Future looks bright for Gallas

When English Premiership side Chelsea were looking to store up their defence in 2001 their France captain Marcel Desailly suggested they sign his young compatriot William Gallas.

Gallas quit Marseille and the Mediteranean coast for swinging London and neither he nor Chelsea have had cause for regret since.

And while Gallas has earned his salt at the blues of Chelsea he has also broken into the blues of France, becoming a first choice in central defence for his national outfit.

He went through the ranks at France's elite coaching school the Institut National du Football before gaining some early success, winning the French second division title with Caen in 1996.

At just 20, he earned a dream move to Marseille, where he came to national attention as a right back after initially stuggling to make the first team.

High praise

One of his highlights at Marseille was to score the winner in Marseille's 1999 Champions League victory over Manchester United.

Something of a rebel in his youth he matured swiftly at Chelsea under the watchful eyes of countrymen Desailly and Emmanuel Petit, perhaps his marriage and the birth of his daughter also helped steady his ship.

The understanding he develloped with Desailly prompted France boss Jacques Santini to give him his first full international call up in October 2002, a match France won 5-0 over Slovenia.

Gallas had already earned glowing praise for his contributions at under-21 level.

"He's even better on the right than in the centre, his distribution is good, he runs at 2000 miles an hour and in a one-on-one is unbeatable," French under-21 boss Raymond Domenech once said of him.

Chelsea's coach Claudio Ranieri also heaps praise on him.

"He's big, strong, very fast, can play well with both feet and can play anywhere; he has everything needed to become great," the Italian said.