Virgile Gaillard
René Paul Virgile Gaillard (28 July 1877 – 7 March 1943) was a French footballer who played as a midfielder and who competed in the football tournament at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, winning a silver medal as a member of the USFSA Olympic team representing France, which was primarily made up of Club Français players.[1][2]
Playing career
Club career
On 25 April 1897, Gaillard started in the final of the inaugural Coupe Manier against the newly crowded champions of France Standard AC, helping his side to a 4–3 win after extra-time.[3] A few months later, on 26 December, he started as a defender in the very first football match in the history of the Parc des Princes in front of 500 spectators, in which Club Français was defeated 1–3 by the English Ramblers.[4] In the following year, on 3 April, he sustained an injury during the first half of the final of the 1898 USFSA Football Championship against Standard AC at Courbevoie, which affected his play for the rest of the game and contributed to the team's eventual 2–3 loss.[5]
On 6 May 1900, Gaillard started in the final of the 1900 USFSA Football Championship against Le Havre AC, and even though he "worked wonders after wonders", Club Français lost 0–1.[6] On 1 April 1907, the former players of Club Français, who had been retired for years, came together to play a match for the so-called Vieilles Gloires ("Old Glories"), including the 30-year-old Gaillard, who "left his rabbits and chickens to come and train, but ended up not playing due to injury.[7]
International career
Gaillard was listed as a midfielder for the USFSA team at the 1900 Olympic Games.[8] He was selected for both matches, which ended in a 0–4 loss to Upton Park on 20 September, and in a 6–2 win over a team representing Belgium three days later.[9][10] The French team came second and Gaillard was thus awarded with a silver medal.[1][9]
Later life
Gaillard died in 18th arrondissement of Paris on 7 March 1943, at the age of 65.[1]
Honours
Club
- Club Français
- USFSA Paris Championship:
- Champions (2): 1898–99 and 1899–1900
- USFSA Football Championship:
- Coupe Manier:
- Champions (1): 1897
International
- Summer Olympics:
- Silver medal (1): 1900
References
- ^ a b c "Virgile Gaillard". Olympedia. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ "Virgile Gaillard - Fiche joueur - Football" [Virgile Gaillard - Player Profile - Football]. www.eurosport.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Coupe de France" [French Cup]. gallica.bnf.fr (in French). Tous les sports. 26 April 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ "Ramblers contre Club Français" [Ramblers against Club Français]. www.retronews.fr (in French). Le Journal des sports. 27 December 1897. p. 1. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Le Championnat de France - Victoirie du Standard" [The French Championship - Victory of Standard]. www.retronews.fr (in French). Le Journal des sports. 4 April 1898. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Championnat de France - Club Français (1) contre La Havre AC (1)" [French Championship - Club Français (1) against La Havre AC (1)]. www.retronews.fr (in French). Le Journal des sports. 7 May 1900. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Endons à César..." [Let us give credit to Caesar...]. gallica.bnf.fr (in French). L'Auto. 5 April 1907. p. 7. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ "Paris 1900, en sport de démonstration" [Paris 1900, in demonstration sport]. www.fff.fr (in French). 10 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Games of the II. Olympiad". RSSSF. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Virgile Gaillard Football Player Statistics". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
External links
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