Farid El Alagui (born 28 August 1985) is a franco-maroccan former professional footballer who played as a forward. 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.
Club career Early career Born in Bordeaux, France, El Alagui began playing football when he was six or seven years old. El Alagui started out as a goalkeeper at 14 years old before moving to a defensive midfield position, as he wanted to play outfield. When El Alagui was 19, he tried out playing as a striker. Although El Alagui tried out playing as a striker, his manager was impressed with him and wanted to see him more in the position.
El Alagui began his career in amateur leagues in his native France, plying his trade at FC Marmande 47 and Bergerac Foot. He later revealed that: "No, I didn’t play professionally in France. I did have contact with Créteil and Gazélec Ajaccio at the time, but I didn’t pursue it. I wanted to play in countries where the passion and fervor for football were greater." This resulted in him moving 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 On 22 July 2011, El Alagui joined Scottish First Division club Falkirk on a one-year contracts. It came after when he went on trial with the club and impressed with the management, including Steven Pressley, leading him to a contract.
He made his first-team debut on 23 July 2011 in the club'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 Dundee, Albion Rovers on 30 July. He scored against Partick Thistle, Ayr United, Stenhousemuir and Ross County on 9 August 2011, 13 August 2011, 20 August 2011, 24 August 2011 and 27 August 2011 respectively. El Alagui scored on 17 September 2011 and 21 September 2011 against Dundee and a 3–2 victory against SPL club Rangers in the Scottish League Cup respectively. For his performance, he was named September’s Player of the Month.
El Alagui scored on 1 October 2011 and 9 October 2011 against Hamilton Academical and Annan Athletic (twice) respectively. He, once again, scored on 22 October 2011 and 25 October 2011 against Partick Thistle and Dundee United (a win that saw Falkirk advanced to the next round of the Scottish League Cup) respectively. His perfect start to the 2011–12 season in fine goalscoring form for his new club, scoring 15 goals in 17 appearances up until 25 October 2011. El Alagui later scored four more goals by the end of the year on 5 November 2011, 3 December 2011 and 17 December 2011 against Livingston, Greenock Morton and Queen of the South respectively. For his performances, he was December’s Player of the Month.
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'. Amid to his future at Falkirk, he scored on 2 January 2012 and 7 January 2012 against Livingston and East Fife respectively. On 21 January 2012, El Alagui scored his 23rd goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Raith Rovers. Ultimately, he stayed at the club.
El Alagui scored on 21 February 2012 and 25 February 2012 against Dundee and Queen of the South respectively. In a match against Ross County on 17 March 2012, however, he received a red card for a second bookable offence, in a 2–1 loss. After serving a one match suspension, El Alagui scored on his return and set up one of the goals, in a 5–2 loss against Livingston on 24 March 2012. On 1 April 2012, he furthered his reputation with the Falkirk fans, after winning the Scottish Challenge Cup against Hamilton Academical, he jumped into the crowd to celebrate with the support. A week later on 10 April 2012, El Alagui played against Hamilton Academical when he scored and set up one of the goals, in a 3–0 win. Two weeks later on 21 April 2012, El Alagui scored his 27th goal of the season and set up one of the goals, in a 3–2 loss against Raith Rovers. On the last game of the season, he scored his 28th goal of the season and set up one of the goals, in a 3–2 win against Ayr United. At the end of the 2011–12 season, El Alagui made 43 appearances and scored 27 goals during his only season with the club and departed in July 2012.
For his performances, El Alagui was the second highest top scorer in Scottish football in 2011–12, with Gary Hooper scoring one more goal. Due to his impressive season, he became a cult hero amongst the Falkirk supporters. El Alagui, along with teammate Michael McGovern, were nominated for PFA First Division Player of the Year, an award which El Alagui subsequently won. He was also named in the PFA First Division Team of the Year.
Brentford 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. After joining the Bees, El Alagui said he turned down offers from two SPL clubs because manager Uwe Rösler persuaded him to join Brentford. Soon after, El Alagui was given a number ten shirt.
