Nicolas Ardouin

Ardouin was born in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime. His first years in professional football were spent in the lower leagues, first with Grenoble Foot 38 then La Roche VF. In 2002, he moved to level two with ASOA Valence, but only amassed 18 matches in two seasons combined. In 2004–05, Ardouin moved abroad with Deportivo Alavés, again only being backup. In his second season, as the Basque had returned to La Liga, he was as low as third-string, behind Argentine Franco Costanzo and Roberto Bonano, and did not appear at all. Ardouin moved countries again in 2008, joining A.F.C. Tubize in Belgium. He had his most solid campaign as a professional, but the club was finally relegated.