Florent Malouda has reportedly enlisted with the French military.
Former Chelsea star Florent Malouda has made a jaw-dropping career switch – swapping his football boots for military boots.
The 44-year-old ex-Les Blues, who was part of the iconic Chelsea squad that clinched the UEFA Champions League in 2012, has joined the French military in French Guiana.
Malouda, who spent six successful seasons at Stamford Bridge, has signed up with the 3rd Forest Infantry Regiment's citizens' reserve, an unusual yet commendable path for the ex-footballer.
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For those who remember Malouda as a key figure in Chelsea's 2012 triumph, this career change comes as a shock.
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However, the winger’s deep connection to his birthplace, Cayenne, French Guiana, seems to have played a significant role in this new chapter of his life.
In a recent Instagram post, Malouda posed in military attire while surrounded by the lush greenery of the Amazon rainforest.
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His caption read:
“While passing through the Amazon in my home territory, I was able to follow an initiation during the CEFE Authorities course of the 3rd REI at the Equatorial Forest Training Center. Thank you to @3e_rei for this moment of cohesion and for these values of team spirit in the face of adversity. These are essential values in high-level sport.”
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Malouda’s football legacy and a new beginning in the jungle
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Malouda’s professional career spanned several clubs, but his glory years came at Chelsea, where he won an impressive 12 major trophies.
Despite a somewhat bitter end to his time at Stamford Bridge — where he was excluded from the 2012/13 season — Malouda still holds a special place for the club.
Just weeks ago, he was spotted on social media wearing Chelsea’s latest away shirt, proving that his love for the Blues remains strong.
But now, the Amazon rainforest and the military have replaced the football pitch as his new focus.
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As part of the 3rd Forest Infantry Regiment’s citizens' reserve, Malouda’s role is not that of a soldier in the traditional sense.
Instead, he will contribute to promoting the values and missions of the military institution, providing his skills and experience as a civilian.
According to reports, this programme is designed for individuals who, while not active military personnel, can bring valuable expertise to the organisation.
Interestingly, Malouda’s connection to French Guiana isn’t just geographical.
He even played four times for the French Guiana national football team in 2017, as the territory is considered part of France, allowing him to represent them despite not being an independent nation.
His football career came to a close in 2018 after a brief stint in Luxembourg, but now, it seems he’s ready to embrace a completely different kind of challenge.