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Farid El Alagui

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Farid El Alagui
El Alagui playing for Brentford's development team in 2013
Personal information
Full name Farid El Alagui
Date of birth (1985-08-28) 28 August 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Bordeaux, France[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Marmande Foot 22 (10)
2006–2009 Bergerac Foot 54 (37)
2009–2010 Wydad 10 (3)
2010–2011 Romorantin 27 (14)
2011–2012 Falkirk 33 (18)
2012–2014 Brentford 23 (4)
2014 → Dundee United (loan) 13 (3)
2014–2016 Hibernian 15 (5)
2016–2017 Dunfermline Athletic 13 (2)
2017 Ayr United 11 (3)
2017–2018 Edinburgh City 22 (4)
2018–2019 FC Marmande 47
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Farid El Alagui (born 28 August 1985) is a retired French footballer who played as a striker. He began his career in the lower leagues in France and made his breakthrough as a professional player at Scottish First Division club Falkirk, where he scored 27 goals in 43 appearances in his only season with the club.[3]

Playing career

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Early career

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El Alagui began his career in amateur leagues in his native France, plying his trade at FC Marmande 47 and Bergerac Foot. He moved to Moroccan top flight club Wydad Casablanca in 2009, winning the 2009–10 league championship in his first and only season with the club. In 2010, he returned to France and signed for CFA club SO Romorantin.

Falkirk

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He made his first-team debut on 23 July 2011 in Falkirk's 2–1 win over Brechin City in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[4] El Alagui scored his first goal for Falkirk in a 4–2 away win against Albion Rovers on 30 July.[5] He started the 2011–12 season in fine goalscoring form for his new club, scoring 15 goals in 17 appearances up until 25 October 2011, including two goals in a 3–2 victory against SPL club Rangers in the Scottish League Cup.[2] On 9 August, El Alagui scored the only goal of the game in a win over Dundee in the third round of the Scottish Challenge Cup.[6] On 9 October, El Alagui scored a double in the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final 3–0 win against Annan Athletic.[7][8] In the January transfer window, El Alagui was linked with several clubs in England, with the likes of Crawley Town, making a bid for him twice,[9] only to be rejected by Steven Pressley, describing the bid as 'derisory'.[10] Farid El Alagui became famous among the Falkirk support for "Kissing the Coin" after every goal, the lucky coin being kept by the backroom staff at the touchline.[11] In April 2012, he furthered his reputation with the Falkirk fans, after winning the Scottish Challenge Cup he jumped into the crowd to celebrate with the support. He was the second highest top scorer in Scottish football in 2011–12, with Gary Hooper scoring one more goal. Due to his impressive season, Farid became a cult hero amongst the Falkirk supporters.[12] At the end of the season, El Alagui (along with teammate Michael McGovern)[13] was nominated for PFA First Division Player of the Year, an award which El Alagui subsequently won.[14] El Alagui was also named in the PFA First Division Team of the Year. He made 43 appearances and scored 27 goals during his only season with the club and departed in July 2012.[3][15]

Brentford

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League One club Brentford signed El Alagui on 3 July 2012 on a two-year deal, beating off interest from St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, several Championship clubs and clubs abroad.[15] After joining Brentford, El Alagui said he turned down offers from two SPL clubs because manager Uwe Rösler persuaded him to join Brentford.[16] On the opening game of the season, he made his debut, coming on for Sam Saunders, in a 0–0 draw against Bury. On 24 August 2012, he scored his first two Brentford goals in a 5–1 win over Crewe Alexandra.[17] After the match, strike partner Clayton Donaldson had supported El Alagui to become the new Gary Alexander.[18] On 8 September 2012, he scored a winning goal in a 1–0 win over Colchester United. In early-October, El Alagui suffered a serious knee injury, after colliding with Paul Jones in a match against Crawley Town and spent much of the rest of the season on the sidelines.[19] He made his return from injury in the penultimate game of the season against Hartlepool United, replacing goalscorer Marcello Trotta after 75 minutes of a 1–1 draw.[20] He made one substitute appearance during Brentford's unsuccessful playoff campaign. El Alagui finished the 2012–13 season having scored three goals in 12 appearances.[21]

On 6 August 2013, El Alagui began his 2013–14 season by coming on as a substitute for Emmanuel Oyeleke in the 54th minute of a League Cup first round match against Dagenham & Redbridge and scored two goals to help Brentford to a 3–2 extra time win.[22] El Alagui scored a crucial injury time equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Gillingham on 17 August 2013.[23] He scored two goals in Brentford's 5–3 Football League Trophy first round win over AFC Wimbledon on 3 September.[24] In November and having started in only three of his first 12 appearances of the 2013–14 season, El Alagui expressed his frustration at being unable to force his way into Uwe Rösler's plans.[25] El Alagui notched his sixth goal of the season in a 3–2 FA Cup second round defeat to Carlisle United on 7 December.[26] News reports surfaced in mid-December that before his departure as manager, Rösler gave the go-ahead for El Alagui to move to Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle on loan in January 2014,[27] but El Alagui rubbished the speculation and reaffirmed his commitment to Brentford.[28][29] What would be El Alagui's final appearance for the Bees came in a 3–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons on 29 December, replacing Marcello Trotta after 81 minutes.[30] El Alagui made 18 appearances and scored six goals during the 2013–14 season.[31] He made 30 appearances and scored 9 goals during his two seasons with the club,[32] his time with the Bees largely disrupted by his knee injury suffered in October 2012.[19]

