Paul Nicolas

Paul Nicolas (4 November 1899 – 3 March 1959) was a French footballer who played as a striker. He was part of the France national football teams at the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Summer Olympics.

He was also part of the France national football team selection committee.

Club career

Paul Nicolas lost his mother at the age of 3, and then his father in 1914. He was raised by his mother-in-law together with his brother Henri. He began his football career with Saint-Mandé Club in 1916. Initially, he played as a defender, but he quickly realized that his destiny laid at the forefront since he scored many goals. In addition to his goal-scoring instinct, Nicolas also stood out for his strong character on the pitch, and these two qualities combined eventually drew the attention of Mr. Fort, the then president of the Gallia Club, who signed him as a centre-forward in 1916.

At the time, center-forwards usually were corpulent, aggressive and impetuous players, but Nicolas revolutionized the way of playing as a forward striker, imposing his talent, his skill with both feet, and intuition to position himself in the right place, thus being described as a "precursor and prototype of the modern striker, scorer at heart but just as altruistic in the last gesture".

Paul Nicolas joined the army around the end of World War I, thus leaving for Paris. On 5 March 1919, while he was in the army, he met on the station platform a former brilliant captain of Red Star F.C.: Lucien Gamblin, who convinced him to join him at Red Star given his reputation as a skillful centre-forward. Nicolas proved to be a great recruitment as he went on to play a pivotal role in helping the club win the Coupe de France four times, including three in a row between 1921 and 1923, scoring once in the 1922 final to help his side to a 2–0 victory over Rennais. He helped the club win its fourth Coupe in 1928.

In 1929, Paul Nicolas left Red Star for family reasons and moved to Amiens where he opened a grocery store, which is why he joined Amiens SC, with whom he played for six years before ending his career in 1935, in the round of 16 of the 1934–35 Coupe de France, in which Amiens was eliminated by Red Star after a playoff match.

International career

File:Paul Nicolas en 1924.jpg

Paul Nicolas in 1924

He played in 44 matches for the France national team between 1920 and 1921, scoring a then national record of 20 goals. He participated in the football tournaments of three Olympic games (1920, 1924, and 1928), scoring a total of four goals in five games, including one against Uruguay, which was the best team at the time. Despite his great performances at the Olympics, the 31-year-old Paul Nicolas failed to participate in the inaugural tournament of the World Cup in 1930 to end his magnificent international career on a high.

This tally includes two hat-tricks, one in a 4–1 win over Yugoslavia on 13 June 1926, and the other to help his side to a 4–0 win over Northern Ireland on 21 February 1928.

In 1919, Nicolas took part in the Inter-Allied Games in Paris, a large sports competition organized in celebration of the Allied victory in World War I, since he was a member of the military. However, the matches of the tournament are not included in the official FIFA register. Together with the likes of Lucien Gamblin and Albert Rénier, he helped France win Group A with two goals against Romania (4–0), a poker against Greece (11–0) and a decisive goal against Greece (2–0). However, he failed to score in the final as they were beaten 2–3 by Czechoslovakia.

Retirement

File:Stèle commémorative Paul et Yvonne Nicolas, Gy-l'Évêque (Yonne) - 4.jpg

Memorial at Gy-l'Évêque where Paul Nicolas died in a road accident

A football lover, he could not bring himself to leave the world of football. Endowed with a strong personality, he joined the selection committee of the France national team in August 1949. He stayed there until December 1953, when, following the double disappearance of Emmanuel Gambardella and Georges Bayrou, he was appointed president of the Groupement des clubs authorized (the forerunner of the Ligue de Football Professionnel) — he would remain in this position until June 1956. He returns to the selection in September 1954 as "director of the France team", contributing to the team's third-place finish at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

On his return from a disputed France-Belgium match in 1959 in Colombes, Paul Nicolas was the victim of a terrible car accident that cost him his life. His tragic death shook French football. Half a century later, his memory is still alive.

International goals

France score listed first, score column indicates score after each Nicolas goal.

