Florent Malouda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Florent Malouda

Malouda with France at UEFA Euro 2012
Personal information
Full name	Florent Johan Malouda
Date of birth	(1980-06-13) 13 June 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth	Cayenne, French Guiana, France
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left winger
Youth career
	AJ Saint-Georges
	USL Montjoly
	Rémire
1995–1996	Châteauroux
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2000	Châteauroux	59	(5)
2000–2003	Guingamp	82	(15)
2003–2007	Lyon	138	(25)
2007–2013	Chelsea	149	(35)
2013–2014	Trabzonspor	19	(5)
2014–2015	Metz	28	(3)
2015–2017	Delhi Dynamos	32	(3)
2016	→ Wadi Degla (loan)	16	(3)
2018	FC Differdange 03	8	(0)
Total		539	(94)
International career
2004–2012	France	80	(9)
2017	French Guiana	4	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  France FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2006
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Florent Johan Malouda (born 13 June 1980) is a French football coach and former professional player. He played as a left winger, which is a forward position on the side of the field. Florent was born in French Guiana, a part of France in South America. He played for both the French national team and the French Guiana team.

Malouda spent most of his career playing for two big clubs: Lyon in France and Chelsea in England. With Lyon, he won the French league title (Ligue 1) four times in a row. With Chelsea, he won the UEFA Champions League in 2012, which is one of the biggest club football trophies in the world.

Florent Malouda played for the France national football team 80 times between 2004 and 2012. He played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments and two European Championships. He was part of the French team that reached the 2006 World Cup final. Later, in 2017, he also played for his home region, the French Guiana national football team.

Florent Malouda's Club Journey

Starting Out at Châteauroux

Florent Malouda was born in Cayenne, French Guiana. When he was young, football scouts from a French club called Châteauroux noticed his talent. He moved to Paris to join their team. It was tough being far from his family, but Malouda kept playing football and studying. He played 57 games for Châteauroux, making his first professional appearance at just 16 years old in Ligue 2, which is France's second division.

Shining at Guingamp

After Châteauroux couldn't get promoted to the top league, Guingamp, a team in France's top division (Ligue 1), signed Malouda. This was where he really showed off his skills in French football. His coach, Guy Lacombe, helped him improve a lot. He also played alongside Didier Drogba, who would later become his teammate again at Chelsea.

Success with Lyon

Malouda's great performances caught the eye of Lyon, one of France's strongest clubs. Lyon had just won their second league title in a row in the 2002–03 season and decided to sign Malouda. He joined an amazing Lyon team with players like Juninho, Michael Essien, and Mahamadou Diarra. Malouda became a key player on the left side of Lyon's attack. His strong play for Lyon also led to him being called up to the France national football team.

Some of his best moments at Lyon include being named "man of the match" against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. He also scored ten goals in the 2006–07 season, helping Lyon win their sixth straight Ligue 1 title. That same season, he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year, beating out other talented players.

After the 2006–07 season, Malouda wanted to leave Lyon. Big clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Real Madrid were interested in him. He told a newspaper that he really wanted to join Chelsea, and that Chelsea had offered about €17 million for him.

Joining Chelsea Football Club

First Season: 2007–08

On 8 July 2007, Lyon announced that they had accepted an offer from Chelsea for Malouda. The transfer fee was rumored to be around £13 million. Malouda traveled to London for a medical check-up and to discuss his contract. He officially signed a three-year deal with Chelsea and was given the number 15 shirt. Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho, said Malouda was an experienced player who could handle the fast pace of English football.

Malouda played his first game for Chelsea against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Community Shield on 5 August 2007. The game ended in a 1–1 draw, and even though Chelsea lost on penalties, Malouda scored and played very well. He started his first Premier League game against Birmingham City on 12 August, scoring Chelsea's second goal in a 3–2 win. This win helped Chelsea break a record for the most unbeaten home games.

In a match against Liverpool, Malouda won a penalty kick, which Frank Lampard scored. He also scored in his first Champions League game for Chelsea against Schalke 04. Malouda finished his first season in England with two goals and one assist in the league.

Second Season: 2008–09

Malouda with Chelsea in 2008

Malouda scored his first two goals under new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari in a Champions League game against Bordeaux on 16 September 2008. Both that game and a League Cup match against Portsmouth ended in 4–0 wins for Chelsea. His first league goal of the season came in a big 5–0 win against Middlesbrough. He also scored a key goal in a 2–0 win against Newcastle.

