Sofiane Feghouli
Encyclopedia
Sofiane Feghouli; (born 26 December 1989) is an Algeria
n player who currently plays for Valencia CF
in Spain. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and is more noted for creating goals than scoring them. A former French
youth international, Feghouli changed his allegiance and now represents Algeria
in international competition.
, after French giants Paris Saint-Germain
declined to sign him after a trial. For the latter portion of the 2006/07 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. He made two more appearances that season including his first start on the final match day of the season against Montpellier
. Montpellier won the match 1–0 with Sofiane playing just 56 minutes before being subbed out. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract with Grenoble keeping him with the side until 2010.
The following season
, he was handed the first-team number 8 and, despite being 17 years of age, was given a more important role in the squad. Despite having the pressure of being labeled the "new Zidane
", his contribution to the squad was successful appearing in 26 matches and scoring 3 goals helping Grenoble achieve promotion to Ligue 1
. His first career goal was against the club he made his debut against, Reims
in a 4–3 victory.
Feghouli's first season in Ligue 1
was stable as he entered the season as a starter. The young midfielder started in 16 of the club's first 17 matches before being relegated to a substitute's role in December and the early part of January. He returned to the first eleven in mid-January and remained in the squad until 11 April 2009 following a 1–4 defeat to Marseille
, in which Feghouli suffered an extensive injury requiring him to miss the rest of the season.
Feghouli returned for the 2009–10 season
making his debut on 29 August in an 0–1 defeat to Rhône-Alpes
rivals Saint-Étienne
. After appearing in five more matches, it was discovered by Grenoble officials that Feghouli had tore his 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
. Wantiez attributed Feghouli's recent moves to "bad advice" from the player's agent.
On 20 May 2010, Feghouli completed his much anticipated move to Valencia signing a four-year contract with the club.
and France
. Sofiane had stated his preference was to play for France and appeared on 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
. Despite this, Algeria national team manager Rabah Saadane
contacted Sofiane 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 .
In 2008, Sofiane began playing with the French under-21
squad. He made his debut for the side on 9 September 2008 against Bosnia and Herzegovina
coming on as a substitute for Anthony Mounier
. He would make another under-21 appearance on 19 November against Denmark
.
. Feghouli gave his accord to play for Algeria
and was offered to come to the training camp being held in Spain for the match against Morocco
. He however was unable to attend the gathering, but was touched by the gesture, agreeing to be available for the Tanzania
match instead.
On October 23, 2011, the Algerian Football Federation announced that FIFA
had 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. Two days later, on October 25, Feghouli was called up Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodžić
for a pair of friendlies against Tunisia
and Cameroon
in November.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n player who currently plays for Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
in Spain. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and is more noted for creating goals than scoring them. A former French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
youth international, Feghouli changed his allegiance and now represents Algeria
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
in international competition.
Career
Sofiane Feghouli began his career with GrenobleGrenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...
, after French giants Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain FC
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club , also known simply as Paris Saint-Germain and familiarly as Paris SG or PSG , is a professional association football club based in Paris, France. The club was founded on 12 August 1970, thanks to the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain...
declined to sign him after a trial. For the latter portion of the 2006/07 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
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
match against Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
appearing as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
. Grenoble won the match 1–0. He made two more appearances that season including his first start on the final match day of the season against Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
. Montpellier won the match 1–0 with Sofiane playing just 56 minutes before being subbed out. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract with Grenoble keeping him with the side until 2010.
The following season
Ligue 2 2007-08
The Ligue 2 season 2007–08 was the sixty-sixth since its establishment, and started in August 2007. The fixtures were announced in June 2007....
, he was handed the first-team number 8 and, despite being 17 years of age, was given a more important role in the squad. Despite having the pressure of being labeled the "new Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
", his contribution to the squad was successful appearing in 26 matches and scoring 3 goals helping Grenoble achieve promotion to Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. His first career goal was against the club he made his debut against, Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
in a 4–3 victory.
Feghouli's first season in Ligue 1
Ligue 1 2008-09
The 2008–09 Ligue 1 season was the 71st since its establishment. Bordeaux became champions for the sixth time on the last weekend of the season. The fixtures were announced on 23 May 2008. The season began on 9 August 2008 and ended on 30 May 2009...
was stable as he entered the season as a starter. The young midfielder started in 16 of the club's first 17 matches before being relegated to a substitute's role in December and the early part of January. He returned to the first eleven in mid-January and remained in the squad until 11 April 2009 following a 1–4 defeat to Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, in which Feghouli suffered an extensive injury requiring him to miss the rest of the season.
Feghouli returned for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
making his debut on 29 August in an 0–1 defeat to Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
rivals Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
. After appearing in five more matches, it was discovered by Grenoble officials that Feghouli had tore his meniscus
Meniscus (anatomy)
In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
in his right knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
. 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
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
. Wantiez attributed Feghouli's recent moves to "bad advice" from the player's agent.
On 20 May 2010, Feghouli completed his much anticipated move to Valencia signing a four-year contract with the club.
France
Sofiane is eligible for both AlgeriaAlgeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
and France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. Sofiane had stated his preference was to play for France and appeared on several France youth squads
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
. On 12 November 2008, national team manager Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.-2006 World Cup:On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the...
shortlisted the player for his pre-selection squad ahead of a friendly against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
. Despite this, Algeria national team manager Rabah Saadane
Rabah Saadane
Rabah Saâdane is a retired Algerian professional football player whose playing career was abruptly interrupted at the age of 27 by a car accident...
contacted Sofiane by telephone in an attempt to get the player to play for Algeria in the team's 19 November friendly against Mali
Mali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
. Team captain Yazid Mansouri also contacted the player .
In 2008, Sofiane began playing with the French under-21
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
squad. He made his debut for the side on 9 September 2008 against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team
Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 national football team is a youth team of Bosnia and Herzegovina that represents the country in the European Under-21 Football Championship and friendly matches....
coming on as a substitute for Anthony Mounier
Anthony Mounier
Anthony Mounier is a French footballer who currently plays for Nice in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a left-side winger.-Career:...
. He would make another under-21 appearance on 19 November against Denmark
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
.
Algeria
However, on 25 May 2011, it was reported that, whilst on loan at Almeria, Feghouli met with the President of the Algerian Football Federation Mohamed RaouraouaMohamed Raouraoua
Mohamed Raouraoua is the current president of the Algerian Football Federation and a member of the Executive Committee of FIFA as well as the president of the Union of North African football, the vice-president of the Union of Arab Football Associations.He was first elected as president of the...
. Feghouli gave his accord to play for Algeria
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
and was offered to come to the training camp being held in Spain for the match against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. He however was unable to attend the gathering, but was touched by the gesture, agreeing to be available for the Tanzania
Tanzania national football team
The Tanzania national football team represents Tanzania in association football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania. Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam and their head coach is Jan Børge Poulsen....
match instead.
On October 23, 2011, the Algerian Football Federation announced that FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
had 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. Two days later, on October 25, Feghouli was called up Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodžić
Vahid Halilhodžic
Vahid "Vaha" Halilhodžić is a former Bosnian football player and now a manager, currently managing the Algeria national football team....
for a pair of friendlies against Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
and Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
in November.