List of international goals scored by Paul Nicolas

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	18 January 1920	Velodromo Sempione, Milan, Italy	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Italy	flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg	flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg	flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg	link alias-naval = Italian Navy	link alias-air force = Italian Air Force	link alias-army = Italian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	link alias-navy = Italian Navy	link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team	size =	name =	variant = 1861	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} || align=center | 1–3 || align=center| 4–9 || Friendly
2	29 February 1920	Parc des Sports, Geneva, Switzerland	Template:Country data SWI	2–0	2–0	Friendly
3	28 March 1920	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Belgium	flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg	flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg	flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg	link alias-army = Belgian Land Component	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-naval = Belgian Navy	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg	link alias-navy = Belgian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align=center | 1–1 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–1 || rowspan=2 | Friendly
4				2–1
5	29 August 1920	Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Italy	flag alias = Flag of Italy.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Italy (1861–1946).svg	flag alias-1943 = War flag of the Italian Social Republic.svg	flag alias-2003 = Flag of Italy (2003–2006).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	flag alias-navy-1947 = Naval Ensign of Italy (1947-2013).svg	link alias-naval = Italian Navy	link alias-air force = Italian Air Force	link alias-army = Italian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Italy.svg	link alias-navy = Italian Navy	link alias-roller hockey = Italy {{{mw}}} national roller hockey team	size =	name =	variant = 1861	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} || align=center | 2–0 || rowspan=1 align=center| 3–1 || 1920 Summer Olympics Quarter-finals
6	22 April 1923	Stade Pershing, Paris, France	Template:Country data SWI	2–2	2–2	Friendly
7	27 May 1924	Stade Bauer, Saint-Ouen, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Latvia	flag alias = Flag of Latvia.svg	flag alias-pantone = Flag of Latvia (Textile).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Latvian Air Forces.svg	link alias-air force = Latvian Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Latvia.svg	link alias-naval = Latvian Naval Forces	link alias-army = Latvian Land Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Latvia.svg	link alias-navy = Latvian Naval Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align=center | 2–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 7–0 || rowspan=2 | 1924 Summer Olympics Round of 16
8				4–0
9	1 June 1924	Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Uruguay	flag alias = Flag of Uruguay.svg	flag alias-1828 = Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg	link alias-naval = National Navy of Uruguay	flag alias-army = Flag of Uruguayan Army.svg	National Army of Uruguay	link alias-air force = Uruguayan Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Uruguayan Air Force.svg	link alias-navy = National Navy of Uruguay	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align=center | 1–1 || align=center| 1–5 || 1924 Summer Olympics Quarter-finals
10	25 April 1926	Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France	Template:Country data SWI	1–0	1–0	Friendly
11	13 June 1926	Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Kingdom of Yugoslavia	shortname alias = Yugoslavia	flag alias = Flag of Yugoslavia (1918–1943).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Yugoslav Navy	flag alias-army = Zastava Triglavskog puka.svg	link alias-army = Royal Yugoslav Army	link alias-air force = Royal Yugoslav Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Yugoslav Navy	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} || align=center | 2–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 4–1 || rowspan=3 | Friendly
12				3–1
13				4–1
