Sofiane Feghouli

Sofiane Feghouli
Feghouli playing for Algeria in 2014
Personal information
Full name Sofiane Feghouli[1]
Date of birth (1989-12-26) 26 December 1989
Place of birth Levallois-Perret, France
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Galatasaray
Number 89
Youth career
1998–2003 Red Star Paris
2003–2004 Paris FC
2004–2007 Grenoble
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Grenoble 60 (3)
2010–2016 Valencia 146 (20)
2011 → Almería (loan) 9 (2)
2016–2017 West Ham United 21 (3)
2017– Galatasaray 23 (6)
National team‡
2006–2007 France U18 2 (0)
2008–2010 France U21 3 (0)
2012– Algeria 45 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 April 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 April 2018

Sofiane Feghouli (Arabic: سفيان فيغولي‎; born 26 December 1989) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray S.K. and the Algeria national team. He mainly operates as a right midfielder, but can also play as a winger and as an attacking midfielder. Feghouli made his senior international debut for Algeria in February 2012. He represented Algeria at the 2013 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he scored Algeria's first goal in the competition.

Personal life

Feghouli was born in Levallois-Perret to Algerian parents. His father is from Tiaret, while his mother is from Ghazaouet. He has 4 brothers.[3]

Club career

Grenoble

Feghouli began his career with Grenoble, after French team Paris Saint-Germain decided not to sign him after a trial.[4] For the latter portion of the 2006–2007 season, he was promoted to the first-team squad and given the number 33 shirt. He made his highly anticipated debut, at the age of 17, for the club on 27 April 2007 in a Ligue 2 match against Reims, appearing as a substitute. Grenoble won the match 1–0.[5] He made two more appearances that season, including his first start on the final match day of the season against Montpellier on 25 May 2007. Montpellier won the match 1–0 with Feghouli playing 56 minutes before being subbed out.[6] On 31 May 2007, he signed his first professional contract with Grenoble, keeping him with the side until 2010.[7]

The following season, he was handed the number 8 shirt and, despite being 17 years of age, was given a more important role in the first-team squad. Despite having the pressure of being labelled the "new Zidane",[8] his contribution to the squad was successful, appearing in 27 matches and scoring three goals, helping Grenoble achieve promotion to Ligue 1. His first career goal came on 18 January 2008 in a 4–3 away victory against Reims, the club he faced on his debut.[9]

Feghouli returned for the 2009–10 season, making his debut on 29 August 2009 in a 1–0 defeat to Rhône-Alpes rivals Saint-Étienne. After appearing in five more matches, it was discovered by Grenoble officials that Feghouli had torn the meniscus in his right knee. The knee was successfully operated on in October. Following the surgery, Grenoble officials, most notably CEO Pierre Wantiez, were extremely critical of the player. Wantiez questioned Feghouli's long delay in returning to the team and the player's motives regarding a transfer as Feghouli would be out of contract in the summer and was already talking to several clubs, most notably Spanish club Valencia.[10] Wantiez attributed Feghouli's recent moves to "bad advice" from the player's agent.[11]

Valencia

Feghouli playing for Valencia CF in 2015

On 20 May 2010, Feghouli signed a four-year deal with Valencia CF.[12] He made his La Liga debut on 25 September, replacing Juan Mata in a 2–0 win against Sporting de Gijón.[13]

On 28 January 2011, after appearing sparingly for the Valencian side, Feghouli was loaned to fellow league team UD Almería, until June.[14] He appeared regularly for the Andalusians, however they were relegated at the end of the season.[15]

After returning from Almería, and profiting from Mata and Vicente's departures, Feghouli became a starter, and scored his first goals for Los Che on 29 October 2011, netting a brace in a 3–1 home win against Getafe CF.[16] His performances for Valencia in 2012 earned him two Algerian player of the year awards, Le Buteur's Algerian Ballon d'Or and the DZFoot d'Or.[17][18]

Feghouli with West Ham United in 2017

On 11 April 2016, Feghouli was suspended by the club amid reports he refused to take part in a warm-down after the 2–1 home win over Sevilla the day before. He had also reportedly missed training a few days earlier.[19]

