VIDEO: Coach's call enough for Gallas

Alistair Edwards needed just one phone call to convince William Gallas that Perth Glory was the right place for the Frenchman to continue his decorated career.

It must have been some sort of conversation, given Gallas was linked with English heavyweights Manchester City and Premier League new-boys Crystal Palace, among other big spenders in Europe, the US and Asia, after being released by Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season.

Gallas, 36, wanted a new challenge after more than a decade at London’s biggest clubs.

Edwards’ vision for Glory’s future immediately resonated with the veteran defender, who borders on repetitive when speaking of his passion for the game and burning desire to win.

As is the case with most European imports to the A-League, the laidback lifestyle and warm weather played their roles in attracting Gallas, who said the way marquee players Alessandro Del Piero and Emile Heskey had settled in Australia also gave him confidence it was the right move.

But Edwards’ phone call last month was the clincher and Gallas this week put pen to paper on a deal believed to be worth about $700,000, tying him to Glory until the end of the season.

“The manager convinced me on the phone,” Gallas said.

“He told me Perth Glory was the champion a long time ago and they want to be champions again. He said the fans are fantastic here and they want to play good football.

“All the people I spoke with, they said to me the same thing: Perth is a great city, the people are very kind and I will enjoy to play my football here. So I decided to come here.”

On paper, Gallas sits alongside Del Piero, Dwight Yorke, Robbie Fowler and Romario as one the best-credentialed players to join the A-League in its nine-year history.

But some of the roles expected of a marquee player might not have sat well with Gallas in the past.

He endured a strained relationship with the media and fans during his time in England, when a string of controversies saw him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Among them were an acrimonious split with Chelsea, public criticism of teammates as Arsenal captain and France’s disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign.

But his move to Australia has brought about a fresh start.

With that come fresh challenges, which Gallas is prepared to tackle head-on.

“It’s different here with the marquee player,” Gallas said.

“I’m the guy who doesn’t speak a lot with the media, but now because I’ve got that responsibility I will take it and I will be happy to take it. I start with you and I will try my best.

“But for me, even if I’m the marquee player, I think the most important thing is the team.

“Yes, it’s true, I will bring my experience, but in the end if we win many games it will be not only me, it will be the team, the club, the fans. That is most important for me.”

His words seem genuine. Gallas is not here for a holiday.

At 36, he knows his physical limitations and is willing to work hard to ensure he can give his all for the team, starting with his debut against Adelaide United at nib Stadium today.

Off-season work with personal trainers in Europe and a short spell training with French club Caen have kept him in good health.

“Last season I had an injury, so maybe that is normal now I’m 36, but I worked hard on it to be ok for the rest of the season,” Gallas said.

“I have to come every morning to do what I have to do before the training to be warm, and after training it will be stretching, massage because everybody has to know the body can change so we have to accept it as well.”

Playing with Marseille, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, Gallas has played with and against many of the world’s greatest players, listing Cristiano Ronaldo, Dider Drogba, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o as the best of the bunch.

He has also worked under some fine managers, such as Raymond Domenech and Claudio Ranieri.

But there are two he rates above any other.

“I will say the best for me was (Jose) Mourinho because I won trophies with him, but Arsene Wenger is a great manager. We can see now what he’s doing with his team,” Gallas said.

“I think with Mourinho you have to be very strong in your head if you want to play for him because he’s a manager who will say the truth in front of everybody. Some players don’t accept that.

“With Wenger he will speak to you face to face without any of the other players around. They are different, but they are both great managers.”

Edwards’ managerial career is in its relative infancy, as is his relationship with Gallas.

But the Frenchman likes what he sees in the former Glory striker, who is plotting a path to return the club to the top of Australian soccer.

“The manager likes to teach his players to get the best from them and I think that is very important,” Gallas said.

“In football you have to be a perfectionist if you want to have success and after the training (this week) I’m sure the manager is a perfectionist. He’s good for the young players because they can still improve.

“How he wants to play is the football I used to play with Arsenal. He likes to play good football, but as well he wants to win. If we can manage to do both, it will be good.”