Malouda scored the tying goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, which Chelsea won 2–1. In a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, a potential penalty for Malouda was not given by the referee. He scored the fourth goal in a famous 4–1 victory over Arsenal, which was Arsenal's biggest home league defeat in 38 years. This game was also his 50th Premier League match for Chelsea.

In the 2009 FA Cup Final against Everton, Malouda played a big part in Chelsea's 2–1 win. He helped set up Didier Drogba's goal. He also hit a shot from far away that looked like it crossed the goal line, but it was not given as a goal. Because of his great form, Malouda signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea on 23 June 2009, keeping him at the club until 2013.

Third Season: 2009–10

When Carlo Ancelotti became manager for the 2009–10 Premier League season, Malouda started playing in a more central role. On 12 September 2009, he scored the winning goal in the 94th minute against Stoke City, giving Chelsea all three points. On 3 November 2009, Malouda played his 100th game for Chelsea in a Champions League match against Atlético Madrid. On 26 December 2009, he received his first red card of the season in a league game against Birmingham City.

In a Premier League match against West Ham United, Malouda was named "Man of the Match" for his excellent play, including many crosses and a goal. He scored two goals against Portsmouth in a 5–0 win on 24 March. Three days later, he scored two more goals against Aston Villa in a huge 7–1 victory.

Malouda in action against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League

In a very important league game against title rivals Manchester United, Malouda helped set up the first goal. He dribbled past two defenders and passed the ball to Joe Cole, who scored. Chelsea won that game 2–1. Malouda was named the Premier League Player of the Month for March 2010. He also scored Chelsea's second goal in a 3–0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.

Malouda had a fantastic 2009–10 season, scoring 12 goals and making 8 assists in the league. Overall, he scored 15 goals and made 15 assists in all competitions.

Fourth Season: 2010–11

Malouda started the 2010–11 Premier League season strong, scoring Chelsea's first goal in a record 6–0 win against West Bromwich Albion. He scored again in another 6–0 win against Wigan Athletic. His fourth goal came against Stoke City in a 2–0 win. He continued his great scoring form against Blackpool, scoring two more goals to reach six goals in just five games.

On 24 January 2011, Malouda scored in a 4–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. On 20 April 2011, he scored two goals against Birmingham City in a 3–1 win at Stamford Bridge. By May 2011, he had scored 41 goals in 179 matches for Chelsea. Malouda was Chelsea's top league goalscorer in the 2010–11 season with 13 goals.

Fifth Season: 2011–12

In the summer of 2011, after Chelsea signed Juan Mata, there was talk that Italian club Juventus might want to buy Malouda. However, Malouda said he wanted to stay at Chelsea.

Malouda in action against Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

He scored in Chelsea's 5–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. Malouda came on as a substitute in Chelsea's 2–1 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup final on 5 May, earning his third FA Cup winner's medal. He had a small injury before the Champions League final, but he was fit enough to be on the bench. He came on as a substitute in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on 19 May. Chelsea won the game 4–3 on penalties, becoming the first London club to win the Champions League trophy. After a season where he wasn't always in the starting team, Malouda said he would work hard to prove himself to the club and fans.

Sixth Season: 2012–13

Malouda missed some of Chelsea's pre-season games because he was resting after playing for France in UEFA Euro 2012. He played as a substitute in some friendly matches.

Malouda wanted to leave Chelsea during the summer. Some teams in Brazil and his old club Lyon were interested, but Malouda didn't want to take a big pay cut. Because he didn't move, he was not included in Chelsea's main squad for any competitions. Instead, he was told to train with the under-21 team.

On 30 June 2013, Malouda's contract with Chelsea ended, and he left the club.

Later Career Adventures

On 17 July 2013, Malouda signed a two-year contract with Trabzonspor, a Turkish club. The deal was reportedly worth about €2.5 million per season. On 1 November 2013, he scored two goals in a 3–1 win against Kayseri Erciyesspor.

After leaving Trabzonspor, Malouda returned to France's Ligue 1 on 12 September 2014, signing with Metz. He had been playing abroad for seven years.

On 23 August 2015, Malouda joined Delhi Dynamos, a team in the Indian Super League. The team was managed by Roberto Carlos. Malouda played in all of their games in the 2015 season, helping them reach the playoff semi-finals.

