Candela earned 40 caps for the France national team and was part of the squads that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000.

[4] At club level, Candela played football in France with Toulouse (1992–95) and Guingamp (1995–97), before moving to Italian side AS Roma (1997–2005).

He won one scudetto with Roma, as well as the Supercoppa Italiana, in 2001, also helping the club to the 2003 Coppa Italia Final.

He later joined English side Bolton Wanderers (2005), before returning to Italy to play for Udinese (2005–2006), and Siena (2006–2007), as well as spending a spell on loan with Messina (2007).

[citation needed] Candela was a quick, offensive-minded, and technically skilled left wingback, who was effective at joining the attack as well as being capable in defence, due to his intelligence and tenacity.