Dundee United (loan)

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On 8 January 2014, El Alagui moved to Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.[33] He made his debut against Inverness CT in a 1–1 draw, after coming on as a substitute for the injured Brian Graham, on 12 January.[34] El Alagui scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 draw with Partick Thistle on 1 February 2014.[35] He finished the season having scored three goals in 15 appearances[31] and, as he had been previously released by Brentford a week before his loan spell had finished, he left and became a free agent.

Hibernian

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El Alagui signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship club Hibernian in July 2014.[36][37] He scored his first goal for the club on 9 August 2014, in a 2–1 home win against Livingston in the opening league match of the season.[38] He scored again in the following match, the Edinburgh derby against Hearts on 17 August 2014, although it was only a consolation goal as Hibernian lost 2–1.[39] On 30 August 2014, El Alagui had to go off injured in the first half as Hibernian lost 2–1 against Alloa Athletic, with the club fearing he had a ruptured an achilles' tendon.[40] He then had surgery on the injury and it was expected he would be out for four to six months.[41] On his return from injury, El Alagui came on as a substitute in an Edinburgh derby against Hearts.[42] He scored in the dying minutes to wrap up a 2–0 victory for Hibernian.[42]

Complications from the earlier surgery meant that El Alagui did not play for Hibs during the early part of the 2015–16 season,[43] and at the end of his contract he was released by the club.[44] Subsequently, El Alagui appeared as a trialist for Inverness CT and Dunfermline Athletic.[45]

Dunfermline Athletic

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After a trial period with Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic, El Alagui signed a short-term contract with the club until January 2017.[46][47] His first appearances for the Pars came from the subs bench, with his first full start coming against his former club Falkirk on 15 October 2016.[48] El Alagui's scored a dramatic 85th-minute winner against St Mirren in a match that ended 4–3 to Dunfermline.[49] Further goals in a 2–1 victory against Queen's Park in the Scottish Challenge Cup helped the club progress to the next round.[50] El Alagui scored all three goals in the match, claiming an unusual hat-trick.[50][51] El Alagui's final appearance for the club came as a late substitute against Ayr United.[52]

After turning down a new contract with the club, El Alagui departed Dunfermline on 23 January 2017, with the intention of moving to play in Asia.[53] In his brief spell with the club, El Alagui's made a total of 16 appearances for the Pars, with the majority coming as a substitute. Although he scored only four times in his four months with the club, three of these goals gave the club important wins over St Mirren and Queen's Park.

Ayr United

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El Alagui subsequently signed for fellow Scottish Championship club Ayr United on 7 February 2017, on a contract until the end of the 2016–17 season.[54] He subsequently scored goals at Somerset Park against Raith Rovers and against Dumbarton whilst also scoring a consolation goal against St Mirren. El Alagui was released by Ayr at the end of the 2016–17 season, following their relegation to Scottish League One.[55]

Edinburgh City

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After spending a number of months without a club, El Alagui played as a trialist for Scottish League Two club Edinburgh City on 4 November 2017, in a match against Stirling Albion.[56] Shortly after, he signed a deal with the club until the end of the 2017–18 season.[56] He left the club at the end of his contract in May 2018.[57] After a final season with hometown club FC Marmande 47, El Alagui retired from football on 8 June 2019.[58]

Coaching career

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As of January 2020, El Alagui was working as U16 coach at FC Marmande 47.[59]

Career statistics

[edit]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bergerac Foot 2008–09[60] Championnat de France Amateur Group C 31 10 1 0 — — 32 10
SO Romorantin 2010–11[2] Championnat de France Amateur Group D 27 14 — — — 27 14
Falkirk 2011–12[2] Scottish First Division 33 18 2 1 5 6 3[a] 2 43 27
Brentford 2012–13[21] League One 11 3 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 12 3
2013–14[31] 12 1 2 1 2 2 2[b] 2 18 6
Total 23 4 2 1 2 2 3 2 30 9
Dundee United (loan) 2013–14[31] Scottish Premiership 13 3 2 0 — — 15 3
Hibernian 2014–15[61] Scottish Championship 9 3 1 0 1 2 2[c] 0 13 5
2015–16[62] 6 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 8 2
Total 15 5 2 0 2 2 2 0 21 7
Dunfermline Athletic 2016–17[63] Scottish Championship 13 2 1 0 — 2[a] 2 16 4
Ayr United 2016–17[63] Scottish Championship 11 3 — — — 11 3
Edinburgh City 2017–18[64] Scottish League Two 22 4 — — — 22 4
Career total 188 63 9 2 9 10 10 6 217 81
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup.
  2. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy.
  3. ^ 1 appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, 1 appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs.

