Former Chelsea star and Champions League winner, 44, joins ARMY and serving in Amazon rainforest
FORMER Chelsea star Florent Malouda has joined up with the military in French Guiana.
The former winger, 44, spent six seasons with the Blues, winning the Champions League in 2012.
Malouda played 80 times for France, having moved from Cayenne, French Guiana to Paris as a teenager.
His birthplace still holds a dear place in his heart, however, as illustrated in his latest Instagram post.
The former Stamford Bridge favourite posed wearing his military gear in the Amazon rainforest.
Malouda has joined the 3rd Forest Infantry Regiment’s citizens’ reserve.
This department is described by the French government as “system that enables civilians (often recognised in their fields) to make a voluntary contribution to promoting the values and missions of the military institution, without being military personnel themselves.”
Malouda captioned his post: “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.”
Malouda played four times for French Guiana in 2017.
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As the territory is classified as part of France, the French Guiana team is not deemed a nation of its own – allowing Malouda to play for them.
The winger hung up his boots in 2018 following a spell in Luxembourg with FC Differdange 03.
He enjoyed an incredibly decorated career, winning 12 major trophies.
His Chelsea career ended in disappointing fashion, however, as he was frozen out for the entire 2012-13 campaign.
Despite the manner of his exit, Malouda still appears to have plenty of love for the Blues.
Just three weeks ago he posted a picture of himself wearing this season’s Blues away shirt.