On 29 January 2016, Malouda went on a six-month loan to Wadi Degla, an Egyptian team. This allowed him to keep playing and stay fit during the Indian league's off-season. He played 18 games, helping his new club reach the Egyptian cup quarter-finals and finish fifth in their league.

Malouda then returned to the Delhi Dynamos for the 2016 Indian Super League season. He was the team captain for most of the season, and they reached the playoff semi-finals again. He left the club in July 2017.

On 25 January 2018, after being without a club for almost half a year, Malouda signed with FC Differdange 03, a team in Luxembourg. Injuries limited his playing time there, but he played five games and helped with three goals. His team finished fifth in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Luxembourg Cup.

Playing for His Country

Representing France

Malouda played his first game for the France national football team on 17 November 2004 against Poland. He quickly became a regular player and scored his first goal for France on 31 May 2005 against Hungary.

He played almost all of France's qualifying games for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was chosen for the final squad. Malouda played regularly in the tournament, where France made it to the final but lost to Italy in a penalty shootout. He won a penalty for France in that final, which Zinedine Zidane scored.

Malouda (right) playing for France at UEFA Euro 2012.

On 22 June 2010, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Malouda scored a goal against host nation South Africa. France lost that game 2–1, and it was their only goal in the tournament before they were eliminated in the group stage.

On 3 September 2010, Malouda was given the captain's armband for France's first Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus. This was the first game for new coach Laurent Blanc, and France lost 1–0.

In February 2012, Malouda scored France's second goal in a 2–1 win against Germany. He was included in France's squad for the Euro 2012 tournament. On 31 May, he scored his ninth international goal in a 2–0 friendly win against Serbia.

Playing for French Guiana

After not playing for the French national team for five years, Malouda became eligible to play for his home nation, French Guiana. French Guiana is not a FIFA member, so their rules are different. In June 2017, he was named to French Guiana's team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and played in a friendly game against Barbados.

However, he was later ruled ineligible for the Gold Cup tournament itself. This was because CONCACAF, the football organization for North and Central America and the Caribbean, uses FIFA's rules for player eligibility. Since Malouda had already played for France in official FIFA matches, he couldn't play for French Guiana in the Gold Cup. Despite this, on 11 July 2017, Malouda started French Guiana's Gold Cup match against Honduras. This resulted in the game being changed to a forfeit loss for French Guiana, even though the match originally ended in a 0–0 draw.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Malouda became a coach at the Swiss club FC Zurich. However, his contract was ended in April 2019 after less than two months.

Personal Life

Florent Malouda has eight children. His son, Aaron Malouda, is also a professional footballer and plays for Lille OSC.

Career Statistics

Here are Florent Malouda's career statistics, showing how many games he played and goals he scored for different clubs and national teams.

International Appearances and Goals

This table shows how many games Malouda played and goals he scored for the French national team each year.

International Goals for France

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	31 May 2005	Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz, France	Hungary	2–0	2–1	Friendly
2.	27 May 2006	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Mexico	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3.	2 September 2006	Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilissi, Georgia	Georgia	0–1	0–3	Euro 2008 Qualification
4.	22 June 2010	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa	South Africa	1–2	1–2	2010 FIFA World Cup
5.	7 September 2010	Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	0–2	0–2	Euro 2012 Qualification
6.	3 June 2011	Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus	Belarus	1–1	1–1	Euro 2012 Qualification
7.	7 October 2011	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Albania	1–0	3–0	Euro 2012 Qualification
8.	29 February 2012	Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany	Germany	0–2	1–2	Friendly
9.	31 May 2012	Stade Auguste Delaune, Reims, France	Serbia	2–0	2–0	Friendly

Florent Malouda's Football Trophies and Awards

Lyon

• Ligue 1 (French League Champion): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup): 2003, 2004, 2005

Chelsea

• Premier League (English League Champion): 2009–10
• FA Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• FA Community Shield (English Super Cup): 2009
• UEFA Champions League: 2011–12; runner-up: 2007–08

France National Team

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2006

Individual Awards

• Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Ligue 1 Player of the Month: November 2006
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2006–07
• Premier League Player of the Month: March 2010
• Indian Super League Hero of the League: 2016

See also

In Spanish: Florent Malouda para niños