Football
ESPN staff 8y

Florent Malouda returns as Delhi Dynamos' marquee player

Delhi Dynamos F.C have announced Florent Malouda as their marquee player for the upcoming season of the Indian Super League.

Malouda had an impressive debut campaign for the Dynamos and the Frenchman returns to the ISL after a loan spell at Wadi Degla in the Egyptian Premier League.

"I am very excited to be back in India. It was a wonderful experience for me to play in the league last year and enjoyed it a lot. It was for the first time that I played outside Europe and to be honest I enjoyed it a lot," Malouda told ISL media.

The Delhi Dynamos reached the semifinals of the ISL last year, losing out to runners-up FC Goa 3-1 on aggregate. Malouda, who arrived at the club as one of the most high profile signings last season featured in all 16 games for the Dynamos, providing eight assists in process of becoming one of the most important players of the team last season.

"We had a very good squad last season and it was sad that we had to bow out of the tournament in the semis. It's a different squad this year, I hope that we can build on what we achieved last season and together aim to lift the trophy this season," the 36 year old said.

The Delhi Dynamos will be under new head coach, Gianluca Zambrotta this year and the Italian said that he is excited to have Malouda back in the squad.

"Malouda is a proven champion and a legend. He has won trophies at the highest level and has represented his country in two World Cups. I watched the games from last season and I am very impressed by his performances. He is really well adapted to this league, and that along with his invaluable experience is exactly what the team needs right now," Zambrotta said.

Malouda and Zambrotta played against each other in the final of the 2006 World Cup where Italy beat France in a penalty shootout, but the winger sounded optimistic to work with his new head coach after being under Roberto Carlos last season.

"I have played against the coach back in the 2006 World Cup finals and I am well versed with his style of attacking football. I strongly believe we will be a force to reckon with in this season of the Indian Super League," the Frenchman said.

Malouda, having played for several clubs across Europe has won a handful of trophies while playing for Lyon and Chelsea. He won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles with Lyon before winning the Premier League and the Champions league with Chelsea. The winger also has 80 caps for the French national team having played in the 2006 and the 2010 World Cup for the Blues.

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