He ended his Valencia career with 202 appearances, scoring 31 times and providing 40 assists.[20]

West Ham United

On 14 June 2016, it was announced that Feghouli would be joining West Ham United on 1 July 2016 on a three-year contract.[21] He made his West Ham debut on 28 July in a 2–1 away defeat to NK Domžale in the Third Qualifying Round of the Europa League.[22] He scored his first competitive goal for West Ham the following week in the return fixture against Domžale, West Ham's first game at the London Stadium in which West Ham won 3–0, progressing to the UEFA Europa League play-offs.[23] Feghouli made his first Premier League start in West Ham's first game of 2017, receiving a harsh red card after 15 minutes for a challenge on Manchester United defender Phil Jones in an eventual 0–2 home defeat.[24] After an appeal against the card by West Ham, it was rescinded on 4 January.[25]

Galatasaray S.K.

In August 2017, Feghouli signed a 5-year contract for Galatasaray for an undisclosed fee.[26]

International career

France

Feghouli was eligible for both Algeria and France. Feghouli had stated his preference was to play for France[27] and appeared in several France youth squads. On 12 November 2008, national team manager Raymond Domenech shortlisted the player for his pre-selection squad ahead of a friendly against Uruguay.[28] Despite this, Algeria national team manager Rabah Saadane contacted Feghouli by telephone in an attempt to get the player to play for Algeria in the team's 19 November friendly against Mali. Team captain Yazid Mansouri also contacted the player.[27]

Algeria

On 25 May 2011, it was reported that, whilst on loan at Almeria, Feghouli met with the President of the Algerian Football Federation Mohamed Raouraoua. Feghouli agreed to play for Algeria and was Invited to a training camp being held in Spain for the match against Morocco. He was unable to attend the session, but was touched by the gesture, agreeing to be available for the Tanzania match instead.[29]

On 23 October 2011, the Algerian Football Federation announced that FIFA officially accepted Feghouli's request to switch allegiances from France to Algeria, and that he was eligible to represent Algeria in international competition as of that date.[30][31] Two days later, on 25 October, Feghouli was called up by Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodžić for a pair of friendlies against Tunisia and Cameroon in November.[32]

On 29 February 2012, Feghouli made his debut for the Algerian national team in a 2–1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win against Gambia, scoring the winning goal.[33] During qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he scored three goals in seven appearances for Les Fennecs.[33]

In the team's opening match of the 2014 World Cup, a 2–1 defeat to Belgium in Belo Horizonte, Feghouli scored with a penalty kick – Algeria's first World Cup goal in 28 years.[34] He was surprisingly omitted from the 2017 African Cup Of Nations squad.[35]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 April 2018 [36][37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Grenoble 2006–07 Ligue 2 300000—30
2007–08 2631000—273
2008–09 2602000—280
2009–10 Ligue 1 500010—60
Total 603301000643
Valencia 2010–11 La Liga 3011—1[lower-alpha 1]051
2011–12 30660—13[lower-alpha 2]0496
2012–13 27320—8[lower-alpha 1]3376
2013–14 32430—10[lower-alpha 3]3457
2014–15 33600——336
2015–16 21120—10[lower-alpha 4]4335
Total 14620141—421020231
Almería (loan) 2010–11 La Liga 9210——102
Total 9210—00102
West Ham United 2016–17 Premier League 21310302[lower-alpha 3]1274
Total 213103021274
Galatasaray 2017–18 Süper Lig 21631—00247
Career totals 2603519140441132747
  1. 1 2 Appearances in the Champions League
  2. ↑ Seven appearances in the Champions League and six in the Europa League
  3. 1 2 Appearances in the Europa League
  4. ↑ Seven appearances and three goals in the Champions League, three appearances and one goal in the Europa League

International

As of match played 2 June 2016 [38]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Algeria 201282
201393
2014122
201582
201632
Total4011