He made his debut for the club, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Sam Saunders, in a 0–0 draw against Bury in the opening game of the season. On 24 August 2012, El Alagui scored his first two Brentford goals in a 5–1 win over Crewe Alexandra. After the match, strike partner Clayton Donaldson had supported El Alagui to become the new Gary Alexander. He was also named Football League’s Team of the Week for his performance. Two weeks later on 8 September 2012, El Alagui scored a winning goal in a 1–0 win over Colchester United. After the match, he was named Football League’s Team of the Week for his performance. During a match against Crawley Town on 6 October 2012, however, El Alagui came on as 79th-minute substitute but he soon suffered a serious knee injury, after colliding with Paul Jones, leading him to leave the pitch with 10 men for the rest of the game, as the club won 2–1. After the match, he spent much of the 2012–13 season on the sidelines. By March, El Alagui made his return to full training after recovering from a knee injury. On 18 March 2013, he made his return from injury, playing for Brentford’s Development Squad against Charlton Athletic’s reserve team and scored, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 4–2 win. On 20 April 2013, El Alagui made his first appearance in the club’s first team, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute replacing goalscorer Marcello Trotta, in a 1–1 draw against Hartlepool United. After the match, he said: "To get 10 or 15 minutes on Saturday was unbelievable. It was great to be among the lads on a matchday. I feared I was going to miss the rest of the season when I got injured. I was scared, but after seeing the specialist we decided to give the knee time to recover rather than having an operation." El Alagui made one substitute appearance during Brentford's unsuccessful playoff campaign, coming against Swindon Town. He finished the 2012–13 season having scored three goals in 12 appearances.
At the start of the 2013–14 season, El Alagui scored twice for Brentford, in a 3–2 win against Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round of the League Cup. Shortly after the match, he spoke out his determination to fight for his place in the first team. A week later on 17 August 2013, El Alagui scored a crucial injury time equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Gillingham. He, once again, scored two goals in Brentford's 5–3 Football League Trophy first round win over AFC Wimbledon on 3 September 2013. However, by 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. On 7 December 2013, he notched his sixth goal of the season in a 3–2 FA Cup second round defeat to Carlisle United. 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, but El Alagui rubbished the speculation and reaffirmed his commitment to Brentford. 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. El Alagui made 18 appearances and scored six goals during the 2013–14 season. He made 30 appearances and scored 9 goals during his two seasons with the club, his time with the Bees largely disrupted by his knee injury suffered in October 2012.
Dundee United (loan) On 8 January 2014, El Alagui moved to Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.
On 12 January 2014, he made his debut for the club against Inverness CT in a 1–1 draw, after coming on as a substitute for the injured Brian Graham in the 52nd minute. Two weeks later on 1 February 2014, El Alagui scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 draw with Partick Thistle. He found his playing time, coming from the substitute bench in a number of matches. On 28 February 2014, El Alagui scored his second goal for Dundee United, in a 3–1 win against Hibernian. On 3 May 2014, he scored his third goal for the club, in a 1–1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. At the end of the 2013–14 season, El Alagui finished the season having scored three goals in 15 appearances 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 On 14 July 2014, El Alagui signed a two-year contract with Scottish Championship club Hibernian in July 2014.
He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 loss against Rangers in the first round of the Scottish League Cup. El Alagui scored his first goal for Hibernian on 9 August 2014, in a 2–1 home win against Livingston in the opening league match of the season. He scored again in the following match, the Edinburgh derby against Hearts on 17 August 2014, although it was only a consolation goal as the club lost 2–1. On 26 August 2014, El Alagui scored twice for Hibernian, in a 3–2 win against Dumbarton in the second round of the Scottish League Cup. 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. He then had surgery on the injury and it was expected he would be out for four to six months. By March, El Alagui made his return to full training. On 28 March 2015, he made his return from injury, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Raith Rovers. On his return from injury, El Alagui came on as a substitute in an Edinburgh derby against Hearts. He scored in the dying minutes to wrap up a 2–0 victory for Hibernian. El Alagui later reflected on the goal, saying: "He derby when we won and I scored was the best moment for me. It was very special. It was a highlight of my football career in general, not just my Hibs career." However, El Alagui missed one match due to a knee injury. But he made his return from injury in the return, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win against Rangers in the second leg of the semi–finals of Premiership play-offs, but the club were eliminated from the play-offs following a 2–1 loss on aggregate. At the end of the 2014–15 season, El Alagui made thirteen appearances and scoring five goals in all competitions.