Eugène Nicolaï

Club career

Georges Eugène Nicolaï was born in the 16th arrondissement of Paris on 26 June 1885, as the son of an Italian immigrant, who settled in Paris as a cabinetmaker. He began his career as a halfback at US Suisse, a club of English and Swiss immigrants, and in 1904, the 19-year-old Nicolaï won the , and this victory qualified the club for the 1904 USFSA national championship, in which they lost in the final to RC Roubaix (4–2).

Nicolaï stayed loyal to the club as late as October 1905, but he eventually left for Gallia Club, playing a crucial role in helping the team reach the final of the Coupe Dewar in 1906, held at the Stade de Charentonneau on 6 May, which ended in a 2–1 loss to Racing Club de France. On 18 April 1909, he started in the final of the 1909 Coupe Dewar at Stade de Charentonneau, which ended in a 5–0 win over AS Française.

Following a brief stint at Stade Français, Nicolaï signed for the wealthy Red Star AC, which practiced "brown" amateurism. In the following year, however, he helped the club win the 1912 LFA Football Championship, and this victory allowed the club to compete in the Trophée de France, which then served as an inter-federation national championship, losing its final to (1–3).

International career Nicolaï made his debut for the national team in their second-ever match on 12 February 1905, which was a friendly match against Switzerland, helping France to its first-ever victory (1–0). Nicolaï played a further two unofficial matches for France, both against England AFA, first on 18 March 1909 in Colombes (0–8), and then on 12 March 1910 in Ipswich, the latter ending in a resounding 20–2 loss.

In 1908, Nicolaï was selected for the would-be France C squad that was originally listed to compete in the football tournament of the 1908 Olympic Games, but he ended up not traveling to London because the USFSA decided to send only two instead of three teams.

Later life Nicolaï made his military service between 1906 and 1908, being mobilized in August 1914 when the First World War broke out.

When he was released in 1921, the 36-year-old Nicolaï attempted to return to his former club Red Star, but the deserter was not welcomed there.

Death Nicolaï died in the 17th arrondissement of Paris on 18 February 1958, at the age of 72.

Honours US Suisse USFSA Paris Championship: 1903–04 USFSA Football Championship runner-up: 1904

Gallia Club Dewar Cup: 1909; runner-up 1906

Red Star LFA Football Championship: 1912; runner-up 1911, 1913 Trophée de France runner-up: 1912