Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s it was very hard for any team to rival Chelsea as the best in the land.
With a rock solid spine involving Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba, a few different top-class coaches were entrusted in taking them to finally achieve the illustrious Champions League trophy.
When it came to that famous night in Munich in 2012, it was not Jose Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti in charge of the club, but actually Roberto di Matteo, standing in after the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea legend Florent Malouda joins army reserve in French Guinea
The Portuguese boss was looking to take the club in a new direction, and this involved moving away from the old guard who had served them so well.
One of these players was Florent Malouda, whose sensational career at Stamford Bridge deserved it being rounded off with the European trophy.
The Frenchman was at Chelsea for six years, and most would argue he played his best football for the club.
It looks as if the beautiful game is now firmly a thing of the past for Malouda though. According to the Mail Online, he has joined an army reserve in French Guiana, the country he was born in.
The winger said on his Instagram: “Thanks to @3e_rei for this moment of cohesion and for these values of team spirit in the face of adversity. These are core values in high-level sport.”
Malouda chose Chelsea over Real Madrid
Given the quality Malouda was showing before his 2007 move, it was going to be clear that the Blues were not the only team looking to sign him.
Malouda admitted that he chose Chelsea over Real Madrid, a statement of the trajectory the Blues were on at the time in comparison to the usual elite.
Malouda is remembered as a key player for the Blues in this time period, forming a great relationship with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in attack.
