It's all too easy to forget that Nantes goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau, in April 2005, was still only 25. A first-team regular at 17, trusted with the captaincy at 19, and over 300 Ligue 1 appearances under his belt, 'Micka' has all the airs of a veteran campaigner. Indeed, he is already studying for the coaching badges most players don't think about until well into their 30s.

His has been a meteoric rise to the top, driven by an inimitable passion and steely self-belief that has nonetheless attracted a fair amount of criticism. Singled out as the instigator of former boss Loïc Amisse's sacking in December 2004, Landreau became an overnight symbol of player power gone crazy. In his defence, he believed he was acting in Les Canaris' best interests after more than eight seasons of loyal service, and felt the lack of a majority shareholder weakened the club's ability to make tough decisions.

It was not the first time the native of Machecoul had got himself in trouble for trying to solve all the club's problems on his own. After making two excellent penalty saves from Sochaux players in the shoot-out at the end of the 2004 Coupe de la Ligue final, Landreau made the ill-fated decision to take a spot-kick himself. His chipped effort sailed over the bar and Nantes blew both the trophy and a shot at the UEFA Cup.

This desire to assume responsibility dates all the way back to his childhood, when the young Micka played at schoolboy level for local club Arthon. His older brother Vincent was custodian for the senior side and rather than spend time with his own teammates, Landreau would sit in a corner of the senior team's dressing room, soaking up the more serious atmosphere of the adult game. "I think that's why I've always got along better with people older than me," he says.

Quickly identified as a star of the future by Nantes, Landreau made his first appearance in Les Canaris Under-15 team in 1993. It was the start of a long and successful partnership that has so far brought him the 2001 Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France honours in 1999 and 2000. The signs are, though, that he may move on when his contract ends next summer. Talks have broken down over an extension and Landreau admitted in April 2005: "Right now, I only see myself staying here until 2006. I haven't heard anything new from the club's directors."