International goals

Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first.[36]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 February 2012Independence Stadium, Bakau, Gambia Gambia2–12–12013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.2 June 2012Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria Rwanda1–04–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.30 January 2013Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng, South Africa Ivory Coast1–02–22013 Africa Cup of Nations
4.23 March 2013Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria Benin1–03–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.12 October 2013Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso1–12–32014 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.7 June 2014Mineirão, Belo Horizante, Brazil Belgium1–01–22014 FIFA World Cup
7.15 November 2014Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria Ethiopia1–13–12015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8.30 March 2015Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Oman2–04–1Friendly
9.3–0
10.25 March 2016Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida, Algeria Ethiopia1–07–12017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
11.3–0

Honours

Club

Galatasaray

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sofiane Feghouli". Eurosport.
  3. ↑ "Exclusif : Sofiane Feghouli". Le Buteur. Nacym Djender. November 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Spirited Feghouli rewards Grenoble belief". UEFA.com. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Stade de Reims vs. Grenoble". ESPN. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Montpellier — Grenoble 1–0". Racingstub.com. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Grenoble : Feghouli signe pro". 31 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "I'm the 'new Zidane'... No I am!". Unprofessional Foul. 3 October 2008.
  9. ↑ "Reims v. Grenoble Match Report". 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  10. ↑ L'imbroglio Feghouli Archived 6 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Sofiane Feghouli et son "prétendu agent" dans le collimateur" (in French). Gentside Sport. 4 February 2010.
  12. ↑ El Valencia ficha al francés Sofiane Feghouli para los próximos cuatro años (Valencia signs French Sofiane Feghouli for the next four years); Diario AS, 20 May 2010 (in Spanish)
  13. ↑ El Valencia se gusta (Valencia likes it); Marca, 25 September 2010 (in Spanish)
  14. ↑ Feghouli se va cedido al Almería hasta final de temporada (Feghouli goes on loan to Almería until the end of the season); Marca, 28 January 2011 (in Spanish)
  15. ↑ "The Spanish Weekend Review – Episode 35: Relegation Battle Gets Interesting". TheHardTackle.com. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  16. ↑ Y de repente, Feghouli (And suddenly, Feghouli); Marca, 29 October 2011 (in Spanish)
  17. ↑ GM (18 December 2012). "Feghouli Ballon d'or algérien" (in French). So Foot. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  18. ↑ Ait-Ouaret, Nabil (25 December 2012). "DZFOOT D'OR 2012 : Sofiane Feghouli élu meilleur joueur algérien par les internautes" (in French). DZFoot. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  19. ↑ "Algerian Sofiane Feghouli suspended by Valencia". BBC Sport. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "Premier League transfers: Lowdown on summer signings". BBC Sport. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Hammers catch winger Feghouli". West Ham United F.C. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "Nk Domzale 2-1 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "West Ham 3-0 Domzale (4-2 agg): Kouyate double secures victory".
  24. ↑ "West Ham 0-2 Manchester United".
  25. ↑ "Sofiane Feghouli: West Ham midfielder's red card rescinded". 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "Sofiane Feghouli joins Galatasaray - West Ham United". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  27. 1 2 "Sofiane Feghouli joue sur tous les tableaux". L'Oranaise. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Equipe de France. Douchez comme Carrasso". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 12 November 2008.
  29. ↑ "Au cours d'une rencontre avec Raouraoua à Paris : Feghouli dit oui à l'Algérie". Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  30. ↑ Qualification du joueur FEGHOULI Sofiane Archived 25 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine.; FAF.dz, 23 October 2011.
  31. ↑ Feghouli qualifié pour jouer avec l’Algérie Archived 24 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine.; DZFoot.com, 23 October 2011.
  32. ↑ EN : 31 joueurs pour le stage de Novembre; DZFoot.com, 25 October 2011.
  33. 1 2 "Sofiane FEGHOULI". FIFA. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  34. ↑ Grohmann, Karolos. "Algeria end 28-year wait for World Cup goal". Reuters. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Soccer-Feghouli surprise omission from Algeria Nations Cup squad". Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  36. 1 2 Sofiane Feghouli at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  37. ↑ "Sofiane Feghouli" (in French). L'Équipe. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Feghouli, Sofiane". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  39. ↑ "Algerian Feghouli named best African player in Spain". BBC Sport. 1 December 2015.
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