The Real Pallois
This article also featured as part of the 2019 GFFN 100.
For many years, it seems French football has been getting Nicolas Pallois all wrong. After the most impressive year of his career, exuding fierce leadership, defensive intelligence and unerring consistency, it’s difficult to understand how the center back struggled to break out of the amateur ranks of France’s sprawling lower leagues before touring three second tier clubs in a bid to establish himself. A former carpenter, lacking the polish of a modern day academy grad, Pallois has been painted as a brutish workhorse; an uncomplicated blunt instrument. The truth is rather different.
A decade ago the now 32 year old Nicolas Pallois was a long way from Ligue 1. Having started his career with Caen’s B team, Pallois dropped down to the amateur CFA fourth division at the end of the 07/08 campaign. Many young French players unable to impose themselves on a top club follow a similar path, but few return. Despite being one of Ligue 1’s standout defenders in 2019, it took a while even for Pallois.
Initially Caen’s mistake seemed to have been rectified as a sole season with tiny Quevilly was enough to convince Ligue 1 Valenciennes that Pallois should be playing top flight football for the 10/11 campaign but after just 11 league outings Pallois was again bounced back down the pyramid. A loan with new Ligue 2 outfit Laval lead Pallois to the routinely average Niort. Here however Pallois found himself, starring in a rare flirtation with the promotion places during the second of two seasons. Perhaps tellingly, it was here that Pallois would meet great friend Emiliano Sala, Sala’s 18 league goals complimenting Pallois’ defensive nous.
Despite their club suffering a narrow miss, both men were on their up way that summer as Bordeaux signed Pallois and Sala returned to Les Girondins after a loan. Despite turning 27 that September, Pallois had a third chance at top flight football and he took it. Ever-present when fit, Pallois’ solidity covered for other injuries and suspensions to those around as Bordeaux sealed a European place on the final day under Willy Sagnol.
Overall, Pallois was party to an erratic three years at the club which lurched from Sagnol to Jocelyn Gourvannec amid swathes of injury crises, fan unrest and bizarre roller-coaster campaigns. Throughout however Pallois remained a rare pillar of commitment and consistency, despite a three month ban after an altercation with an assistant referee at Rennes. Allowed to leave for Atlantic derby rivals Nantes in 2017, something Gourvannec now regrets, Pallois would again team up with Sala; both players would find the best form of their careers at La Beaujoire.
Despite his honest and modest nature, and largely impressing for some time, Pallois has often cast as a clumsy hard man and notably poked fun at by Julien Cazarre on Canal+ Sunday night show J+1. Pallois was typically philosophical on the matter in an interview with Ouest France however, explaining that “If he can make a buzz thanks to me, let him continue. I do not watch, often it is the teammates who tell me about it.”
Regardless of Cazarre’s characterization, Pallois is described as anything but rough and rudimentary by others. Frédéric Weis described his former teammate to L’equipe as a “teddy bear, sweet and kind,'' while Nantes coach Christian Gourcuff said “we knew about his athletic impact but it's not just that. Tactically, he’s made no mistakes.”
A dry whit is often obvious too; Pallois jokingly announcing his international retirement this autumn having missed out on Didier Deschamps France squad, despite never playing for Les Bleus. Meanwhile having been forced to train with the reserves during the short stint of Miguel Cardozo as coach at the start of last season after their pair fell out Pallois sarcastically joked: “He was at three clubs in six months, that’s exceptional".
Passion, honesty and commitment define Pallois as a person and as a player. “I will defend the colors as long as I am wearing the jersey. I will fight for this club,” he told Ouest France upon arriving at Nantes. That attitude, exemplified by his roaring celebration having won an injury time tackle in the derby against Rennes, quickly helped convince fans that Pallois was on their side despite his Bordeaux past. Although his game and personality may be more nuanced than commonly accepted, Pallois does not hold back with his opinion. "I am a frank person... Maybe it didn't help, it hurt me, but I won't change. If it happens again, I will do the same,"
Pallois’ 2019, sportingly the best of his career, is cast in sharp relief by the tragic death of close friend Sala. “It haunts me every day,” Pallois explained. “He's always in my head.” Physical strength has often been deemed Pallois only quality, but the mental strength he has shown to handle the passing of Sala, having helped carry the coffin at his funeral and been the man to drive his friend to the airport before the tragic flight to Cardiff has been superhuman. It’s obvious from his displays that Pallois now plays for his friend.
2019 has forced many to reassess their misconceptions of Pallois’ style and persona, it may be time for Didier Deschamps to consider doing the same.
by Adam White
