ROMAIN GIROUD ditched football as a youngster to pursue a completely different career – now he takes inspiration from his World Cup-winning brother.
The 46-year-old, who is the brother of AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud, played for Auxerre and represented France at Under-15 and Under-17 level as a centre-back.
He played alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka as a teenager but never made it as a professional.
Instead, he decided to become a full-time nutritionist.
Romain has already made it clear that he is his brother’s biggest fan.
In a joint interview with French TV channel Telefoot earlier this year, he brought Olivier to the brink of tears with an emotional message.
He said: “For me, you are the best player in the world.
“I never told you, but through you, I made the career that I never managed to make.”
Romain also opened up about his relationship with his brother during an interview with L’Equipe in 2022.
The Frenchman said: “He grew up with older brothers and when he played football with us, he raised the bar.
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“Olivier always wanted to be on par with us to compete with us. And we lived together. This context has helped create a winning culture.
“He has this ability to seize and provoke opportunities. He is the soul of a striker, of scoring goals.”
Olivier Giroud kicked off his professional career with French side Grenoble in 2006 and went on to play for Istres, Tours and Montpellier before joining Arsenal in 2012.
During his time in North London he scored 105 goals in 253 appearances, won three FA Cups and was handed the Puskas Award in 2017 for an outstanding scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace.
The striker then joined Chelsea and went on to win the Champions League and Europa League.
He left Stamford Bridge to sign for AC Milan in 2021 and won the Serie A title at the end of his first season.
Giroud is also France’s all-time leading goalscorer having netted 56 times in 129 appearances.
