William Gallas

William Eric Gallas (; born 17 August 1977) is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur.

Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006. While his career has been marked by both individual and team successes – including Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 – he has also encountered controversy as a consequence of his on-field behaviour and friction with other personnel. In 2007, he was named Arsenal's captain, but was removed from the role during the 2008–09 season after criticising teammates in a media interview. Gallas left Arsenal at the end of the 2009–10 season, when his contract expired.

Background

Gallas was born in Asnières-sur-Seine. He is the cousin of fellow footballer Ludovic Quistin and of Mathieu Bastareaud, a French rugby union centre playing for Stade Français.

Club career

Early career

A graduate of the French Football academy at Clairefontaine, Gallas started his professional career at second division SM Caen, helping them to promotion as champions in 1996. He was subsequently transferred to Olympique Marseille in 1997. Gallas spent four seasons at Marseille, where he played alongside Robert Pirès among others. He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League playing for Marseille, and he also played against Chelsea in that competition in 2000.

Caen

1995–1997,...
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