Florent Malouda's champagne football for Delhi Dynamos earns him the DHL Winning Pass award

Florent Malouda of Delhi Dynamos picked up the DHL Winning Pass Award (Photo courtesy ISL)

Right from the moment he joined the Delhi Dynamos, Florent Malouda has been an integral cog of the well-oiled Dynamos machine. Perhaps Malouda’s Indian ancestry aided him, because he took to the Indian Super League like a duck to water. In no time, he became the lynchpin that Delhi relied upon to dig them out of a hole.

The Dynamos did find themselves in a hole on the 18th of October in Kochi against the Kerala Blasters. Delhi had a chance to go joint top of the table and steal an early march on their rivals. However, despite dominating for large periods of the game, Malouda’s side could not break down the Blasters defence.

In the 87th minute, Malouda found himself being closely marked on the right wing. With a swift move of the hips, he cut back onto his cultured left foot, which allowed him a yard of space and the time to put in a wicked, inswinging cross that simply begged to be buried into the back of the net. Richard Gadze duly obliged with a glancing header, wheeling off to celebrate the winner and a valuable three points.

Malouda’s pivotal contribution to that goal was only mildly acknowledged, but the French maestro has been recognized for his contribution throughout the season. Today he was conferred the DHL Winning Pass award, an accolade that is given to each team’s highest assist-maker at the end of the ISL season.

Malouda is the joint most creative player in the ISL, racking up eight assists in 14 games for the Dynamos. The Frenchman has been so integral to his side that manager Roberto Carlos has played him in every single game. Malouda has fulfilled the responsibility placed upon his shoulders as one of the leading players for his side, contributing to both the attack and defence.

Apart from creating chances like clockwork, Malouda also tends to have the odd shot on goal every game, shooting 13 times so far but having failed to score. Malouda’s defensive contribution also often goes unheralded, but he has made an astonishing 35 tackles over the course of the season. His keenness to track back does backfire occasionally, as Malouda has committed 18 fouls this season, but this may just be a symptom of the Frenchman’s desire to compete.

That competitive spirit permeates to every aspect of football, but the end result often sees only the man at the end of a goal-scoring move. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot award was intensely competed over by James Rodrigues & Thomas Muller, with 6 and 5 goals respectively.

However, there was almost no recognition for their respective teammates, Juan Cuadrado and Toni Kroos, who topped the assist table with 4 each. It is for this very reason that awards like the DHL Winning Pass are important – they encourage the recognition of those who put the team above themselves.

Malouda’s left foot has assited 8 goals in 14 games (Photo courtesy ISL)

Florent Malouda is the very embodiment of that sort of player, constantly working hard for the team. He picked up assists right from the off, as he was instrumental in Delhi overcoming an opening day defeat to rack up three wins on the trot. The run culminated in that last gasp win over Kerala Blasters where Malouda worked his magic.

Those three points allowed Delhi to have a cushion in case things went awry. Unfortunately, that scenario did come to pass as Delhi only managed a single victory from their next five games. However, the side from the capital did have a knack of picking up points in the last few minutes.

Malouda was vital in earning those points, as it was largely his assists that enabled Delhi’s frequent comebacks, such as the game against NorthEast United where his through ball produced another goal for Gadze. The Dynamos also notably earned a draw against Mumbai City with the last kick of the game.

Delhi's recent form has been patchy, but two wins from their last five games have earned them the last playoff spot, and Malouda can count himself as one of the reasons for that. He considers it his mission to help Delhi Dynamos win the Indian Super League and if they do, the player would surely not be averse to a repeat sojourn back in India.