Florent Malouda
French winger who won four Ligue 1 titles with Lyon and the Champions League with Chelsea.
Florent Johan Malouda (born 13 June 1980) is a French football coach and former professional player who played as a left winger. Born in French Guiana, he represented both France and French Guiana at the international level. Malouda spent most of his career at Lyon and Chelsea, winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles with the former and the UEFA Champions League in 2012 with the latter, among other honours. Malouda represented the France national football team on 80 occasions from 2004 to 2012, including in two FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. He was part of the French team which reached the 2006 World Cup final. In 2017, he played for his home region French Guiana.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Florent Johan Malouda
- Born
- 13 June 1980
- Birthplace
- Cayenne, French Guiana, France
- Height
- 1.81 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Left winger
Lore & Background
Malouda was born in Cayenne, French Guiana. He attracted the interest of scouts from French club Châteauroux and he soon moved to Paris to join the club. He played 57 games for Châteauroux, making his senior debut at the age of 16 in Ligue 2. He was then signed by top division side Guingamp. Under the tutelage of coach Guy Lacombe, Malouda demonstrated his ability and formed a combination with Didier Drogba. Malouda's performances caught the attention of Lyon, who signed him after claiming their second consecutive title during the 2002–03 season. The highlights of Malouda's career at Lyon were a man of the match display against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League and his ten goals which led Lyon to their sixth consecutive Ligue 1 title, both during the 2006–07 season. He also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year that season. On 8 July 2007, Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas announced that the club had accepted an undisclosed bid from Chelsea for Malouda. Malouda officially signed a three-year contract with Chelsea on 9 July 2007. He made his debut for Chelsea against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Community Shield. Malouda ended his first season in English football with two goals and one assist in the league. In the 2009 FA Cup Final against Everton, he played a pivotal role in Chelsea's 2–1 win setting up Didier Drogba's equaliser. On 23 June 2009, Malouda signed a new four-year deal with Chelsea which would keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2013. Malouda scored 12 goals and 8 assists in the league, 15 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, during the 2009–10 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did his time at Lyon last?
He spent three seasons with the club, playing from 2004 until his departure in 2007. This era coincided with the beginning of Olympique Lyonnais winning six consecutive league titles.
What major trophies did he win there?
During his tenure, he contributed to securing multiple Ligue 1 championships as part of the squad noted for a historic six-peat. He is celebrated for helping maintain Lyon's status as the dominant force in France during those years.
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