squad for the next match against Manchester City and reportedly fined two weeks' wages. On 24 November, Arsenal confirmed that he had been permanently stripped of the captaincy, with Cesc Fàbregas taking over. Despite media speculation, Wenger confirmed that Gallas still had a future at the club, and he played in the following day's Champions League match.

On 17 March 2009, Gallas scored the winning goal in a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Hull City. However, on 10 April 2009, he was confirmed to miss the remainder of the season after damaging the medial ligament in his right knee during the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Villarreal, a match that ended 1-1.

Gallas started the 2009-10 campaign in excellent form, scoring three goals in his first three games. He formed a strong partnership with Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal's only major summer signing, with the pair scoring seven goals between them in their first eight league games. On 22 August, in the first home game of the season against Portsmouth, he scored a peculiar goal when Vermaelen's attempted slide-in from a corner kick accidentally deflected off Gallas's face into the net.

On 17 February 2010, Gallas played his 100th league game for Arsenal in a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea. He suffered an injury-hit second half of the season, missing over two months of play. He was surprisingly included in the starting lineup against Barcelona but was stretchered off before half-time with a recurrence of his injury. This proved to be his last game for Arsenal. After contract talks failed, Gallas left the club as a free agent in the summer of 2010. It was reported that his demands included an 80.00 K GBP-a-week salary over a two-year period, which Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood suggested were unreasonable. Gallas made a total of 142 appearances and scored 17 goals for Arsenal.

2.4. Tottenham Hotspur

On 20 August 2010, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp confirmed that Gallas was set to join the club, describing the move as a "no-brainer." The transfer was officially confirmed on 22 August, with Gallas signing a one-year contract at White Hart Lane. This move made Gallas the first player to have appeared for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham, a unique feat in London football history. After his first training session with his new team, Gallas expressed his belief that Spurs had the potential to win the Premier League.

Gallas made his first-team debut for Tottenham on 11 September 2010 in a 1-1 away draw against West Bromwich Albion. On 20 November, due to injuries to regular captains Ledley King and Michael Dawson, Gallas captained Tottenham for the first time against his former club Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Tottenham secured a famous 3-2 victory, their first league win at Arsenal since 1993. On 2 February 2011, Gallas partnered Sébastien Bassong at the back against Blackburn at Ewood Park in a 1-0 midweek victory. Gallas continued to impress for Tottenham throughout 2011. In the Champions League knockout stages, he delivered two commanding performances against Milan, helping Tottenham advance to a quarter-final tie against Real Madrid in the club's debut Champions League campaign.

Despite a season marked by frequent changes in Tottenham's defence due to injuries to his teammates, Gallas performed strongly in his first season with the club. He was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in March 2011, keeping him at Tottenham until the end of the 2012-13 season. In his debut season, he made 36 appearances in all competitions.

During the 2011-12 Premier League, Gallas suffered several injuries that limited his playing time, making just 19 appearances for Tottenham. Competition for the centre-back spot was high with Michael Dawson and Ledley King also vying for positions. In the following season, Gallas played 17 games in the Premier League and scored his first goal for the club-and his first goal in over two years-against former club Chelsea in a 4-2 defeat on 20 October 2012. On 7 June 2013, the Premier League confirmed that Gallas had been released from Tottenham. He made 78 appearances and scored 1 goal for the club.

2.5. Perth Glory

On 23 October 2013, Gallas signed a one-year deal with Perth Glory, becoming the first Frenchman to play in the Australian A-League. His arrival followed other high-profile international players like Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey, and Shinji Ono joining the league. Gallas made his debut for Perth in Round 6 as a substitute against Adelaide United. He scored his first goal on 9 March 2014 in a 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix during Round 22 of the season. Gallas retired from professional football after the conclusion of the 2013-14 A-League season, having made 14 appearances and scoring one goal for Perth Glory.

3.1. France youth teams

Gallas was part of the France U-18 team that won the European Championship. He also represented the France U-20 team in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. In this tournament, he played alongside future international stars such as Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Nicolas Anelka, Mikaël Silvestre, and Willy Sagnol. He also played for the France U-21 team from 1997 to 1998, making 11 appearances.

3.2. France senior team

In October 2002, Gallas made his debut for the France senior team in a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovenia, which France won 5-0. He was included in France's squad for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and played the full 90 minutes in the final as Les Bleus defeated Cameroon 1-0 to win the trophy. He went on to represent France at UEFA Euro 2004, starting in three of France's four matches before they were knocked out by eventual champions Greece. In August 2005, Gallas scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast.

Gallas was an ever-present figure as France reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where they finished as runners-up after losing to Italy on penalties at the Berlin Olympiastadion. In September 2006, he earned his 50th cap for France in a 3-1 victory against Italy at the Stade de France in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier. At UEFA Euro 2008, Gallas was a regular starter, but France were eliminated at the group stage.

In November 2009, Gallas scored a controversial goal that secured France's qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The goal came against the Republic of Ireland in extra time of a World Cup playoff, making the score 1-1 and 2-1 to France on aggregate. The goal was highly disputed as it was scored after his teammate, Thierry Henry, handled the ball twice.

Gallas was included in France's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The tournament proved disastrous for France, as Nicolas Anelka was expelled by coach Raymond Domenech, leading to the team going on strike from training. As a senior member of the squad, Gallas was cited as one of the disruptive influences in an inharmonious camp. After the tournament, Gallas publicly criticized Domenech, blaming the former coach for France's first-round elimination.

On 6 June 2011, at the age of 33, Gallas announced his retirement from international football with immediate effect, having not been selected for the national team since the World Cup. He concluded his international career with 84 caps and 5 goals. Gallas was also eligible to represent the Guadeloupe internationally, as they are not affiliated with FIFA. His cousin, Ludovic Quistin, had previously represented Guadeloupe.

4.1. Club statistics

4.2. International statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year

International goals

5.1. Team honours

• Caen
  • French Division 2: 1995-96
• Chelsea
  • Premier League: 2004-05, 2005-06
  • Football League Cup: 2004-05
  • FA Community Shield: 2005
• Arsenal
  • Emirates Cup: 2007
  • Amsterdam Tournament: 2007
• France
  • FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003
  • FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2006

5.2. Individual honours

• French Division 1 Rookie of the Year: 1999
• PFA Team of the Year: 2002-03 Premier League, 2005-06 Premier League
• ESM Team of the Year: 2007-08