Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Farid El Alagui | ||
Date of birth | 28 August 1985 | ||
Place of birth | Bordeaux, France | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Playing position | 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) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:16, 10 May 2017 (UTC). |
Farid El Alagui (born 28 August 1985) is a French-born Moroccanfootballer who plays 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 side Falkirk, where he scored 27 goals in 43 appearances in his only season with the club.
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 side SO Romorantin.
He made his first-team debut on 23 July 2011 in Falkirk's 2–1 win over Brechin City in the Scottish Challenge Cup. El Alagui scored his first goal for Falkirk in a 4–2 away win against Albion Rovers on 30 July. 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 side Rangers in the Scottish League Cup. 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. On 9 October, El Alagui scored a double in the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final 3–0 win against Annan Athletic. 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, only to be rejected by Steven Pressley, describing the bid as 'derisory'. 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. On 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. At the end of the season, El Alagui (along with teammate Michael McGovern) was nominated for PFA First Division Player of the Year, an award which El Alagui subsequently won. 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.