14	21 February 1928	Stade Buffalo, Montrouge, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Ireland	shortname alias = Ireland	flag alias = Flag of Ireland.svg	flag alias-1783 = Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg	flag alias-4prov = Four Provinces Flag.svg	flag alias-green = Green harp flag of Ireland.svg	flag alias-football = Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg	link alias-football = Ireland national football team (1882–1950)	flag alias-hockey = Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg	flag alias-field hockey = Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg	empty = Ireland Wolfhounds	flag alias-indoor hockey = Flag of Ireland hockey team.svg	flag alias-rugby union = IRFU flag.svg	flag alias-rugby sevens = IRFU flag.svg	flag alias-rugby league = Four Provinces Flag.svg	flag alias-cricket = Cricket Ireland flag.svg	link alias-cricket = Ireland cricket team	flag alias-quidditch = Flag of Quidditch Ireland.svg	flag alias-air force=Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg	link alias-air force=Irish Air Corps	link alias-naval=Irish Naval Service	flag alias-military=Flag_of_the_Irish_Defence_Forces.svg	link alias-military=Irish Defence Forces	flag alias-army=Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg	link alias-army=Irish Army	flag alias-navy=Irish Naval Service Colour.svg	link alias-navy=Irish Naval Service	flag alias-coast guard=Coast Guard Flag (Ireland).svg	link alias-coast guard=Irish Coast Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align=center | 1–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=3 | Friendly
15				2–0
16				3–0
17	11 March 1928	Stade olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland	Template:Country data SWI	3–4	3–4	Friendly
18	29 April 1928	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Portugal	flag alias = Flag of Portugal.svg	flag alias-1248 = PortugueseFlag1248.svg	flag alias-1385 = PortugueseFlag1385.svg	flag alias-1495 = Flag Portugal (1495).svg	flag alias-1578 = Flag Portugal (1578).svg	flag alias-1640 = Flag Portugal (1640).svg	flag alias-1707 = Flag Portugal (1707).svg	flag alias-1750 = Flag of Portugal (1750).svg	flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag Portugal (1830).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag Portugal sea (1830).svg	flag alias-air force=Portugal Air force fin flash.svg	flag alias-army = Military flag of Portugal.svg	link alias-air force = Portuguese Air Force	link alias-army = Portuguese Army	link alias-naval = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-navy=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-navy = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-marines=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-marines=Portuguese Marine Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align=center | 1–1 || align=center| 1–1 || Friendly
19	24 February 1929	Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Hungary	flag alias = Flag of Hungary.svg	flag alias-1848 = Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg	flag alias-1849 = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of Hungary (1848-1849, 1867-1869).svg	flag alias-1869 = Flag of Hungary (1869-1874).svg	flag alias-1874 = Flag of Hungary (1874-1896).svg	flag alias-1896 = Flag of Hungary (1896-1915; angels).svg	flag alias-1915 = Flag of Hungary (1915-1918; angels).svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Hungary (1918-1919).svg	flag alias-1919 = Flag of Hungary (1919).svg	flag alias-1920 = Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg	flag alias-1946 = Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg	flag alias-1949 = Flag of Hungary (1949-1956; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg	flag alias-1956 = Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957; 1-2 aspect ratio).svg	flag alias-1957 = Flag of Hungary.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Hungary with arms (state).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Hungary.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Hungary.svg	Hungarian River Guard	flag alias-military = Flag of the Hungarian Defence Forces.svg	link alias-military = Hungarian Defence Forces	flag alias-army = War Flag of Hungary.svg	link alias-army = Hungarian Ground Forces	link alias-air force = Hungarian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Hungary.svg	Hungarian River Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1920 }} || align=center | 2–0 || align=center| 3–0 || Friendly
20	24 March 1929	Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Portugal	flag alias = Flag of Portugal.svg	flag alias-1248 = PortugueseFlag1248.svg	flag alias-1385 = PortugueseFlag1385.svg	flag alias-1495 = Flag Portugal (1495).svg	flag alias-1578 = Flag Portugal (1578).svg	flag alias-1640 = Flag Portugal (1640).svg	flag alias-1707 = Flag Portugal (1707).svg	flag alias-1750 = Flag of Portugal (1750).svg	flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg	flag alias-1830 = Flag Portugal (1830).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag Portugal sea (1830).svg	flag alias-air force=Portugal Air force fin flash.svg	flag alias-army = Military flag of Portugal.svg	link alias-air force = Portuguese Air Force	link alias-army = Portuguese Army	link alias-naval = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-navy=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-navy = Portuguese Navy	flag alias-marines=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg	link alias-marines=Portuguese Marine Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center| 2–0 || Friendly

Honours

Red Star Olympique

• Coupe de France: 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1928

France

• Inter-Allied Games (1919) runner-up

External links

• Template:FFF player
• Template:FFF male player