Julien Brellier

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Julien Brellier

| image =

| fullname = Julien Brellier{{Hugman|22390|accessdate=17 April 2017}}

| height =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1982|1|10}}

| birth_place = Echirolles, France

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1998–2000

| years2 = 2000–2003

| years3 = 2001–2002

| years4 = 2002–2003

| years5 = 2003–2005

| years6 = 2004–2005

| years7 = 2005–2007

| years8 = 2007–2008

| years9 = 2008–2010

| years10 = 2010

| clubs1 = Montpellier Hérault

| clubs2 = Internazionale

| clubs3 = → Lecco (loan)

| clubs4 = → Legnano (loan)

| clubs5 = Venezia

| clubs6 = → Salernitana (loan)

| clubs7 = Hearts

| clubs8 = Norwich City

| clubs9 = FC Sion

| clubs10 = AC Seyssinet

| caps1 = 0

| caps2 = 0

| caps3 = 0

| caps4 = 30

| caps5 = 56

| caps6 = 8

| caps7 = 52

| caps8 = 10

| caps9 = 11

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| goals9 = 0

}}

Julien Brellier (born 10 January 1982) is a French former footballer who played as a midfielder. His former clubs include Hearts and Norwich City.

Playing career

=Early career=

Brellier started his career at French club Montpellier and was recruited by Italian giants Internazionale in 2000. He made a limited number of appearances with Inter and was loaned out to Lecco and Legnano before joining Venezia, initially under a co-ownership agreement. He played part of the 2004–05 season with Salernitana and was released in June 2005 due to the bankrupt of Venezia.

=Heart of Midlothian=

Brellier impressed manager George Burley and was signed on a two-year deal by the Edinburgh side in August.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4737463.stm Hearts move to capture Brellier], BBC Sport, 2 August 2005.

Brellier quickly became a firm favourite with the Hearts fans: his unspectacular, diligent covering role in midfield allowing fellow midfielders Paul Hartley and Rudi Skácel greater attacking freedom, from which they scored a combined total of 30 league goals during the 2005–06 season. By the latter part of that season a giant French flag, with the words "Le Juge" emblazoned across it, became a regular spectacle at Hearts' home stadium Tynecastle, while the crowd took to singing his name to the tune of Verdi's La donna è mobile.

Despite Brellier being one of the most popular players at Tynecastle, it was frequently reported in the media that Hearts' owner Vladimir Romanov did not share the supporters' high opinion of him.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4371828.stm Pulling at Hearts' strings], BBC Sport, 24 October 2005.

After the signing of Bruno Aguiar, Brellier was used more often as a substitute and, in an April 2006 interview, he suggested he was unhappy with the treatment he had received.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4960380.stm Brellier unhappy over treatment], BBC Sport, 30 April 2006. However, in June 2006 it was confirmed that Brellier had agreed to extend his stay with Hearts until 2007.[http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=24&id=938692006 Vlad wants French ace Brel to extend stay], Scotsman.com Sport, 27 June 2006. He appeared as a substitute as Hearts won the 2006 Scottish Cup final.

The 2006–07 season continued in a similar vein to the previous year for Brellier, with the Frenchman starting less than half of Hearts' games. His cause was not helped by a controversial sending-off in the Maroons Champions League qualifying round defeat to AEK Athens[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5272568.stm AEK Athens 3–0 Hearts], BBC Sport, 23 August 2006. Following much speculation during the season, in May 2007 it was confirmed that he would leave Hearts, after rejecting a final contract offer.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6665021.stm Brellier rejects new Hearts offer], BBC Sport, 17 May 2007.

=Post-Hearts career=

On 14 June, Brellier's agent, the brother of former Manchester United star Eric Cantona, confirmed that the player was in talks over a possible move to Rangers. However, he joined Norwich on 3 July, signing a two-year deal.[http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1066393,00.html Brellier signs for Norwich] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705224752/http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0%2C%2C10355~1066393%2C00.html |date= 5 July 2007 }}, Norwich City official site, 3 July 2007.

Brellier was sent off for the first time in his Norwich career on 22 September 2007 in a 2–0 defeat at Wolves. He was unable to establish himself in the first team under new manager Glenn Roeder and the club terminated his contract on 11 January 2008.[http://www.pinkun.com/content/ncfc/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=Norwich&tBrand=PinkUnOnline&tCategory=Norwich&itemid=NOED11%20Jan%202008%2012%3A11%3A57%3A273 The Pink'un] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116110026/http://www.pinkun.com/content/ncfc/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=Norwich&tBrand=PINKUNOnline&tCategory=Norwich&itemid=NOED11%20Jan%202008%2012%3A11%3A57%3A273 |date=16 January 2008 }} He subsequently signed for FC Sion.[http://www.mercato365.com/article_214073_FC-Sion-Signature-de-Brellier.shtml FC Sion : Signature de Brellier – La Une – Mercato 365 – Tous sur le mercato] In March 2010, Brellier severed ties with FC Sion and began training with Ligue 1 side Grenoble in order to maintain his fitness as he searched for a new club.[http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/ExHearts-star-Brellier-gives-his.6158333.jp Ex-Hearts star Brellier gives his verdict on the derby] Scotsman.com, 17 March 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010 In October 2010 Brellier decided to retire from professional football and joined amateur side AC Seyssinet, who play in the 7th tier of French football.