Honours

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Falkirk

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Scoring and beating Rangers is biggest night of my career, says Falkirk hero Farid El Alagui". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Morocco – F. El Alagui – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Falkirk 2–1 Brechin". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Albion 2–4 Falkirk". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Falkirk 1–0 Dundee". SFL. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Falkirk 3–0 Annan – Falkirk FC Report". Falkirk FC. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Falkirk 3–0 Annan". SFL. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Another Crawley bid in the bin". Falkirk Herald. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Farid bid fails, but Murray's more likely". Falkirk Herald. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  11. ^ "FARID'S GOAL-DEN COIN". Falkirk Herald. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  12. ^ Superstitious Brentford striker reveals reason behind wacky goal celebration – Get West London
  13. ^ "Bairns nominated for Player of the Year award". Falkirk Herald. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Farid gets a gong but is he going?". Falkirk Herald. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Brentford sign striker Farid El Alagui on a two-year deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Farid El Alagui explains decision to turn down SPL duo for Brentford". STV. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Brentford 5–1 Crewe". BBC. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  18. ^ "El Alagui can become Brentford's new Alexander". Hounslow Chronicle. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  19. ^ a b Murtagh, Jacob (9 October 2012). "Brentford striker suffers serious knee injury". Hounslow Chronicle. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Hartlepool United 1 – 1 Brentford". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Brentford 3 – 2 Dagenham and Redbridge". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Gillingham 1 – 1 Brentford". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  24. ^ "Brentford 5 – 3 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  25. ^ "Bees striker El Alagui admits frustration". West London Sport. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  26. ^ "Carlisle United 3 – 2 Brentford". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  27. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Partick Thistle eye up Farid El Alagui loan deal from Brentford". Daily Express. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  28. ^ "Farid El Alagui Twitter Page". Twitter. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  29. ^ "Brentford striker plays down Partick Thistle link". Get West London. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  30. ^ BBC Sport
  31. ^ a b c d "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  32. ^ Farid El Alagui at Soccerbase
  33. ^ "Dundee United confirm deal for Brentford striker". Get West London. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  34. ^ "Inverness CT 1–1 Dundee United". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  35. ^ "Partick Thistle 1 Dundee United 1: Still no home win for Thistle, but Gary Fraser's goal earns a well deserved point against United". Daily Record. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  36. ^ "Hibernian: Farid El Alagui becomes Stubbs' second signing". BBC Sport. BBC.
  37. ^ "Striker El Alagui Joins Hibernian". Hibernian FC. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  38. ^ "Hibernian 2–1 Livingston". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  39. ^ Murray, Keir (17 August 2014). "Hearts 2–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  40. ^ Hardie, David (1 September 2014). "Ruptured Achilles' fear for Hibs' Farid El Alagui". Edinburgh Evening News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  41. ^ Hardie, David (8 September 2014). "Farid El Alagui to start rehab 'within days'". Edinburgh Evening News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  42. ^ a b "It was win or bust, says derby hero El Alagui". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  43. ^ "El Alagui warns that Hibs are up for title fight". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  44. ^ Brown, Anthony (8 June 2016). "Farid El Alagui: I could've done so much more at Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  45. ^ Collin, Iain (22 August 2016). "Dunfermline take ex-Hibs & Falkirk striker Farid El Alagui on trial". Deadline News. Capital City Press. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Farid El Alagui signs". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  47. ^ "Farid El Alagui wins Dunfermline short-term deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  48. ^ "Falirk 2–1 Dunfermline Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  49. ^ Mitchell, Paul (24 September 2016). "Dunfermline Athletic 4–3 St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  50. ^ a b Crawford, Kenny (8 October 2016). "Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 Queen's Park". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  51. ^ Collin, Iain (8 October 2016). "Dunfermline 2 – 1 Queen's Park: El Alagui scores 'hat-trick'". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  52. ^ Crawford, Kenny (7 January 2017). "Ayr United 0–2 Dunfermline Athletic". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  53. ^ Hart, Ross (23 January 2017). "Farid El Alagui leaves Dunfermline Athletic". Dunfermline Press. Newsquest. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Farid signs for United". Ayr United FC. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  55. ^ "Players leaving". Ayr United FC. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  56. ^ a b "Welcome Farid El Alagui". Edinburgh City FC. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  57. ^ "Player news". Edinburgh City FC. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  58. ^ "Farid El Alagui tire sa révérence". petitbleu.fr (in French). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  59. ^ Fifield, Dominic. "Brentford B: the globetrotting reserve team who rebelled..." The Athletic. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  60. ^ "Farid El Alagui". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  61. ^ "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  62. ^ "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  63. ^ a b "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  64. ^ "Games played by Farid El Alagui in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  65. ^ "Falkirk 1-0 Hamilton Accies". BBC. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
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